Developmental outcomes of small infants at a high-risk clinic: A short-term longitudinal study.

Background:  Small infants face more developmental risks than their full-term peers, necessitating early intervention and long-term monitoring.

Objectives:  This study examined the longitudinal developmental and hearing outcomes of small infants attending a high-risk clinic in a South African low-income community setting.

Method:  A short-term longitudinal within-subject descriptive study design was employed, where 28 participants underwent hearing and developmental screenings and assessments at two follow-up appointments (T1 and T2), at 6- and 12-month corrected age. Developmental outcomes, such as communication, motor and daily living skills, were evaluated using developmental screening tools (Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status [PEDS]), hearing screening (ABR MB11) and developmental assessments (Vineland-3).

Results:  All participants underwent hearing screening, with four (14.3%) failing twice (T1 and T2) and being referred for diagnostic evaluation. Developmental screening at T1 identified concerns in communication, gross motor and social-emotional skills (28.5%). Concerns persisted across T1 and T2 in the PEDS tool, with fine motor skills emerging as a key issue at T2. Vineland-3 assessments showed improvement from T1 to T2; initial concerns in daily living (M = 104.12; standard deviation [s.d.] = 38.99) and motor skills (M = 88.82; s.d. = 45.26) were no longer present at T2, where all participants had age-appropriate developmental scores.

Conclusion:  The findings highlight the need for comprehensive, routine developmental monitoring and early intervention to address delays in small infants. Continued follow-up care and support from birth to 12 months corrected age can improve outcomes and caregiver developmental literacy. Contribution: This study provides valuable insights for caregivers, healthcare policymakers and early intervention professionals by emphasising the importance of early screening, continuous monitoring and caregiver education in optimising developmental outcomes for small infants.