The Brazelton Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale: introduction

Abstract

In summary, the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale attempts to capture the complexity of behavioral responses to social stimuli as the neonate moves from sleep states to crying and to alert states of consciousness. The 20 relfex items tap neurological intergrity. The 27 behavioral items attempt to assess the neonate's capacity to respond to the environment. As such, these item scores become a reflection of the baby's capacity to organize his or her autonomic and central nervous system in order to respond to stimuli (both animate and inanimate), and the exam is used to predict to the environment's response to the baby as an individual. Characteristic of this exam is that it scores the infant's "best" performance, which is captured after a series of trials often without a fixed order, and assesses the baby's capacity to organize responses within different states of consciousness.