[The effectiveness of early intervention for very-low-birth-weight infants].
We reviewed the concept and history of early intervention (EI). We summarized the results of three randomized controlled trials for high-risk young children: Abecedarian, CARE, and the Infant Health Developmental Program in the USA. All of those interventions showed positive effects on child 1Q during the first 3 years of life. A randomized EI trial for very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants at 8 institutions in Japan also showed enhancement of some aspects of development, including behavioral problems, circadian rhythm, and speech. The present problems of EI for VLBW infants in Japan include lack of financial support by the government, lack of evidence to determine the onset, intervals and duration of the service, and difficulties in objective evaluation of its short/long term efficacy. To enhance the maximum development of VLBW infants, pediatric neurologists should advocate the importance of EI to the government.
Yamashita
Yushiro
Y
Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume.
Matsuishi
Toyojiro
T
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007360:Intelligence; D007564:Japan; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014481:United States