Predictors Of Developmental Outcomes For Infants Who Are Medically Fragile

Keywords

Medically Fragile Infants, Early Intervention, Developmental Outcomes

Abstract

The past two decades have seen a tremendous increase in research focused on low birthweight infants (Escobedo, 1988), whose development is often delayed or impaired (Lefebve et ai, 1988). Infants considered "medically fragile" (i.e. those who have already experienced serious health complications such as neurological insults, respiratory distress, etc.) are even more at-risk for later disabilities than infants who are simply low birthweight or premature. Medically fragile infants are more likely to experience cognitive, motor, social, and visual abnormalities or delays than other premature infants (e.g. Bozynski et al., 1984; Vohr et al, 1989; Landry et al, 1990). In recent years, the number of medically fragile infants who require professional intervention has increased due to advances in medical technology and reduced mortality rates (Rosenthal, 1991). While the effectiveness of early intervention with medicallyfragile children has been demonstrated (e.g. Resnick, Armstrong & Carter, 1988, Infant Health and DevelopmentProgram, 1990), there remains an overwhelming need for earlier and more accurate predictors of developmental outcomes (Bennett, 1987). More accurate predictors would help focus intervention efforts (giving those children who need the most help more intervention), which in turn would impact on the cost-effectiveness of intervention programs (Barnett, 1986) and parent stress. However, traditional indicators of infant status, (e.g. Apgar scores) are not particularly good predictors of later development, and few measures of neonatal health status have been used in the literature (e.g. Infant Health and Development Program, 1990). Thus, clinicians are often forced to make decisions based solely on past experience (page, 1986). This paper outlines the results of a preliminary study designed to evaluate available medical birth data as potential predictors of developmental outcomes and to test an instrument designed for the same purpose.

Original Publication Citation

Smith, T. B., & Boyce, G. C. (1995). Predictors of developmental outcomes for infants who are medically fragile. Southern African Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 7, 31-39

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

1995

Publisher

Routledge

Language

English

College

David O. McKay School of Education

Department

Counseling Psychology and Special Education

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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