Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE)

Clinicians use the HINE to assess neurological development in infants aged 2 to 24 months. This physical examination helps identify early signs of cerebral palsy and tracks motor skills over time.

Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) clinical assessment PDF form
HINE

Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE)

The Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) assesses babies aged 2 to 24 months. By checking cranial nerves, posture, and reflexes, it helps identify risks like cerebral palsy early. This scorable clinical tool allows doctors to track motor development and predict future outcomes with great accuracy.

Category

Diagnostic
Movement System
Mobility

Disease

Assessment
Diagnostics
Clinical Care

Source

(Dubowitz et al., 1999)

Author Name

Haataja, L., Mercuri, E., Regev, R. et al. (1999)

Page Editor

Thijs Sondag

What is Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE)

The Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) is a trusted tool for checking babies. It helps doctors spot cerebral palsy and other delays early on. This clinical assessment breaks down neurological function into five key sections. It checks cranial nerves and posture as well as movements and muscle tone and reflexes. Clinicians score each item from zero to three based on what the baby does. The total score helps predict if a child might have walking issues or other delays later in life. It offers specific score limits to spot risks for cerebral palsy across different ages. The HINE is quick to do in a clinic and takes about 10 minutes. It is great because it does not need fancy equipment. Doctors use it for babies between two and twenty-four months old. It helps families get support sooner rather than later which makes a big difference for the child's future.

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HINE Scoring

The Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination can be scored using two main approaches: global scoring and optimality cut offs. 1. Global Scoring: Clinicians assess 26 items across five sections covering cranial nerves, posture, movements, tone, and reflexes. Each item gets a 0, 1, 2, or 3 based on performance. You sum these up for a total between 0 and 78, where higher numbers mean better neurodevelopment. 2. Optimality Scores: This method compares the total against age specific cut offs. For instance, a score below 57 at three months signals a high risk of cerebral palsy. It is a reliable way to predict if a bub will walk independently later on.

View scoring form

Advantages

Diagnostic accuracy

Enables precise identification of patient health status.

Treatment planning

Develops personalised strategies based on assessment data.

User-friendly

Simple to understand and complete for patients.

15
Minutes
26
Questions

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Digitise HINE assessments to track infant neurological progress. Streamline scoring and improve clinical care.
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