The Validity of the Bayley-III and DDST-II in Preterm Infants With Neurodevelopmental Impairment: A Pilot Study

Objective To identify the usefulness of both the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-III) and Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II) in preterm babies with neurodevelopmental impairment, considering the detection rate as regulation of criteria. Methods Retrospective medical chart reviews which included the Bayley-III and DDST-II, were conducted for 69 preterm babies. Detection rate of neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm babies were investigated by modulating scaled score of the Bayley-III. The detection rate of DDST-II was identified by regarding more than 1 caution as an abnormality. Then detection rates of each corrected age group were verified using conventional criteria. Results When applying conventional criteria, 22 infants and 35 infants were detected as preterm babies with neurodevelopmental impairment, as per the Bayley-III and DDST-II evaluation, respectively. Detection rates increased by applying abnormal criteria that specified as less than 11 points in the Bayley-III scaled score. In DDST-II, detection rates rose from 50% to 68.6% using modified criteria. The detection rates were highest when performed after 12 months corrected age, being 100% in DDST II. The detection rate also increased when applying the modified criteria in both the Bayley-III and DDST-II. Conclusion Accurate neurologic examination is more important for detection of preterm babies with neurodevelopmental impairment. We suggest further studies for the accurate modification of the detection criteria in DDST-II and the Bayley-III for preterm babies.