Reliability and validity of the Hempel Neurological Examination
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reliability and validity of the Hempel Neurological Examination
IRAS ID
164369
Contact name
Brigitte Vollmer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 18 days
Research summary
Survival rates of infants born preterm or with neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy have improved during the last decades. However, the rate of so-called minor neurological problems/dysfunction (MND) in these high risk infants is high (around 50%). MND emerges with age, and are especially expressed at school-age. MND at school-age is well known to be related to present and future behavioural, cognitive and motor impairment. However, it might be that it is possible to detect these children at earlier age, i.e., at pre-school age. If this is possible, this would offer an opportunity for early intervention, and perhaps prevention, of these disorders.
The neurological examination according to Hempel, designed to assess minor neurological dysfunction (MND), seems a good candidate tool for early detection of minor developmental disorders at preschool age. MND at school-age is well known to be related to present and future behavioural, cognitive, and motor impairments. Whether the same holds true for pre-school age is largely unknown. Only limited information is available on the validity of the Hempel assessment. It is restricted to information on the construct validity. The aim of the present study is to determine the reliability and validity of the Hempel assessment applied in a clinical setting. To this end, populations of high risk infants in Melbourne (Australia) and Southampton (UK) will be assessed. At both sites, children born preterm and children with neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy who are due for their routine clinical two-year assessment and their parents will be invited to take part in this study. If they agree, the Hempel assessment will be performed on the same day as their routine clinical assessments.REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0178
Date of REC Opinion
25 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion