Abstract
No assessment of development of cocaine-exposed infants beyond the neonatal period has as yet been published. The Movement Assessment Inventory (MAI) is designed to evaluate muscle tone, primary reflexes, automatic reactions and volitional movement in the first year of life. The test at 4 months of age provides an assessment of risk for motor dysfunction. A group of 15 full-term cocaine-exposed infants was compared to a control group of 50 full-term infants at 4 months of age. The 2 groups were similar for gestational age and maternal gravidity, age and racial distribution. There was a significant difference in total risk score (t test, P<.01) tor the 2 groups of infants (cocaine=10.6±3.6 vs control=6.6±3.8). A breakdown of risk scores revealed significant differences (cocaine vs controls, t test, P<.05) in muscle tone (3.85 vs 1.94), reflexes (2.77 vs 1.54) and volitional movements (1.69 vs 1.04). Placement of infants within previously established ranges of risk scores (0-7=no risk, 8-13=questionable, 13=high risk) revealed a significant difference in distribution (X2, P<.01):
Although previous studies of the effects of intrauterine exposure to substances of abuse have not revealed significant differences in motor development as measured by the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, it appears that the MAI has demonstrated qualitative differences between cocaine-exposed and normal infants.
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Schneider, J., Chasnoff, I. MOTOR ASSESSMENT OF COCAINE-EXPOSED INFANTS. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 184 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00106
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00106