The Movement Assessment of Infants (MAI) as a predictor of two-year neurodevelopmental outcome for infants born at term who are at social risk.

Purpose: This prospective longitudinal study was designed to evaluate whether the four-month Movement Assessment of Infants (MAI), predicted two-year cognitive and motor developmental status measured by the Mental (MDI) and Psychomotor (PDI) Scales of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID).
Methods: The subjects were 134 infants born at term who were considered at developmental risk due to biological and social risk factors. Different masked examiners assessed the infants at each age.
Results: Infants' average MAI total risk scores (MAI TRS) at four months were negatively correlated with their BSID MDI scores (r = -0.23, p = 0.007) but not PDI scores at two years. Infants classified as high risk on the MAI (TRS >13) were approximately three times more likely than infants with a lower risk MAI classification (TRS < or =13) to have a high-risk MDI (< or =84) classification. Lower MAI risk status at four months was a predictor of cognitive functioning falling within normal limits for age (MDI >84) at two years, with 76% negative and 50% positive predictive values.
Conclusion: The MAI appears to be valid for use with infants born at term who are at risk of developmental delay and may be a useful tool to help clinicians make decisions about intervention services.