| Intervention | 1875.00000000000 | Intervention | Intervention | I | English | Developmental | Premature;Newborn (0-28 days);Baby (1-12 months);Toddler (13-24 months);Preschooler (2-4 years);School age child (5-8 years) | NA | NA | NA | Prenatal
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2009-10-31T04:00:00Z | | Andrew James, MBChB, FRACP, FRCPCHilary Whyte, MSc, MB, BCh, BAO, MRCPI, FRCPC | | | | 14.3000000000000 | 32.5000000000000 | 442.000000000000 | | Flat Content | Health A-Z | <p>Read about how, if there is a concerted effort on the part of parents, educators, and others, a positive change will be made in a premature baby's life.</p> | <p>For most premature babies, going home is a happy milestone. For some, going home is the beginning of more treatments, specifically, therapies designed to minimize the impacts of disability. While physical disabilities are generally known before a baby leaves the NICU, intellectual and developmental disabilities may not become apparent until months or years after discharge.</p> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul><li>Parents should be vigilant about watching their child's development as early identification and intervention are keys to minimizing a disability.</li>
<li>Developmental problems can affect body movement and coordination, vision, hearing, understanding, behaviour, learning and emotions.</li></ul> | <h2>Err on the side of caution</h2>
<p>Parents, even of premature babies who are not highly at risk for disabilities, should be vigilant about monitoring their child’s development. As tempting as it may be for some parents to sit back and say that the trying times are over following release from the NICU, keeping an eye open for potential problems is a good idea. </p>
<p>This is so important because regardless of the nature of a disability, early identification and intervention are the keys to minimizing any negative impact of that disability. Follow-up visits, if possible at the neonatal clinic or with a paediatrician who is aware of the possibility that a premature baby may develop a problem later on, are important in this regard. </p>
<p>If a problem is suspected, don’t wait. Depending on where you live, there may not be as many services to help as would be wished and parents may find themselves on a waiting list before their child can be assessed or helped with the appropriate therapy. </p>
<h2>Minimizing neurodevelopmental problems</h2>
<p>In many cases, with early intervention and therapy, developmental problems can be minimized. Developmental problems can affect many functions of the body and mind, including body movement and coordination, vision, hearing, understanding, behaviour, learning, and emotions. </p>
<p>When developmental problems are identified early, often their severity can be limited in certain ways. A concerted effort on the part of parents, educators, and others frequently makes a difference in these children’s lives. That being said, many developmental disabilities cannot be completely overcome no matter how much effort is used. </p>
<p>Parents should become familiar with normal infant and childhood development so that they may be able to gauge how their baby is developing. In this respect, parents should remember that for the first two years, their premature baby’s development will be measured against their corrected age, that is to say their age had they been born on their 40 week due date. </p> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/intervention_premature_babies.jpg | | | | | | | Intervention | | False | | | | | |
