Do Kids That Arrive Early End Up Running Late?

Geoff Bowen, Psychologist Statewide Vision Resource Centre

www.svrc.vic.edu.au

http://www.austprem.org.au/journey/stories/michael.shtml

• Preterm (or premature) infant– infant born before 37 completed weeks of

gestation• Late preterm infant (a recently identified

category)– infant born between 34 and 36 weeks gestation

• Moderately preterm infant– infant born between 32 and 36 completed

weeks of gestation• Very preterm infant

– infant born before 32 completed weeks of gestation

Definitions of Prematurity

Iams JD and Creasy RK (2006)

Definitions• Low birthweight (LBW)

– infant who weighs less than 2,500 grams at delivery

• Very low birthweight (VLBW)– infant who weighs less than 1,500 grams at

delivery• Extremely low birthweight (ELBW)

– infant who weighs less than 1,000 grams at delivery

Source: Iams JD, Creasy RK. Preterm labor and delivery, Chapter 34. In: Maternal-Fetal Medicine:

Principles and Practice, 5th ed., 2004.

• < 1,000 grams 0.7% (of live births)– Most (99.3%) are preterm

• 1,000-2,500 grams 7.2%– 63.9% are preterm

• > 2,500 grams 92.1%– 7.6% are preterm

Prematurity & Low Birthweight, U.S., 2003

Low birthweight is less than 2,500 grams. Preterm is less than 37 completed weeks gestation. Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 2003 natality file Prepared by March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center, 2006.

Overlap in LBW, Preterm & Birth Defects, U.S., 2003

Low Birthweight

Births7.9%

Preterm Births12.3%

Birth Defects~3-4%

Among LBW: 2/3 are preterm

Among preterm: more than 43% are LBW (some preterm are not LBW)

Low birthweight is less than 2,500 grams. Preterm is less than 37 completed weeks gestation. Source: National Center for Health Statistics, 2003 natality file. Prepared by the March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center, 2006.

Problems With Outcome Investigation• Figures about outcomes for premature babies have to

be interpreted with a degree of circumspection to be sure that like is being compared with like.

• Percentages should be taken with caution (small sample size).

• Different studies use different criteria for the degree of prematurity for inclusion.

• There is a gradation of risk.

• The combining issue prematurity and light body weight the for dates.

• Are the conception dates accurate?

• Is prematurity the only factor in the medical problems a baby has. Is the prematurity causal or contiguous with the medical problems?

• Human beings are not like lab mice who are genetically homogenous.

• In apparently relatively “normal” individuals we can never know whether their functioning has been reduced/affected compared to their hypothetical potential.

.

Small Sample Size Outcome &Treatment

Babies now able to survive born as early as 22-27 weeks’ gestation: ‘extremely preterm’

• birth this early occurs <0.5% pregnancies ~1,000 babies per year in Australia

• small sample size a problem in reliably answering important neonatology treatment questions (to reduce chance of random error)

• need 1000s not 100s babies for reliable evidence

• projects must be collaborative and international

International health: neonatal/perinatal research Prof. William Tarnow-Mordi and Dr Lisa Askie NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre University of Sydney 2005

What Is Clear!

What is quite clear is that the more premature and/or extremely small a baby might be , the greater the risk of death and the greater the risk of handicap/disability in those who survive!

Risk Factors for PB• History of PB• Multi-foetal pregnancy• Some uterine and cervical abnormalities• Infection• Diabetes Mellitus• Hypertension• Late or no prenatal care• Smoking• Alcohol and illicit drug use• Maternal age <20 or >40• Genetics

Catherine W. Harrison Senior Health Policy Analyst The Joint Commission On Health Care 2006

Australian Statistics

Around 17,500 Australian babies are born prematurely (before 37 weeks gestation) every year. This accounts for approximately 7 per cent of births. Some babies die as a result of being born too early, but risks are related to the gestation (time spent in the womb) at delivery and birth weight. Those babies that survive often face complications because their organs are too immature to function properly outside the womb.

Department of Health Victoria Disability Online 2007

Before 24 Weeks Average Birth Weight At 23 Weeks: 588 Grams

Some infants born before 24 weeks are not resuscitated at birth because survival without severe disability is unusual. Others are resuscitated but do not live long enough to be admitted to the NICU. Less than one-third of infants born before 24 weeks and admitted to a NICU will survive.

