Review: Accounting for prematurity in developmental assessment and the use of age-adjusted scores.

OBJECTIVE

This review summarizes the literature to date concerning age adjustment in developmental assessment and illustrates relevant issues for clinicians and researchers in this area.

METHODS

Pubmed, Medline, Premedline, and PsycInfo databases were used to search the following terms: assessment, prematurity, age adjustment, and adjusted age. Additional sources were obtained through the references listed in the primary articles.

RESULTS

Differences in clinical opinions persist with regard to whether, what type, and how long age adjustments are to be made for premature infants. Research is inconclusive regarding the most appropriate method for accounting for prematurity.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous data may no longer describe the current population of premature infants. Current research is needed to inform developmental assessment practices for this population. Meanwhile, clinicians should remain aware of the issues regarding whether and how to adjust for prematurity. The authors recommend a multifaceted approach to clinical decision making and provide suggestions for future research.