Early Intervention with Medically Fragile Infants: Investigating the Age-at-Start Question

Keywords

Early Intervention, Medically Fragile Infants, Child Development

Abstract

Very few studies have investigated the age at which early intervention should begin. Similarly few studies have examined the effects of early intervention for infants who are medically fragile. The present study responds to these two critical issues by longitudinally comparing groups of infants who are medically fragile. These infants were randomly assigned to receive developmentally appropriate programs beginning at either 3- or 18-months adjusted age. Analysis of measures of child development and family functioning for the first three annual assessments indicated that the two groups were similar on measures of child functioning at the first and second assessment. However, at the third assessment, children who received the intervention at an earlier age scored significantly higher than did children whose intervention began 15 months later. No significant group differences were found on measures of family functioning at any of the assessments. Implications of these results for future research and practice are discussed.

Original Publication Citation

Boyce, G. C., Smith, T. B., Immel, N., Casto, G., & Escobar, C. (1993). Early intervention with medically fragile infants: Investigating the age-at-start question. Early Education and Development, 4, 290-305.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

1993

Publisher

Taylor and Francis Group

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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