This report presents a cumulative risk score system designed to identify high-risk infants through multiple assessments over an extended period of time. The system scores prenatal, natal, and neonatal biological events and neonatal behavioral performance in an additive fashion. Infants are assessed in the first month of life to distinguish those babies with transient brain insult from those with permanent brain injury. At 4 months and 8-9 months of age the infants are again tested, primarily on a behavioral basis. The researchers were concerned with the later adaptation of the infant to his environment regardless of any biological deficit. Therefore, a child with motor or sensory handicaps who progressively compensates sufficiently so that he does well cognitively and affectively removes himself from the risk category. Five examples of the use of this system were presented. The researchers expressed concern about labeling infants "high risk" too early in life because such a label can be very disruptive to caregiver-child attachment and interaction. However, intervention was advocated for those infants with persistent developmental problems which make them vulnerable to any adversity in their environment. (Author/BRT)