Neurological Assessment in the First Two Years of Life

The book provides a review of the state of the art of neurological assessment in the first two years of life and identifies the most appropriate instruments for the follow-up of newborns who are at risk of developing neurological abnormalities.

After a brief description of the neurophysiological basis of development in the first years, the book provides a comprehensive review of the various methods used for the neurological assessment in young infants describing how a combined approach of clinical and instrumental investigations can provide important diagnostic and prognostic information.

The first part of the book describes the most used clinical neurological examinations and their applications in infants with neurological abnormalities, followed by a description of the value of neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques in normal preterm and full term infants in the first two years and the main types of abnormal MR findings of neurophysiological findings (EEG and evoked potentials) in relation to brain lesions.
Other sections include chapters describing techniques assessing specific aspects of cognitive, perceptual and sensory abilities. Special attention is given to hearing, language and communication and to development of vision and visual attention both in normal infants and in those with neonatal brain lesions.

The final chapters are devoted to intervention, describing how the identification of specific profiles of impairment can lead to the development of appropriate plans of early intervention.

Authors' Appointments

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Neurophysiological Basis of Development

Chapter 3: Neurological Assessment in Normal Young Infants

Chapter 4: Classical Neurological Examination in Young Infants with Neonatal Brain Lesions

Chapter 5: Other Approaches to Neurological Assessment

Chapter 6: Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Infant Brain

Chapter 7: Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Electrophysiology

Chapter 8: Assessment of the Development of High-Risk Infants in the First Two Years

Chapter 9: Cognitive Development in the First Two Years of Life

Chapter 10: Hearing, Language and Communication

Chapter 11: Development of Vision and Visual Attention

Chapter 12: Visual Function in Children with Neonatal Brain Lesions

Chapter 13: From Observation to Rehabilitation

Chapter 14: Longitudinal Multi-Centre Follow-Up of High-Risk Neonates: Current Status and Future Prospects

Giovanni Cioni and Eugenio Mercuri are the authors of Neurological Assessment in the First Two Years of Life, published by Wiley. The book provides a review of the state of the art of neurological assessment in the first two years of life and identifies the most appropriate instruments for the follow-up of newborns who are at risk of developing neurological abnormalities.

After a brief description of the neurophysiological basis of development in the first years, the book provides a comprehensive review of the various methods used for the neurological assessment in young infants describing how a combined approach of clinical and instrumental investigations can provide important diagnostic and prognostic information.

The first part of the book describes the most used clinical neurological examinations and their applications in infants with neurological abnormalities, followed by a description of the value of neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques in normal preterm and full term infants in the first two years and the main types of abnormal MR findings of neurophysiological findings (EEG and evoked potentials) in relation to brain lesions.
Other sections include chapters describing techniques assessing specific aspects of cognitive, perceptual and sensory abilities. Special attention is given to hearing, language and communication and to development of vision and visual attention both in normal infants and in those with neonatal brain lesions.
The final chapters are devoted to intervention, describing how the identification of specific profiles of impairment can lead to the development of appropriate plans of early intervention.