Anticipating The Birth Of An Extremely Premature Baby (Published by the Victorian Government Department of Human Services, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. September 2005)

Hospital stay:• Most will spend about four to five months in

hospital. • Generally need breathing assistance for at least

two months and almost all develop chronic lung disease of prematurity and be discharged home on oxygen.

• Some will develop severe damage to their eyes (ROP) necessitating laser therapy.

Long term outcomes:• 2/3 discharged home are without disability or will

be mildly disabled. • Remaining 1/3 will have severe disability,

affecting hearing, vision and overall development.

24 Weeks Average Birthweight: 657 Grams

Almost 200 infants of 24 weeks gestation are admitted to NICUs across Australia and New Zealand each year. About half will survive.

Hospital stay:• Most are in hospital for three to four months. • Generally need respiratory support of some kind

for the first few months. • Almost will develop chronic lung disease of

prematurity and require home oxygen. Some will need laser therapy for ROP

Long term outcomes:• Long term outcomes are similar to those for the

23-week infant. • Approx 2/3 discharged home will be without

disability or mildly disabled, although still independent.

• 1/3 will be severely disabled and require help with daily tasks.

25 Weeks Average Birthweight: 767 Grams

More than 200 infants born at 25 weeks gestation are admitted to Australian and New Zealand NICUs each year. By this gestation, survival rates have climbed to around 70 per cent.

Hospital stay:

Generally infants at this gestation spend approximately three to four months in hospital and about six to seven weeks on respiratory support.

Long term outcomes:

Many infants discharged home at this age will be without disability or be mildly disabled. Some will be severely disabled.

26 Weeks Average Birthweight: 884 Grams

Each year, nearly 250 infants of this gestation are admitted to Australian and New Zealand NICUs, 80 per cent of whom survive.

Hospital stay: These infants spend approximately three months

in hospital. In most cases respiratory support is required for about five weeks.

Long term outcomes: Most infants discharged home at this age will be

without disability or be mildly disabled. Some will be severely disabled.

27 Weeks Average Birthweight: 1,002 Grams

More than 300 infants of 27 weeks gestation are admitted to Australian and New Zealand NICUs each year. The survival rate: 90 per cent.

Hospital stay: An average of three months in hospital. These

infants often need less time on respiratory support.

Long term outcomes: Almost all infants discharged home will be without

disability; however a few will have some disability. Some infants will be discharged home on oxygen.

28 Weeks And Beyond Average Birthweight: 1,134 Grams

Approx. 450 infants born at 28 weeks are admitted to Australian and New Zealand NICUs each year. The survival rate is greater than 90%

Hospital stay:

Usually spend nine or ten weeks in hospital. They usually require breathing support for only a few weeks.

Long term outcomes:

Long term outcomes are brighter for infants born at or beyond 28 weeks. The majority of these infants survive without disability.

The Morbidity of Prematurity

Neonatal• Death• Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) • Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) &

periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)• Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)• Infection• Metabolic abnormalities• Nutritional deficiencies

Source: Iams JD, Creasy RK. Preterm labor and delivery, Chapter 34. In: Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice, 5th ed., 2004

Perinatal Mortality & Gestational Age

Source: Mercer BM. Preterm premature rupture of the membranes. Obstet Gynecol 2003;101:178-93. Reproduced with permission from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Short term

• Feeding and growth difficulties• Infection• Apnea• Neurodevelopmental difficulties• Retinopathy• Transient dystonia

Long term• Vision impairment• Cerebral palsy• Sensory deficits• Special health care needs• Incomplete catch-up growth• School difficulties• Behavioral problems• Chronic lung disease# “Autism”# Feeding problems/anorexia# ADHD# Pain suffered by PB’s long term effects (# other studies see below)

Timing of Outcomes

“The most severe diagnoses are usually evident by ages 2 to 4 (CP, major retardation, blindness, deafness).  The less severe diagnoses (low or mildly retarded IQ, learning and behaviour problems, mild visual and hearing problems and problems with hearing and visual processing) are not always known till age 8 to 11 or even later.  There are even some problems that may not show up till late adolescence or adulthood -- eg. seizures, or late loss of vision from ROP.”

Timing of Diagnoses of Prematurity Impacts Helen Harrison These observations to the prematurity parents support internet mailing lists on prematurity: Preemie-child and Preemie-L.

