02806nas a2200433   4500000000100000008004100001653001100042653001100053653000900064653001900073653001400092653001400106653001000120653003700130653002700167653003000194653001800224653003700242653002800279653002700307653003800334653003000372100001700402700001800419700002200437700001600459700002100475700001700496700002000513700001800533700001500551700001900566700002200585245010500607300001000712490000700722520162900729022001402358       2016                            d10aFemale10aHumans10aMale10aCohort Studies10aAustralia10aPregnancy10aChild10aOutcome Assessment (Health Care)10aOceanic Ancestry Group10aCommunity Health Planning10aExercise Test10aFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders10aNervous System Diseases10aNeurologic Examination10aPrenatal Exposure Delayed Effects10aStatistics, Nonparametric1 aLatimer Jane1 aLucas Barbara1 aFitzpatrick James1 aDoney Robyn1 aWatkins Rochelle1 aTsang Tracey1 aJirikowic Tracy1 aOlson Heather1 aOscar June1 aCarter Maureen1 aElliott Elizabeth00aSoft neurological signs and prenatal alcohol exposure: a population-based study in remote Australia.  a861-70 v583 a<p>
<b>AIM: </b>To identify soft neurological signs (SNS) in a population-based study of children living in remote Aboriginal communities in the Fitzroy Valley, Western Australia, born between 2002 and 2003 and explore the relationship between SNS, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
</p>

<p>
<b>METHOD: </b>The presence of SNS was assessed using the Quick Neurological Screening Test, 2nd edition (QNST-2), which has a total maximum score of 140. Higher scores indicated more SNS. 'Severe discrepancy' was defined as scores less than or equal to the fifth centile while 'moderate discrepancy' represented scores from the sixth to the 24th centile. Children were assigned FASD diagnoses using modified Canadian FASD diagnostic guidelines.
</p>

<p>
<b>RESULTS: </b>A total of 108 of 134 (80.6%) eligible children (mean age 8y 9mo, SD=6mo, 53% male) were assessed. The median QNST-2 Total Score for all participants was within the normal category (19.0, range 4-66). However, the median QNST-2 Total Score was higher in children with than without (1) PAE (r=0.2, p=0.045) and (2) FASD (r=0.3, p=0.004). Half (8/16) of children scoring 'moderate discrepancy' and all (2/2) children scoring 'severe discrepancy' had at least three domains of central nervous system impairment.
</p>

<p>
<b>INTERPRETATION: </b>SNS were more common in children with PAE or FASD, consistent with the known neurotoxic effect of PAE. The QNST-2 is a useful screen for subtle neurological dysfunction indicating the need for more comprehensive assessment in children with PAE or FASD.
</p>
  a1469-8749