Minor Morbidity General		Rates of survival with major handicap have already been shown. Most follow-up studies also report rates of survival without any morbidity, a disappointingly low figure especially at the lowest GAs. This leaves a majority of survivors with some disabilities. These can be characterized in many ways. A useful method is to describe these children in terms of functional limitations, without regard to specific diagnoses. Children with these problems fit the definition of children with special health-care needs, i.e. those with "a physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional condition who requires health-related services beyond those generally required by children". This definition is used for identification and planning of federal aid and services for children. A 2005 study of ELBWs, followed at age 8, showed they were much more likely to need the following services beyond routine: 19% were receiving occupational, physical or speech therapy (OT/PT/ST) 29% were receiving SSI for disabilities 36% were receiving regular daily medications 15% were seeing a physician or specialist on a regular basis The risk factors for both major and minor morbidities are well-known. Decreasing GA/Bwt, male sex, multiple births and abnormal neonatal head ultrasound are the most commonly cited. Recently, threshold ROP has also been shown to be a marker for infants at high risk for longterm developmental disabilities. Return to top of page