Oxygen Use In Preterm Babies Most common therapy given to sick, small

babies:• 1950s: unrestricted, high O2, subsequent huge

increase in blindness• 1960s: increased early mortality due to O2

restriction– for every 1 sight saved (benefit), 16 additional

deaths (harm)

• 1970s, 80s, 90s: new monitors, no (double masked randomised controlled trial) RCTs

• 2000s: two small RCTs in chronic oxygen dependent babies

• ………. there has never been a shred of convincing evidence to guide limits for the rational use of supplemental oxygen in the care of extremely premature infants. For decades, the optimum range of oxygenation (to balance four competing risks: mortality, ROP-blindness, chronic lung disease and brain damage) was, and remains to this day, unknown.”

Silverman WA. A cautionary tale about supplemental oxygen: the albatross of neonatal medicine. Pediatrics 2004; 113(2):394-6

Benefits of Oxygen Saturation Targeting, trial II (BOOST II)

Study treatment • Inspired oxygen to a target of 85–89% arterial

oxygen saturation or 91–95% saturation  Main outcome measures • death or major disability at 2 years of age  • retinal surgery, neonatal chronic lung disease,

growth impairment, use of health care resources  

Planned accrual  1200 infants  Funding National Health and Medical Research

Council

Retinopathy of prematurity occurs primarily in premature infants born at 23-28 weeks gestation, or in those weighing less than 1000 grams, although it has also occurred in some full -term infants. The condition is related to retinal blood vessels, which are not fully developed in premature infants. Although oxygen was long believed to be the culprit in causing the disease, it is not a sole factor; the exact cause (and best treatment) of ROP has yet to be discovered (even after over 50 years of study). Current guidelines for perinatal care recommend that all infants born at less than 30 weeks of gestation, or who weigh less than 1300 grams at birth, should be checked for ROP before leaving the hospital, regardless of whether they were exposed to oxygen.

(Retinopathy of Prematurity Kate Moss Family Support Specialist, TSBVI Deafblind Outreach 2003)

How oxygen causes Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP):

• Early fetal life - retina is avascular. Vessels grow out from the centre, controlled by a growth factor (VEGF), released by normal hypoxic retinal tissue.

• After PB, oxygen treatment may flood the retina with oxygen. As lung disease resolves and inspired oxygen is reduced, the ischaemic peripheral retina becomes severely hypoxic. There is abnormally high secretion of VEGF and new vessels and fibrous tissue proliferate and invade the vitreous.

• Fibrous contraction leads to retinal detachment and visual loss.

• Destroying these proliferating vessels by ablative laser surgery can prevent retinal detachment. This saves central vision in some cases, but there is often residual visual loss.

• Of survivors at 27 weeks gestation or less, 50% have ROP, 12.5% have severe (Grade III/ IV) ROP,2 56% of these have surgery, but about 10% of those treated become blind.

• New recommendations will result in more infants with severe ROP having laser surgery. Of survivors of 28-29 weeks’ gestation, <2% get severe ROP.

NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre Which oxygen saturation level should we use

for very premature infants? A randomised controlled trial Professor William Tarnow-Mordi et al 2006.

“I’m what’s called a retrolental fibroplasia child: When I was born ten weeks premature, they put me in a humidicrib and the only way they could keep me alive was by using pure oxygen. It caused blood vessels to grow, which pulled the retinas off the back of my eyes, so I guess I lost my sight a few hours after birth.”

Professor Ron McCallum:

Incidence of Neurosensory & Developmental Outcomes – Low

Birthweight

• Mental Retardation: Incidence in <1,500 g BW: 5% Incidence in <1,000 g BW: 12% Incidence in <800 g BW: 22% Incidence in Total Population: 2-3%

• Cerebral palsy: Incidence in <1,500 g BW: 3% Incidence in <1,000 g BW: 6% Incidence in <800 g BW: 9% Incidence in Total Population: 0.5%

• Sensory Impairment: Incidence in <1,500 g BW: 3% Incidence in <1,000 g BW: 9% Incidence in <800 g BW: 25% Incidence in Total Population: 0.5%

• Use of any special education : Incidence in <1,500 g BW: 30% Incidence in <1,000 g BW: 50% Incidence in <800 g BW: 50% Incidence in Total Population: 23%

Health Issues in Survivors of Prematurity Jackie York, MD, Michael Devoe, MD South Med J95(9):969-976, 2002 Southern Medical Association Posted 02/13/2003

Cerebral Palsy• P B’s who weigh less than 1500 grams are

between 20 and 80 times more likely to develop cerebral palsy than full-term babies .

