[Developmental differences among various infant groups--methodological suggestions concerning the evaluation of their physical development].

Abstract

The developmental differences of the selected group of infants were investigated as compared with the normal biologic development development of term infants appropriate-for-gestational age. The proposals of the methodical assessment of the physical development of the different groups of infants were presented. Preterm newborns and newborns with intrauterine malnutrition should be referred to the separate active counseling groups because of the differences in the dynamics of the development. Special reference standards--other than those for term newborns--should be applied. It seems necessary to introduce the concept of the absolute age for the assessment of the preterm babies to compare groups of infants of the same chronologic age (which is a rule in the assessment of the growth later on). To fulfill the 2nd postulate the obstetricians and neonatologists should record the morphologic features of the neonates as well as the exact gestational age (in weeks) and not the age category only.