Corinna Gasparini1, Barbara Caravale2, Monica Rea3, Maria Franca Coletti4, Valentina Tonchei5, Silvia Bucci6, Andrea Dotta7, Mario De Curtis8, Simonetta Gentile9, Rosa Ferri10. 1. Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: corinna.gasparini@uniroma1.it. 2. Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: barbara.caravale@uniroma1.it. 3. Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: monica.rea@uniroma1.it. 4. Department of Neuroscience and Neuro-rehabilitation, Unit of Clinical Psychology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mariafranca.coletti@opbg.net. 5. Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi, 78, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: tonchei.1243397@studenti.uniroma1.it. 6. Department of Neuroscience and Neuro-rehabilitation, Unit of Clinical Psychology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: silvia.bucci@opbg.net. 7. Department of Medical and Surgical Neonatology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.dotta@opbg.net. 8. Hospital Policlinico Umberto I, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: mario.decurtis@uniroma1.it. 9. Department of Neuroscience and Neuro-rehabilitation, Unit of Clinical Psychology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: simonetta.gentile@opbg.net. 10. Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: rosa.ferri@uniroma1.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Premature birth is often associated with neurodevelopmental difficulties throughout childhood. In the first three years of life, the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley-III) constitute one of the most used tools for assessing child development. Since Bayley-III original norms are based on United States (US) population, it remains uncertain whether their use in other countries (e.g., European) is appropriate. AIMS: This research aimed to examine neurodevelopment of preterm infants and full-term infants, using Bayley-III US norms in comparison to Italian (IT) norms. Patterns of developmental outcomes for both infant groups were also explored. METHODS: 104 preterm and 58 full-term infants were included in the study. Bayley-III was used for neurodevelopmental assessment at 1year of corrected age, considering both IT and US norms for scores computation. RESULTS: Comparing scores obtained with IT vs US norms, differences in means were all significant across five subscales (p<0.05 at least) for preterm infants, whereas for full-term peers significant differences were found only for Receptive Language and Fine Motor subscales (p<0.001). Effect size (η2) ranged from 0.22 to 0.94. Within each group, significant discrepancies across subscales were found. Moreover, Italian preterm infants had significantly lower performances than full-term peers, excepting for Expressive Language and Gross Motor subscales. CONCLUSIONS: As regards to Italian 1-year children, our study seems to provide evidence for the tendency of Bayley-III US norms to overestimate development compared to IT norms. These findings emphasize the need to early detect children at risk for developmental delay and to plan early intervention.
BACKGROUND: Premature birth is often associated with neurodevelopmental difficulties throughout childhood. In the first three years of life, the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley-III) constitute one of the most used tools for assessing child development. Since Bayley-III original norms are based on United States (US) population, it remains uncertain whether their use in other countries (e.g., European) is appropriate. AIMS: This research aimed to examine neurodevelopment of preterm infants and full-term infants, using Bayley-III US norms in comparison to Italian (IT) norms. Patterns of developmental outcomes for both infant groups were also explored. METHODS: 104 preterm and 58 full-term infants were included in the study. Bayley-III was used for neurodevelopmental assessment at 1year of corrected age, considering both IT and US norms for scores computation. RESULTS: Comparing scores obtained with IT vs US norms, differences in means were all significant across five subscales (p<0.05 at least) for preterm infants, whereas for full-term peers significant differences were found only for Receptive Language and Fine Motor subscales (p<0.001). Effect size (η2) ranged from 0.22 to 0.94. Within each group, significant discrepancies across subscales were found. Moreover, Italian preterm infants had significantly lower performances than full-term peers, excepting for Expressive Language and Gross Motor subscales. CONCLUSIONS: As regards to Italian 1-year children, our study seems to provide evidence for the tendency of Bayley-III US norms to overestimate development compared to IT norms. These findings emphasize the need to early detect children at risk for developmental delay and to plan early intervention.