• The more prem and the lower the body weight the more likely the development of CP

• P B’s can suffer from bleeding in the brain, which can damage delicate brain tissue, or develop periventricular leukomalacia, destruction of nerves around the fluid-filled cavities (ventricles) in the brain.

• This is because his lungs don’t have the chance to fully develop prior to birth causing lack of oxygen to the brain.

• P B’s are also at increased risk for developing cerebral palsy if their oxygen supply is cut off at any time before, during or after birth.

• Steroid use can also increase the likelihood of CP.

Platt, M., et al. Trends in Cerebral Palsy Among Infants of Very Low Birthweight (<1500 g) or Born Prematurely (<32 Weeks) in 16 European Centres: A Database Study. Lancet, volume 369, January 6, 2006, pages 43-50.

Barrington, K. The adverse neurodevelopmental effects of postnatal steroids in the preterm infant: a systematic review of RCTs. BMC Pediatrics 2001;1;1.

Hearing Impairment

About one in four preterm VLBW babies has peripheral and/or central hearing impairment at term. VLBW and its associated unfavourable perinatal factors predispose the babies to hearing impairment.

Jiang ZD, Brosi DM, Wilkinson AR; Hearing impairment in preterm very low birthweight babies detected at term by brainstem auditory evoked responses.; Acta Paediatr. 2001 Dec;90(12):1411-5. [abstract]

Autism Children with visual impairments can be on the

autism spectrum as well.• It is a brain-based disorder so those children with

neurological vulnerabilities (e.g., seizure disorders, septo-optic dysplasia,

• Prematurity associated with bleeds, agenesis of the corpus callosum, congenital rubella syndrome, etc.) may be at increased risk.

• There needs to be more cautious in the terminology “autistic-like” in that it can result in missed diagnosis and/or delay in procuring appropriate services for those children who are on the autism spectrum.

Strategies useful for children who are visually impaired and autistic vary considerably from those effective for children who are just visually impaired

Autism is a brain related disorder; that estimated that 50% of blind children have LD and 56% of those with severe LD or IQ<50 have autism)

Autism and Visual Impairment Terese Pawletco FOCAL Points, Fall 2002 Volume 1, Issue 2

Positive Screening for Autism in Ex-Preterm Infants.

• 91 toddlers who had been born prematurely, 26% had positive autism screening scores. 29% toddlers had functional delays in motor abilities, 19% had delayed daily living skills and 23% had communication problems.

• Analysis revealed that gestational age, birth weight, male gender, placental inflammation (chorioamnionitis) and severity of illness on admission were all associated with abnormal Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers scores.

• The study has described a high prevalence of features of autistic spectrum disorders among "survivors of extremely premature birth".

• This study provides evidence that toddlers who are born prematurely experience some developmental delays and other impairments that may be similar to those seen with autism spectrum disorders.

• The population of preterm babies in this study were a 'selected high-risk' group the findings may not apply to healthier preterm populations.

• The study descriptive. Little information that can be generalised to the wider population. It is unclear how positive screen tests in a high-risk population translate into actual diagnoses of autism

Premature Babies And Autism

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/103100.php Positive Screening for Autism in Ex-preterm Infants: Prevalence and Risk

Factors. Study Limperopoulos C, Bassan H, Sullivan NR, et al. Pediatrics 2008; 758-765

Cognitive Impairment

Many studies from 1987 to 1999 indicate all over the world for very low birth weight = <1,500 g :

• Rates of 6% to 23% Severe disability = mental retardation with an IQ <50, cerebral palsy with inability to walk, blindness, or deafness. (Mean = 11.44%)

• Rates of 9% to 57% Mild disability = combinations of slow learning (IQ 70-84), coordination, communication, and learning and perceptual disorders. Moderate disability = cognitive disabilities of mild mental retardation (IQ 50-70), hearing loss, or cerebral palsy with the ability to walk. (Mean = 22.5%)

Health Issues in Survivors of Prematurity Jackie York, MD, Michael Devoe, MD South Med J95(9):969-976, 2002 Southern Medical Association Posted 02/13/2003

Study (2003 in UK) development of all babies born at 25 weeks gestation or less during the first 10 months of 1995:

• 308 children who survived, 241 underwent formal psychological assessment using standard cognitive, language, phonetic and speech tests.

