Why Is a Neonatal Neurobehavioral Assessment Conducted After Birth?

Infancy and early childhood represent a critical period for brain development, during which the brain grows most rapidly within the first two years of life and exhibits its greatest neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s capacity to be modified by environmental stimuli or experience. The critical period for language development begins at six months after birth, and by age three, approximately 90% of brain development is complete—hence the common saying, “You can tell a child’s future at age three,” which holds a certain degree of scientific validity.

Early education during this period is crucial for the child’s development. Neurobehavioral developmental assessments enable timely identification of deviations, allowing for prompt intervention and correction.Moreover, the incidence of preterm birth has increased in recent years, placing infants at higher risk for complications such as cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, delayed language development, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Regular health monitoring and early intervention can significantly reduce the occurrence of such complications and improve both the child’s quality of life and the family’s overall well-being.

We assess an infant’s neurodevelopmental status across five domains: gross motor skills, fine motor skills, cognitive abilities (adaptive functioning), language development, and social-emotional behavior.