Neurological investigation of 5-year-old children with low birthweight.

139 children with a low birthweight (LBW), i.e. not more than 2 500 g, were examined at 5 years of age in respect of their neurological status, with special reference to motor coordination according to Touwen & Prechtl. 5 (3.6%) children had cerebral palsy; 13 (9.4%), minimal brain dysfunction; 38 (27.3%), delayed motor maturation; and 83 (59.7%), normal motor development and normal neurological status. Impairment of hearing and of vision, epilepsy and mental retardation were more common in children with cerebral palsy and MBD. Children with MBD and delayed motor maturation had a lower IQ, as judged from the draw-a-mantest according to Goodenough than children with normal neurological status. Cerebral palsy was found in children with a very low birthweight and short gestational age. Other findings were equally distributed among groups classified by weight and duuration of gestation.