• Teacher rating of school achievement: 40% were found to have moderate to severe learning difficulties (boys were twice as likely to be adversely affected as girls).

• Rates of severe, moderate, and mild disability were 22%, 24%, and 34%, respectively.

• Disabling cerebral palsy occurred in 30 children representing 12%.

• Children with severe disability at 30 months of age, 86% still had moderate-to-severe disability at 6 years of age.

• Other disabilities at the age of 30 months were poorly predictive of developmental problems at 6 years of age. Likely that improvement may occur but it is less likely with greater severity.

Marlow N. Wilke D. Bracewell MA. et al; Neurologic and developmental

disability at six years of age after extremely preterm birth.; N Engl J Med. 2005 Jan 6;352(1):9-19. [abstract]

Education and Learning

Another study has suggested that children who were very premature may deteriorate rather than improve:

• Children compared at the age of 8 and 15 and found - full IQ dropped from an average of 104 to 95 and that the number needing extra educational provision rose from 15 to 24%.

• Same children assessed at 8 and 15 and so it does not represent better neonatal care in the younger ones.

• Results indicate between the ages of 8 and 15 years there is an apparent deterioration in neurodevelopmental outcome category, cognitive function, and extra educational support.

• It is not clear whether this represents a genuine deterioration in neurocognitive function or whether it represents the expression of pre-existing cerebral pathology in an increasingly complex environment.

O’Brien F. Roth S. Stewart A et al; The neurodevelopmental progress of infants less than 33 weeks into adolescence.; Arch Dis Child. 2004 Mar;89(3):207-11. [abstract]

Behavioural/ADHD And Psychomotor Problems

A study from looked at 7 and 8 year olds who were born before 32 attended mainstream school compared with full-term children of similar age in their class at school:

• Disabilities can be subtle and numerous and so a range of tests was used. Preterm children had a higher incidence of motor impairment, and this affected how well they did at school even when their intelligence was normal.

• Over 30% had developmental coordination disorder compared with 6% of classmates.

Foulder-Hughes LA. Cooke RW; Motor, cognitive, and behavioural disorders in children born very preterm.; Dev Med Child Neurol. 2003 Feb;45(2):97-103. [abstract]

• Preterm children were significantly more likely be overactive, easily distractible, impulsive, disorganized and lacking in persistence, and to overestimate their ability.

• ADHD) was found in 8.9% of the preterm children

and 2% of controls.

• The children who had been the most premature were not necessarily those with the lowest scores. Although major disabilities have been reduced, the levels of disability tested here did not seem lower than those found in children born 10 or 20 years earlier, despite changes in care of the newborn.

Pain

• There have been some studies suggesting that the painful procedures that PB’s suffer cause long term problems in cognition, emotional response and behaviour.

• The observation of their children during the lengthy stay in hospital probably has long term effects on the parents (i.e. PTSD) and have affects upon the way their children are parented.

Feeding Problems - Anorexia

• Perinatal Factors and the Risk of Developing Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa Angela Favaro, MD, PhD, MSc; Elena Tenconi, PhD; Paolo Santonastaso, MD Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63:82-88.

• Very preterm birth, birth trauma, and the risk of

anorexia nervosa among girls. Cnattingius S, Hultman CM, Dahl M, Sparen P.. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56:634-638.

• Cnattinguis et al found that girls developed very prematurely were three times more likely to develop anorexia which required hospital treatment." He hypothesised that premature birth resulted in small brain injuries which affected visual perception and appetite.

• Favaro et al found a significantly higher risk of eating disorders was found for subjects with specific types of obstetric complications (including premature birth). An impairment in neurodevelopment could be implicated in the pathogenesis of eating disorders.

• “a small but important minority of all teenage girls with anorexia nervosa in the general population meet diagnostic criteria for autistic disorder, Asperger syndrome or atypical autism.”

Preterm Birth Increasing in the US 1994 -2004

Total (<37 weeks), Very (<32 weeks) and Late Preterm Births (34-36 weeks) U.S.,

1990- 2003

Increase of PB in the US

• The increase between 1991 and 2006 in the proportions of low birth weight (from 6.5% to 7.0%) and preterm babies (from 6.9% to 8.2%).

• The greatest increase is in the late pre-term and the preterm.

• Similar results have occurred in Australia.

Why are Late Preterm Rates Rising?

