Music Therapy in an Early Intervention Centre for Children Who Have Cochlear Implants

<p>This research paper presents qualitative study using exploratory research as the framework. The aim of this research was to describe the music therapy interaction between children with cochlear implants and a music therapy student working in an early intervention program, and to open avenues for future research. The families/parents of three secondary participants gave informed consent for the use of their children's clinical data, including video footage of sessions, for research purposes. The findings highlight the complexities and the potential strengths and difficulties associated with the use of group music therapy to promote audition and language development in young children who have cochlear implants, in an early intervention program. However, the findings suggest that music therapy in this context can be used to support family relationships, participation, vocalisation, singing and self-confidence.</p>

Music Therapy in an Early Intervention Centre for Children Who Have Cochlear Implants

<p>This research paper presents qualitative study using exploratory research as the framework. The aim of this research was to describe the music therapy interaction between children with cochlear implants and a music therapy student working in an early intervention program, and to open avenues for future research. The families/parents of three secondary participants gave informed consent for the use of their children's clinical data, including video footage of sessions, for research purposes. The findings highlight the complexities and the potential strengths and difficulties associated with the use of group music therapy to promote audition and language development in young children who have cochlear implants, in an early intervention program. However, the findings suggest that music therapy in this context can be used to support family relationships, participation, vocalisation, singing and self-confidence.</p>

Predictors in ASD: The Importance of Parents' Perception

Several predictors may influence children's developmental trajectories with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and parents' concerns may play an important role. This study aimed to investigate developmental trajectories of two groups of children with ASD to understand predictive factors, including parental perception. We examined the clinical features of a sample of 55 children with ASD at 3 and 6 years of age in two moments of evaluation to understand this process. We used the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, (ADOS) in both moments. We selected two groups based on ADOS results at moment two: one group with a worse outcome (ADOS results above 8) and one group with a better outcome (ADOS results below 8 in the second moment). We also selected questions from a questionnaire (elaborated by the authors and used in clinical practice) applied to parents to understand if early parents' concerns may help to predict ASD prognosis. We found a significant association between imitation and playability and the child's prognostic. Also, Interactive Gestures, Beginning of Joint Attention, Reciprocity, and Pleasure in Interaction might help identify positive case evolution. Our findings are significant in early intervention program development, not only with direct intervention with the child but also including the parents' involvement in the intervention.

Early Intervention Program Through Bibliotherapy Approach For Reducing Fear In Orientation And Mobility Of Children With Visual Impairment

Orientation and mobility skills are special skills that must be mastered by children with visual impairment, thus an orientation and mobility intervention program is important to develop. Fear or anxiety in children with visual impairment related to orientation and mobility can be caused by fear from within the children or from the environment. Personality, motivation, psychosocial factor, and family and community attitudes all contribute to one's reaction to mobility activities independently. This research aims to reduce the fear of children with visual impairment in performing orientation and mobility activities by implementing an intervention program through bibliotherapy technique. This research is a case study research with a qualitative approach. Bibliotherapy was carried out on two young children with visual impairment. The results of the program implementation show that children's fear or anxiety could be reduced in both cases in this research as seen by autonomous moves of the two children from the mother and caregiver and began to learn to trace the walls of the room.

Effect of cerebrolysin on neurodevelopmental outcome of high risk preterm infants: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of preterm infants experience developmental delay despite receiving a post discharge early interventional care. Cerebrolysin is a peptide mixture which acts similar to endogenous neurotrophic factors through promoting neurogenesis and enhancing neuronal plasticity. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of Cerebrolysin plus routine intervention program versus routine intervention program alone on the outcome of preterm infants at high risk for neurodevelopmental delay. METHODS: In a randomized controlled trial, high-risk preterm infants < 32 weeks’ gestation who have abnormal neurological assessment at two months corrected post-natal age were randomized at 6 months corrected post natal age to receive either early intervention program or early intervention program plus Cerebrolysin injection of 0.1 mL/kg body weight every week for 3 months as an adjuvant therapy. The primary outcome was the rate of failure of the gross motor assessment at 12 months of corrected age and secondary outcomes included fine motor, language, and personal social development at 12 months corrected post-natal age as assessed by Denver Developmental Screening Test II. RESULTS: Cerebrolysin group had a significant lower number of infants diagnosed with failed gross motor development compared to infants in the routine intervention group [10 (33%) versus 21 (70%), p = 0.009]. Cerebrolysin group had a significant lower number of infants diagnosed with failed fine motor, language and personal social development compared to infants in the routine intervention group. CONCLUSION: Cerebrolysin, as an adjuvant therapy to routine early interventional care, may improve gross motor development of high-risk preterm infants at 12 months corrected post-natal age.

Promoting sensitive parenting in ‘at-risk’ mothers and fathers: A UK outcome study of Mellow Babies, a group-based early intervention program for parents and their babies

Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Mellow Babies (MB) in the UK. MB is a 14-week early parenting intervention program that is delivered in groups and is targeted at ‘at-risk’ parents (both mothers and fathers) and their babies up to 18 months old. Method The study used a pragmatic pre-post intervention design. Outcomes were parental mental health, parenting confidence, quality of life, socio-emotional development of children, and perceived parent-child relationship. Fifteen groups representing n = 91 parent-baby dyads were recruited across the UK between 2017–2018. The sample consisted of 10 Mellow Mums groups (70 mother-baby dyads) and 5 Mellow Dads groups (21 father-baby dyads). Intention-to-treat and ‘completer’ analyses were performed. Results Findings suggest short-term positive outcomes for parents attending MB. Completion of the program was associated with significant improvements in anxiety and overall wellbeing, parenting confidence, and perceived closeness of the parent-child relationship. The significance of these improvements, except for parenting confidence, was maintained in the intention-to-treat analysis. MB engaged and retained a high proportion of parents who could be considered ‘at-risk’ and benefitted fathers and mothers attending the intervention equally. Conclusions This is the first prospective study to explore MB participation for both mothers and fathers and to indicate engagement and potential benefits specifically for ‘at-risk’ parents. Findings further demonstrate the effectiveness of MB as an early intervention program for parents experiencing psychosocial difficulties. Replication by studies using a contrast or control group also incorporating follow-up data would further improve the evidence base for MB.