The results of early intervention neurodevelopmental therapy in premature infants at the age of four, according to the Bayley's III assessment tool

Theocharopoulou Fani 1, Papadopoulou Ourania 1, Tzitiridou-Chatzopoulou Maria 2, Kallistratos Ilias 1, Xalkia Anna 1, Savvidis Georgios 3, * and Hristara Alexandra 1

1 Postgraduate Program, Pediatric Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, International University of Greece, Thessaloniki – Sindos, Greece.
2 Assistant Professor, School of Healthcare sciences, Midwifery Department, University of Western Macedonia, Koila, Greece.
3 PhD Candidate, School of Healthcare sciences, Midwifery Department, University of Western Macedonia, Koila, Greece.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 22(02), 457–465
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2024.22.2.0594
Publication history: 
Received on 12 January 2024; revised on 15 April 2024; accepted on 18 April 2024
 
Abstract: 
Introduction: The main goal of modern Neonatology is the survival of premature infants with as few problems as possible. The purpose is to preserve and care for the brain potential of Brain Care (Als H. 2006). Neurodevelopmental Care is provided to infants from birth to the age of three. It concerns infants who have developmental deficits or are at risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders. The goal of Early Intervention is to promote child health, enhance existing and emerging abilities, minimize developmental delay, address existing or emerging motor, cognitive, and emotional deficits, as well as prevent cognitive, functional, and limited parents and the entire family environment. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to study the necessity and possibilities of early intervention and physiotherapeutic rehabilitation of premature infants, according to the Bayley III assessment scale. A clinical trial demonstrating the effect of Neurodevelopmental Education on premature infants, according to the measurements of the Bayley Scale. Method: This study was designed as a clinical trial between September 2017 and August 2023. It included one hundred premature infants who were recorded and equally divided between premature infants who received simple counseling according to early intervention therapy and not any type of Neurodevelopmental Education (Group A, 25 boys, 25 girls aged 1 month and 15 days) and premature infants who received Neurodevelopmental Education therapy immediately after their discharge from the NICU (Group B, 25 boys, 25 girls aged 1 month and 15 days). Both groups received Early Intervention Neurodevelopmental Care during their stay in the NICU. Therapy will be administered by the researcher and the staff trained by the researcher himself for a period of the last 12 years. The groups were evaluated at the age of 4 years using the Bayley Scale for Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BayleyIII). It should be noted that the Bayley Scales for infant and toddler development will be examined and will serve as the research instrument of the current project. Finally, conclusions will be drawn based on the statistical analysis of the results obtained from the evaluation and comparison of the two groups.
 
Keywords: 
Developmental care; Premature infants; Prematurity; Neurodevelopmental Therapy; Early Intervention; Neurodevelopmental Care; Bobath method; Bobath Therapy; NDT method; Bayley III Scale; Bayley's Test
 
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