Missed Opportunities in the Referral of High-Risk Infants to Early Intervention

Substantial literature indicates that it is necessary that infants receive early intervention services to improve long-term outcomes after birth. The effectiveness of parents as agents of intervention in the childs home environment is gradually realized. However, there a significant gap between the intensive service requirements for low-birth-weight (LBW) infants because the intervention requires intense one-on-one supervision by highly trained care givers. Based on web technology, we developed a supporting system to inform and teach parents in the early intervention of high risk infants. Results show the web-based training as a promising method of early intervention helps these caregivers in their practice of caring the high risk babies and may help overcome problems associated with the critical shortage of neonatal professionals.

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4107 Implementation and evaluation of a novel protocol that uses clinical biomarkers to promote early diagnosis and treatment of Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Journal of Clinical and Translational Science ◽

10.1017/cts.2020.237 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (s1) ◽

pp. 72-73

Author(s):

Tara Lynn Johnson ◽

Sowmya Sivakumar ◽

Namarta Kapil ◽

Bittu Majmudar

Keyword(s):

Early Intervention ◽

High Risk ◽

Early Diagnosis ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Early Intervention Services ◽

Neurodevelopmental Disabilities ◽

Clinical Biomarkers ◽

High Risk Infants ◽

New Biomarkers

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Our objective was to establish a new protocol to evaluate new biomarkers to detect Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (NDD) in high-risk infants. As early intervention results in better outcomes, our goal was to implement the protocol to promote earlier NDD diagnosis and referral for treatment. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We implemented a new protocol using the General Movement Assessment (GMA), Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE), and Capute Scales to evaluate infants who were at high risk of NDD. To determine the success of our protocol with these biomarkers, we studied former premature infants who were evaluated in follow-up clinic from 10/1/2018-10/1/2019. We defined our primary and secondary outcomes as the ages of neurodevelopmental diagnoses and referral to early intervention services before and after implementation of the new protocol, respectively. Our hypotheses were that infants who were evaluated with these biomarkers would be diagnosed with NDD and be referred for treatment at younger ages than their counterparts. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Approximately 120 patients were evaluated during the time period that was defined. About half were evaluated prior to implementing the GMA and HINE, and the remainder were evaluated using GMA and other developmental measures. We anticipate that infants who underwent GMA will be diagnosed with NDD and referred for therapies at a younger age than their counterparts. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Through our translational research, we will transform the standard of care for high-risk infants by incorporating clinical biomarkers into day-to-day clinical care for these infants. Implementation of this novel protocol will promote the early diagnosis and referral to treatment for NDD.

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Discussion groups for mothers of high-risk infants and toddlers: An early intervention approach to treatment

Child Care Quarterly ◽

10.1007/bf01573552 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 206-208

Author(s):

Norma Kolko-Phillips ◽

Marian Davidson ◽

Aline B. Auerbach

Keyword(s):

Early Intervention ◽

High Risk ◽

Discussion Groups ◽

Infants And Toddlers ◽

Intervention Approach ◽

High Risk Infants

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Early Intervention for High Risk Infants: An Outline of Regional Physical Therapy Services

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/147.2.143 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 147 (2) ◽

pp. 143-145

Author(s):

Jane K. Sweeney ◽

Virginia A. Metcalf

Keyword(s):

Early Intervention ◽

Physical Therapy ◽

High Risk ◽

Therapy Services ◽

High Risk Infants ◽

Physical Therapy Services

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Working with Families Using a Family-Centered Approach for Improved Development Outcomes in High-Risk Children

Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Journal ◽

10.21088/potj.0974.5777.14121.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 9-17

Author(s):

Aarti Nair ◽

◽

Ajay Sharma ◽

Sandeep Kumar ◽

Manish Jha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Intervention ◽

High Risk ◽

Birth Asphyxia ◽

Structured Learning ◽

Intervention Programme ◽

Development Outcomes ◽

High Risk Infants ◽

The Impact ◽

Family Centered ◽

High Risk Children

Introduction: Around the world, almost half of all deaths in children under five occur in the newborn period. Ninety-nine percent of newborn deaths are in low- and middle-income countries and prematurity, intrapartumrelated neonatal deaths (‘birth asphyxia’), sepsis and meningitis account for 75% of these1. Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions that are due to mental or physical impairments that arise before adulthood. Developmental disabilities cause individuals living with them many difficulties in certain areas of life, especially in “language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living”2. Aim of Study: To analyze the impact of family centered-approach on child’s development outcomes. To quantify and validate the advantages of family-centered- approach for parents and children. Method: A low-cost, family-centered intervention programme to promote child and family wellbeing is provided at an Early Intervention Centre in Latika Roy Foundation, Dehradun, India. It follows a familycentered approach of empowering families through respect, collaboration, information, training and support. The effectiveness of this methodology is evaluated in this study. Discussion: This study evaluates the effectiveness of this family-centred interventions programme, provided by early intervention Centre, for improving development outcomes of high-risk infants. This study explores, for the first time in a resource limited country, the relationship between the reduction of family stress achieved through a family empowerment programme and improvement in development outcomes of high-risk children. Families of High-risk infants enrolled at the Centre during January 2015 through July 2017, who were in NICU for 5 or >5 days are partners in the study. Conclusion: The importance of family-centred care cannot be over-emphasized. Early intervention services and support to families can significantly improve quality of life of high-risk children. Intervention studies for children with disability state that the best way of improving children’s outcomes is by empowering parents through a structured learning programme. Given the scope and potential of such programs, this study quantifies and validates the advantages of the family-centred approach.

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