Neonatal NeurobehavioralAssessment Scale comparing preterm and fullterm neonates

Abstract

The Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) was developed in 1973 by Dr. T. Berry Brazelton and his colleagues. The scale represents a guide that helps parents, health care providers and researchers understand the newborn's language (Brazelton et al., 2011). The Scale looks at a wide range of behaviors and is suitable for examining newborns and infants up to two months old. It was designed to go beyond available assessments by revealing the infant's strengths and range of individuality, while still providing a health screen (Brazelton et al., 2011). The NBAS is based on several key assumptions. First, infants, even ones that seem vulnerable, are highly capable when they are born. They are capable of controlling their behaviour in order to respond to their new environment. Second, infants communicate through their behaviour, like when they take steps to control their environment, such as crying to get a response from their caregivers. Third, infants are social organisms, ready to shape as well as be shaped by the care giving environment (Nugent et al., 2009). The Scale was built to 28 behavioural and 18 reflex items. It assesses the baby's capabilities across different developmental areas and describes how the baby integrates these areas as they deals with their new environment (Nugent et al., 2009). When infants are born they face four developmental tasks vital to their growth. They need to control their autonomic, motor and state development and when an infant's autonomic, motor and state systems are in equilibrium, they are ready to interact socially, the ultimate developmental task. The Scale examines how well the infant manages these interrelated tasks and sees if the baby may need extra caregiving support in some areas (Brazelton et al., 2011).