– Changing culture of childbearing more high risk pregnancies (AMA, chronic/developing problems, multiples, infertility management, obesity, GDM)

– Maternal and foetal disorders – better risk assessment and timing, reduce stillbirths

– Multiple gestation

– Errors in judgment

Convenience of the family and/or the obstetrician

* increase in survival to almost 100% at 34 weeks therefore increasing rates of elective inductions and section before 39 weeks despite

– Window to administer antenatal steroids 24-34 weeks

– Increasing maternal age

– Increasing rates of multiple gestations

Morbidities associated with Late PTB?Need to separate causes and effects

• Increased immediate morbidities:

• Respiratory distress• Jaundice• Feeding difficulties• Hypoglycemia• Temperature instability• Sepsis

• Increased NICU use (and re-admissions)• Increased cost• Long term outcome - ??

Late Prematurity Facts• Late preterm delivery is increasing

– up at least 16% from 1993

– straining the Public Health system

– 52% of late preterm infants are delivered by

caesarean, a much higher rate than term infants

• Late-Preterm infants are:

– a majority of NICU admissions

– the greatest percentage of NICU patients to receive respiratory support

– the majority of NICU economic costs

Late Prematurity Facts

• often the sickest babies in a NICU• more likely than a full term baby to be re-

hospitalized in the first year of life• twice as likely to die in the first year of life as a

full term baby• at risk for long term health issues

Brain Development in theLate Preterm Infant- Outcomes

Compared to term infants, late preterm infants:– Are twice as likely to die of SIDS– Have an 80% increased risk of ADHD– Have a 20% risk of clinically significant behaviour

problems– Are more likely to be diagnosed with Developmental

Delay in the first 3 years– Are more likely to be referred for special needs in

pre-school– Are more likely to have problems with school

readiness– Are more likely to have severe hyperbilirubinemia

and neurologic consequences from it

The Big Issues!

• Neonatal care is expensive ($100K per extremely preterm survivor) but public very willing to pay.

• Long term costs.

• Although compares very favourably in QALY (quality adjusted life year) terms with other acute hospital treatments.

• Poor outcomes = sequelae are experienced for a lifetime.

• It is important to give effective therapies that do more good than harm.

• Also to effective follow up prem babies over a longer term and provide support, early intervention and remediation.

• Parental involvement in decision making re. the chances they are taking.

• Follow up with PB’s and early intervention and support over the long haul.

Long-term Care Costs • Health-care costs: monetary value related to use of

community health services

• Educational costs: additional assistance (such as special education) required as a result of school failure & learning problems

• Social service costs: utilization of developmental services such as day care programs, case management & counselling, or respite care & residential care

• Out-of-pocket expenses: additional travel costs related to going to health & social care providers or accommodation expenses

Petrou S et al. Child Care Health Dev. 2001;27:97-115; Petrou S et al. Early Hum Dev. 2006;82:77-84.

How Low To Go! “The Dutch Paediatric Association summed its position two

years ago: "In contrast to most other countries, the Netherlands no longer has a centre which supports full care for babies born at 23-24 weeks' gestation."

Sarah Barclay asked Tina Guildford, mother of Leila — the premature baby who has no disabilities — what she thought about the Holland doctors' decision not to resuscitate babies born under 25 weeks. "That's wrong, very wrong," said Tina, "you've only got to look at Leila to see what the result is ..."

Sarah: "But she's an exception."

Tina: "Then she might have been disabled but she's still a child, she's still got a life, she still exists, no, that's wrong."

Senator Lyn Allison Dated: 9 Aug 2005Location: Parliament House - Canberra

Australia does not have a mandated cut-off point for when extremely pre-term babies should not be resuscitated or a mandated cut-off point for when pregnancies can no longer be terminated and nor should it. What we do have are guidelines and a reasonable degree of consensus between health practitioners and the public about the treatment of pre-term babies and the need for access to termination at all stages of a pregnancy. That is not to deny that there are grey cases and cases that challenge us but we do not need to respond to those by making difficult situations even more difficult. What we do need to recognise is that much more work needs to be done to reduce the rate of pre-term births..

Perinatal care at the borderlines of viability: a consensus statement based on a NSW

and ACT consensus workshop

• Perinatal care at the borderlines of viability demands a delicate balance between parents’ wishes and autonomy, biological feasibility, clinicians’ responsibilities and expectations, and the prospects of an acceptable long-term outcome — coupled with a tolerable margin of uncertainty.

