The INTERGROWTH-21st Project Neurodevelopment Package: A Novel Method for the Multi-Dimensional Assessment of Neurodevelopment in Pre-School Age Children.
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Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLoS ONE
Abstract
Background: The International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century (INTERGROWTH-21st) Project is a population-based, longitudinal study describing early growth and development in an optimally healthy cohort of 4607 mothers and newborns. At 24 months, children are assessed for neurodevelopmental outcomes with the INTERGROWTH-21st Neurodevelopment Package. This paper describes neurodevelopment tools for preschoolers and the systematic approach leading to the development of the Package. Methods: An advisory panel shortlisted project-specific criteria (such as multidimensional assessments and suitability for international populations) to be fulfilled by a neurodevelopment instrument. A literature review of well-established tools for preschoolers revealed 47 candidates, none of which fulfilled all the project’s criteria. A multi-dimensional assessment was, therefore, compiled using a package-basedapproach by: (i) categorizing desired outcomes into domains, (ii) devising domainspecific criteria for tool selection, and (iii) selecting the most appropriate measure for each domain. Results: The Package measures vision (Cardiff tests); cortical auditory processing (auditory evoked potentials to a novelty oddball paradigm); and cognition, language skills, behavior, motor skills and attention (the INTERGROWTH-21st Neurodevelopment Assessment) in 35–45 minutes. Sleep-wake patterns (actigraphy) are also assessed. Tablet-based applications with integrated quality checks and automated, wireless electroencephalography make the Package easy to administer in the field by non-specialist staff. The Package is in use in Brazil, India, Italy, Kenya and the United Kingdom. Conclusions: The INTERGROWTH-21st Neurodevelopment Package is a multidimensional instrument measuring early child development (ECD). Its developmental approach may be useful to those involved in large-scale ECD research and surveillance efforts.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
International Fetal, Newborn Growth Consortium, population-based, longitudinal
Citation
Fernandes, M., Stein, A., Newton, C. R., Cheikh-Ismail, L., & Kihara, M., et al. (2014). The INTERGROWTH-21st Project Neurodevelopment Package: A Novel Method for the Multi-Dimensional Assessment of Neurodevelopment in Pre-School Age Children. PLoS ONE