Brazelton Scale: characteristics, and what it is used for

Let's see what the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale, or Brazelton test, is.

The arrival of a new human being into the world is in most cases a cause for joy, at least when we are talking about a desired pregnancy.

After the moment of delivery, a series of small tests are carried out, in a test or battery of tests, which allow us to evaluate the state of health of the newborn. that allow us to evaluate the state of health and the newborn's ability to react. One of the most typical, well-known and widely used is the Apgar test, which is usually performed a few minutes after birth and gives us a general idea of the baby's state of health.

But the Apgar test is not the only test that can be performed on a newborn, and there are many others that allow us to obtain large amounts of information regarding the child's perception and response capabilities. 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.a frequently used test that provides information related to the development of behaviors or the existence of reflexes. And it is about this last test that we are going to talk about in this article.

The Brazelton scale: what is it?

The Brazelton test or scale, also known as the Scale for the Evaluation of Neonatal Behavior, is a tool for the early detection of neurodevelopmental problems..

It is a highly interactive type of test in which a series of 53 items, 35 of them a series of 53 items, 35 of which analyze the behavior of the infants. (seven of which are considered complementary and tell us about the need for stimulation of the latter) while the rest are aimed at assessing the existence of certain reflexes. While the behavioral items are scored on a 9-point scale, the reflex items assess the 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 to establish a profile of scores for various aspects of health. And even if there is no deficit as such, it allows us to assess the general way in which the child reacts to the environment (which in turn gives us an idea of their temperament) or if some behaviors are more difficult than others.

It is a very useful tool that allows results to be obtained at a quantitative levelAlthough it is not mandatory in the national health system, it tends to be applied in the first days of a child's life. It also allows to evaluate the existence of certain capacities both in wakefulness and during sleep, and although it usually follows a certain scheme or order in the application of the tests, it allows some flexibility in its application, and the evaluation can be developed according to the baby's 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 newborn's abilities in different areas of functioning. These items are grouped into a set of major aspects, factors or modules, which include different tests depending on the type of classification carried out.

1. Autonomic nervous system

It includes the evaluation of reflexes and the state of health linked to the functioning of the autonomic nervous system. In this sense, it is in charge of the basic functions of the organism, including breathing and temperature regulation, variations in skin color or the presence of trembling or jolts.

2. Motor system

A second module focused on the good state of reflexes and the ability to move, in which Muscle tone is involved.. It includes items such as motor maturity, response to hugging, general muscle tone or the lability of the child's condition.

3. Habituation

This test module aims to evaluate the child's ability to get used to stimulationIt assesses whether the child is able to inhibit his or her reactions and even 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 observation of the child's condition or response to uncovering.

4. State organization

A module that aims to provide an answer to 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 arousal.

5. State regulation

In this module we observe and analyze the child's ability to manage himself/herself 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 irritable to stimulation or to make an effort to maintain attention, or the ability to ask for help.

6. Social interactive

A set of items that can only be performed when the child is calm and awake. They share the fact that they allow 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 are included that assess visual and auditory orientation to animate and inanimate objects, both individually and individually.both individually and simultaneously.

7. Use of this scale

The Brazelton scale was created primarily for use in the clinical setting as an instrument to detect possible developmental abnormalities in newborns, which could result from alterations during fetal development. However, although it is used for this purpose, it has also received a great deal of attention in the field of research.

These scales have also often been used not only to assess difficulties but also as a mechanism to to assess difficulties but also as a mechanism to bring positions closer together and to favor interaction between the child and his environmentThis is facilitated by the fact that this is a highly interactive test.

It has been observed that it helps to increase confidence and parental attitudes as well as to establish a communication that allows to begin to understand and learn how the child is.

Bibliographical references:

• Costas Moragas, C.; Fornieles Deu, A.; Botet Mussons, F.; Boatella Costa, E.; de Cáceres Zurita, M.L. (2007). Psychometric evaluation of the Brazelton Scale in a sample of Spanish newborns. Psicothema, 19, (1): 140-149. University of Oviedo Oviedo, Spain.
• Domínguez Fontenla, M., Cruz Fernández, V., Abelleira Docabo, M., Amado Mera, A. and Fernández Barreiros, M. (2009). Developmental development of neonates: clinical utility of the Brazelon scale (NBAS). Actas do X Congresso Internacional Galego-Português de Psicopedagogia. Braga: Universidade do Minho.