Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale

Template:Infobox diagnostic The Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS), also known as the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale (BNAS),<ref name = Kaplan>Kaplan, R. M., & Sacuzzo, D. P.(2010). Psychological Testing: Principles, Applications, & Issues, Eighth Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning</ref> was developed in 1973 by T. Berry Brazelton and his colleagues.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This test purports to provide an index of a newborn's abilities, and is usually given to an infant somewhere between the age of 3 days to 4 weeks old.<ref name = Kaplan /> The test is designed to describe the neonate's response to the environment after being born.<ref name=":0" /> This approach was innovative for recognizing that a baby is a highly developed organism, even when just newly born. The profile describes the baby's strengths, adaptive responses and possible vulnerabilities. This knowledge may help parents develop appropriate strategies for caring in intimate relationships to enhance their earliest relationship with the child.

Test procedure

The Brazelton scale produces a total of 47 scores, of which 27 are behavioral related and 20 are elicited responses. These scores measure a variety of areas including the "neurological, social, and behavioral aspects of a newborn's functioning."<ref name = Kaplan /> Additionally, "factors such as reflexes, responses to stress, startle reactions, cuddliness, motor maturity, ability to habituate to sensory stimuli, and hand-mouth coordination are all assessed."<ref name = Kaplan />

Validity evidence is strong for the Brazelton scale, providing a considerable research base.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This scale has been used widely as a research tool as well as a diagnostic tool for special purposes. Following is a list of various research projects that have implemented the Brazelton scale:

• "Used to evaluate the effects of low birth weight on premature infants"<ref name = Kaplan />
• "Used it to study the effects of cocaine use in pregnancy"<ref name = Kaplan />
• "Prenatal alcohol exposure"<ref name = Kaplan />
• "Prenatal Iron deficiency"<ref name = Kaplan />
• "Prenatal maternal mood"<ref name = Kaplan />
• "Prenatal maternal dopamine levels"<ref name = Kaplan />
• "Environmental agents"<ref name = Kaplan />
• "Parent-infant attachment"<ref name = Kaplan />
• "Gender differences in newborns"<ref name = Kaplan />
• "High-risk neonates"<ref name = Kaplan />

Despite the influence of the Brazelton scale, it has some drawbacks. The biggest is that no norms are available. Therefore, as examiners and researchers say that one infant scored higher than another one, there is no standard sample with which to compare. NBAS examiners are trained to encourage neonates to demonstrate a full range of their behavioral capabilities in an attempt to mitigate this potential drawback.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Further, the scores are not completely understood; further testing is required. As for validity, it has "poorly documented predictive and construct validity."<ref name="Kaplan" /> It also does not do a good job at predicting later intelligence, although the scale is supposed to assess the "infant's role in the mother-infant social relationship"<ref name="Kaplan" /> from which high scores are supposed to presume "high levels of intelligence.".<ref name="Kaplan" />

A 2018 systematic review of the NBAS on its relationship to supporting caregivers and improving outcomes for caregivers and infants found only very low-quality evidence for improving parent-infant interaction for mostly low-risk, first time caregivers and their infants.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Therefore, the primary value of the test is as a research tool and a supplement test to other medical testing procedures.

Training is necessary for effective and reliable administration of the NBAS. Template:Citation needed

Further reading

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External links

• The Brazelton Institute