Brazelton Scale: Characteristics, And What It Is For
The arrival of a new human being into the world is in most cases a reason for joy, at least when we talk about a desired pregnancy.
After the moment of delivery, a series of small tests are carried out, in a test or battery of tests that allow us to evaluate the state of health and the newborn’s ability to react. One of the most typical, well-known and used is the Apgar test, which is usually carried out a few minutes after delivery and allows us to get a general idea of the baby’s health.
But the Apgar test is not the only test that can be given to a newborn, there are many others that allow obtaining large amounts of information regarding the child’s perception and response abilities. One of them is the Brazelton scale or test, a frequently used test that provides information linked to the development of behaviors or the existence of reflexes. And it is about this last test that we are going to talk about throughout this article.
The Brazelton test or scale, also known as the Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale, is a tool that allows early detection of neurodevelopmental problems
This is a type of highly interactive test in which a series of 53 items, 35 of which analyze the behavior of infants (seven of which are considered complementary and tell us about the need for stimulation) while the rest are aimed at assessing the existence of certain reflexes. While the behavioral items are scored based on a 9-point scale, those referring to reflexes evaluate good neurological status on a 4-point scale.
The Brazelton scale is considered one of the most suitable for identifying the existence of deficits or difficulties in the abilities of newborns, resulting in a very detailed evaluation that allows establishing a profile of scores regarding various aspects of health. And even if there is no deficit as such, allows us to assess the general way of reacting to the child’s environment (which in turn gives us an idea of his temperament) or if some behaviors are more difficult for him than others.
It is a very useful tool that allows obtaining results at a quantitative level, and although it is not mandatory in the national Health system, it tends to be applied in the first days of the minor’s life. It also allows evaluating the existence of certain abilities both while awake and during sleep, and although it generally follows a certain scheme or order in the application of the tests, some flexibility is allowed in their application, and the evaluation can be developed depending on the baby situation.
Main aspects evaluated
The Brazelton scale is a broad and quite complete scale, which includes a total of 53 items that allow us to get an idea of the neonate’s abilities in different areas of functioning. These items are grouped into a set of large aspects, factors or modules, which include grouping different tests depending on the type of classification that is carried out.
1. Autonomic nervous system
Includes evaluation of reflexes and health status linked to the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. In this sense, it takes charge of the basic functions of the body, including breathing and temperature regulation, variations in skin color or the presence of tremors or startles.
A second module focused on the good state of reflexes and the ability to move, in which muscle tone appears involved It includes items such as motor maturity, response to hugs, general muscle tone or the lability of the child’s condition.
3. Habituation
This testing module aims to evaluate the minor’s ability to get used to stimulation, assessing whether it is capable of inhibiting its reactions and even being able to sleep in the presence of light or repetitive stimulation. It includes tests such as decreased response to light, sound, or tactile stimulation, as well as observing their condition or response to uncovering.
4. Organization of the state
A module that aims to answer the question of how it is able to organize itself to activate and respond to stimulation It includes items that assess the level of activity, hand-mouth ability, speed of reaction to stimulation or moment of maximum excitement.
5. State regulation
In this module you observe and analyze the child’s ability to manage himself and react to stimulation It includes a series of items that assess the ability to comfort oneself or receive comfort from the environment, the ability to become irritated by stimulation or to struggle to maintain attention, or the ability to request help.
6. Social interactive
A set of items that can only be performed when the minor is calm and awake. They share with each other the fact that they allow us to evaluate the degree of reaction and the ability to follow visual and sound stimuli, especially those typical of interaction with others.
In this sense Items that assess animate and inanimate visual and auditory orientation are included both individually and simultaneously.
7. Use of this scale
The Brazelton scale was created primarily to be used within the clinical setting and to serve as an instrument to detect possible anomalies in the development of newborns, which could arise from alterations during fetal development. However, although it is used for this purpose, it has also received great attention within the field of research.
These scales have also often been used not only to assess difficulties but as a mechanism to bring positions closer together and promote interaction between the child and his environment something facilitated by the fact that we are facing a very interactive test.
It has been observed that it helps to increase confidence and parental attitudes as well as to establish communication that allows one to begin to understand and learn what the child is like.
