[MarthaJ]

There are studies that have the prevalence of ADHD as high as ten percent in premature infants. I personally think that the brain developing in the NICU has alot to do with this. I'm a big believer in both medication and behavior modification to help each child meet his/her optimal potential.
I work in a developmental clinic that follows high risk infants after discharge from the NICU.
Martha

[crankyasanoldma]

Hi,

I'm coming late to this conversation but wanted to add my .02 cents.

My son is an x 23.5 weeker who is now in kindy and has been recently diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome. He had 5 private annual neurodevelopmental exams that were 'normal' (after having been deemed 'caught up' at three). He had a relatively easy NICU course with only minimal eye damage, no bleed or NEC.

He was only in K for a week when the teacher began to recommend evaluation for behaviour or LD's. I was hoping to not have (but prepared for) a diagnosis of some kind of LD once he started school. I was not expecting Asperger's. Reviewing the literature, I can see that he does indeed have Asperger traits- and I thought he was just quirky- like his parents!

I have collected much information about preemies and outcomes. The biggest study recently was done by Maureen Hack. Here is a link to a recent article by her : http://www.futureofchildren.org/info...tion_show.htm?
doc_id=79895

Most of the stuff I have is about very early preemies like mine. Let me know what you are looking for and maybe I can help locate it.

[crankyasanoldma]

http://www.futureofchildren.org/info...m?doc_id=79895

Sorry- I typo'ed the link.

[nurseiam]

My daughter was IUGR. She was 4lb @37 weeks. I agree with public schools are great but you have to fight for everything!!!!!!!
My daughter tested with an IQ of 70 which classifies her a mentally retarded but in 4th grade she had a 9th grade reading level, this year in 5th grade she can write 49 words in three mintues and her peers do 34.....So now I am going to have her worked up for asbergers syndrome.
She has done well this year after a tearful(for me) and frustrating year last year. When we pay our taxes we are paying for them to educate our children!!

[debblynn13]

Have you tried putting the twins together in the same class. Could be they need their support system. They tried to separate my twin brothers when they were young and it wasn't pretty. They did better in the same class.

I can see where going from a class of 6 to a public school would be a major adjustment for any person. Good luck.

debblynn

[Christy218]

I was hoping you could me in the right direction. I have come home w/i the last month from the Nicu with a 23 6/7 week baby boy. He is now 41 weeks and I have been looking for as much information on what to expect in the years to come. This search has not been too successful. I guess I am really looking for signs and sys of different developmental disorders. If you could just give me any resources you found helpful in the beginning. Anything you could give me would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks, Christy

Originally Posted by crankyasanoldma

Hi,

I'm coming late to this conversation but wanted to add my .02 cents.

My son is an x 23.5 weeker who is now in kindy and has been recently diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome. He had 5 private annual neurodevelopmental exams that were 'normal' (after having been deemed 'caught up' at three). He had a relatively easy NICU course with only minimal eye damage, no bleed or NEC.

He was only in K for a week when the teacher began to recommend evaluation for behaviour or LD's. I was hoping to not have (but prepared for) a diagnosis of some kind of LD once he started school. I was not expecting Asperger's. Reviewing the literature, I can see that he does indeed have Asperger traits- and I thought he was just quirky- like his parents!

I have collected much information about preemies and outcomes. The biggest study recently was done by Maureen Hack. Here is a link to a recent article by her : http://www.futureofchildren.org/info...tion_show.htm?
doc_id=79895

Most of the stuff I have is about very early preemies like mine. Let me know what you are looking for and maybe I can help locate it.

[kids]

Originally Posted by Christy218

I was hoping you could me in the right direction. I have come home w/i the last month from the Nicu with a 23 6/7 week baby boy. He is now 41 weeks and I have been looking for as much information on what to expect in the years to come. This search has not been too successful. I guess I am really looking for signs and sys of different developmental disorders. If you could just give me any resources you found helpful in the beginning. Anything you could give me would be greatly appreciated,
Thanks, Christy

It is very difficult to predict at this point, there are just so many variables including whether or not (or which) complications your baby experienced during his NICU stay and how his brain has recovered from them.
Honestly, each child is an individual and can run the entire gamet from no problems (once they "catch up") to profound mental retardation.

If your baby had a generally uneventful hospitialization and is now home and healthy my suggestion would be to keep an eye on his developmental milestones, remembering to adjust his age. The "What to Expect" (...the first year, second year, from your toddler) books are my favorites. They are easy to understand and can be found almost anywhere that sells books (including Walmart & Target).
Keep all of his well child visits and specificly address development with the Pediatrition. S/he will likely be more experienced in your baby's developmental prognisis than the Neonatologist (NICU doctor) was, your Ped will be your first resource if any referrals for testing or services are needed.
Later, when age appropriate (usually around 2-3) seek the services of your school districts Early Childhoods Intervention program (you can get contact info by calling the school districts main Administration number).

The most important thing to do right now is focus on loving and nurturing your baby and try not to get to hung up on worrying about the future. I know that sounds hard to do right now but he still has a couple of months of growing to do before he has any milestones to look for (smiling will be the first big thing).

[Linda Goddard]

Originally Posted by DeniseLDRN

Hello to all!

My name is Denise and I have twins that were born at 28 weeks gestation with fairly unremarkable stays in the NICU. The boys are now 9 years old, they have no problems with their coordination and or muscle development. However the boys are very emotionally labile, and they have marked problems following directions.
The boys have been attending a small Christian School for the last 3 years (they only had 6 kids in their class). The boys have been getting straight A's and B's for the last 2 years at the smaller school. This year we decided that they would attend 3rd grade at the public school, first day the teacher called me to tell me there was a problem. The boys have separate teachers and both teacher are concerned about the boys. I was wondering if anyone has any information regarding prematurity and disorders associated with the above description of behaviors.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks


Denise L&D RN

Denise
It seems a little premature to think that there are problems, this is their first day. My first thought is that they are grieving, they have moved from their school, separated from each other (there is research around twins and separation), it is a double whammy. I feel that it is natural for them to not be functioning 'normally'. Straight A's and B's to date suggests that they are pretty okay, this is a transition phase.
regards Linda

[GingerSue]

Does anyone know where to find instructions for administration of the Denver II Developmental Screening Test? My textbook describes the test, and the manual includes a chart as well as a sheet listing 31 items, but no real instructions about how to administer the test. Thanks if anyone can help.