• A multi-professional workshop with consumer involvement was held in February 2005 to agree on management of this issue in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Participants discussed and formulated consensus statements after an extensive consultation process.

• Consensus was reached that the “grey zone” is between 23 weeks’ and 25 weeks and 6 days’ gestation. While there is an increasing obligation to treat with increasing length of gestation, it is acceptable medical practice not to initiate intensive care during this period if parents so wish, after appropriate counselling.

• Poor condition at birth and the presence of serious congenital anomalies have an important influence on any decision not to initiate intensive care within the grey zone.

• Women at high risk of imminent delivery within the grey zone should receive appropriate and skilled counselling with the most relevant up-to-date outcome information. Management plans can thus be made before birth. Information should be simple, factual and consistent.

• The consensus statements developed will provide a framework to assist parents and clinicians in communication, decision making and managing these challenging situations.

http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/185_09_061106/lui11142_fm.html

Importance of Follow-Up Services• Preterm and LBW infants are at an increased

risk of developmental delay by the circumstances of their birth.

• Developmental delays may not be diagnosed until the child reaches school age, at which time the optimal period for intervention has passed.

- Individuals whose developmental delays go undetected until they attend school are at an increased risk of academic failure, behavioural problems, and socio-emotional disturbance.

- Studies have found that long-term public savings may be achieved if follow-up services are provided early in a child’s life by:

decreased grade repetition and spending in special

education, welfare, and juvenile justice programs; and

increased tax revenues and enhanced productivity.

• Providing follow-up services in the first years of life is crucial.

The provision of follow-up services to preterm

and LBW babies soon after their birth frequently results in increased developmental scores.

During the first years of a child’s life, the brain is especially susceptible to the positive effects of early intervention services.

Some Facts about Developmental Disabilities

• Majority of children with intellectual, social

and emotional disabilities are born healthy• Biological risk conditions(e.g., LBW, prematurity)

result in different outcomes, depending on

cognitive, social and emotional support• About 11% of children are in special education• Ethnic and regional differences in developmental

disabilities are poorly understoodEarly Head Start and Developmental Disabilities Craig T. Ramey, PhD, 2004

Why Some Well-Intended Preschool Programs Have Failed to Close the Achievement Gap:

• Poorly prepared teachers

• Educational programs not intensive enough

• Remedial rather than preventive focus

• No direct teaching of important cognitive and linguistic concepts & vocabulary

• Redundant or poorly coordinated family and early childhood services

Early Intervention, Intelligence and Academic Achievement: Empirical

Evidence for Successful Outcomes Craig T. Ramey et al 2004

• Submission to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Blueprint for Early Childhood Development and School Reform (Association for Children with a Disability)

www.acd.org.au/advocacy/content/acd_blueprint_submission.pdf

• Early Intervention, Intelligence and Academic Achievement: Empirical Evidence for Successful Outcomes Craig T. Ramey, PhD. Sharon L. Ramey, PhD. Directors, Georgetown Center on Health and Education New Orleans School System March 8-9, 2004http:

www.cdl.org/resource-library/pdf/RameyNewOrleansPpt2004.pdf

Useful Information On Disability Support & Early Intervention

EI for Vision Impaired Pre Schoolers

Early Intervention is in a very poor state in this state and country in all the disability areas. Vision Australia provides an excellent EI program for VI pre-school children and their families and pre-schools. Should we be developing centre based EI for VI pre-school students along the line of those for the hearing, impaired or children with Autism? Such programs would teach and develop those skills and abilities that will enable VI students to achieve at school socially, behaviourally and educationally.

Behaviours and Skills - EI

• Compliance

• Concentration, attention and perseverance abilities

• Social skills

• Emotional Intelligence – optimism

• Internal locus of control

• Pre literacy and pre maths skills

We Need To Look At These!• VI that is caused by genetics particularly those

individuals from unions with close family members or from areas with a restricted gene pool.

• Alcohol and drugs. *50% of pregnant women drink and 15% to excess (NO safe level of alcohol when pregnant)

• Lack of immunity for Rubella, Toxoplasmosis, CMV in recent Australian female arrivals (migrants & refugees)

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: probing the label 6/9/2008http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/stories/2008/2352982.htm#transcript

Press reports of the “worlds smallest baby” without follow up or appropriate discussion of problems [and] costs (financial and emotional) ...do nothing but create unreal expectations in parents and families.