This article introduces a role for occupational therapy in Special Care Baby Units (SCBUs). The relevance of occupational therapy is discussed, a potential client group is identified and effective intervention studies are briefly described. Skills and training needs are reviewed and suggestions given for occupational therapy. Some likely problems are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
SehnalJPPalmerA. High risk infants. In: Occupational therapy for children. PrattNAllenAS, eds. St Louis, MO: C V Mosby, 1989.
2.
SemmlerCBorlandM. Guidelines for neonatal practice. Dallas: University Affiliated Centre, 1987.
3.
KielhofnerG, ed. A model of human occupation. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1985.
4.
ReedKLSandersonSR. Concepts of occupational therapy. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1983.
5.
KornerAF. Early intervention with preterm infants. In: HibbsED, ed. Children and families: Studies in prevention and intervention. Madison, CT: International University Press, 1988.
6.
CookRWI. Outcome and costs of care for the very immature infant. Br Med Bull1988; 44(4): 1133–51.
7.
MarlowNRobertsBLCookeRWI. Motor skills in extremely low birth weight children at the age of six years. Arch Dis Child1989; 64: 839–47.
8.
Hadders-AlgraMHuisjesHJTouwenBCL. Perinatal risk factors and minor neurological dysfunction: Significance for behaviour and school achievement at nine years. Dev Med Child Neurol1988; 30: 482–91.
9.
DrillienCMThomsonAJMBurgoyneK. Low birth weight children at early school age: A longitudinal study. Dev Med Child Neurol1980; 22: 26–47.
10.
VohrBRCollCT Garcia. Neurodevelopmental and school performance of very low birth weight infants: A seven year longitudinal study. Pediatrics1985; 76(3): 345–50.
11.
EilersBLDesaiNSWilsonAWCunninghamMD. Classroom performance and social factors of children with birth weights of 1250 grams or less: Follow up at 5–8 years of age. Pediatrics1986; 77(2): 203–208.
12.
NelsonKBEllenbergJH. Children who ‘outgrew’ cerebral palsy. Pediatrics1982; 69(5): 529–35.
13.
PeBenitoRSantelloMDFaxasTAFerrettiCFischCB. Residual developmental disability in children with transient hypertonicity in infancy. Pediatr Neurol1989; 5(3): 154–60.
14.
SkidmoreMDRiversAHackM. Increased risk of cerebral palsy among very low birth weight infants with chronic lung disease. Dev Med Child Neurol1990; 32: 325–32.
15.
BeeHLBarnardKEEyresSJ. Prediction of IQ and language skill from perinatal status, child performance, family characteristics, and mother-infant interaction. Child Dev1982; 53: 1134–56.
16.
GiegelLS. Reproductive, perinatal and environmental factors as predictors of the cognitive and language development of pre-term and full-term infants. Child Dev1982; 53: 963–73.
17.
BarreraMERosenbaumPLCunninghamCE. Corrected and uncorrected Bayley scores: Longitudinal development patterns in low and high birth weight preterm infants. Infant Behav Dev1987; 10: 337–46.
18.
CampbellSK. Effects of developmental intervention in the special care nursery. Adv Dev Behav Pediatrics1983; 4: 165–79.
19.
BrazeltonTB. Early intervention. What does it mean? In: FitzgeraldHELesterBMYogmanMW, eds. Theory and research in behavioural paediatrics, Vol. I. New York: Plenum Press, 1982.
20.
AlsH. A synactive model of neonatal behavioural organisation: Framework for the assessment of neurobehavioural development in the premature infant and for support of infants and parents in the neonatal intensive care environment. Phys Occup Ther Pediatrics1986; 6(3/4): 3–53.
21.
AlsHLawhonGBrownE. Individualised behavioural and environmental care for the very low birth weight preterm infant at high risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia: Neonatal intensive care unit and developmental. outcome. Pediatrics1986; 78(6): 1123–32.
22.
NugentJKBrazeltonTB. Preventive intervention with infants and families: The NBAS model. Infant Ment Health J1989; 10(2): 84–99.
23.
ResnickMBEylerFDNelsonRMEitzmanDVBucciarelliRL. Developmental intervention for low birth weight infants: Improved early outcome. Pediatrics1987; 80(1): 68–74.
24.
RauhVAAchenbachTMNurcombeBHowellCTTetiDM. Minimising adverse effects of low birth weight: Four-year results of an early intervention program. Child Dev1988; 59: 544–53.
25.
BrazeltonTB. Neonatal behavioural assessment scale. Clinics in developmental medicine, no. 50. Philadelphia: J B Lippincott, 1973.
26.
BromwichRM. Working with parents and infants, an interactional approach. Baltimore: University Park Press, 1980.
27.
GorskiPA. Neonatal behaviour: Determinants and significance. In: TaouschHWBallardRAAveryME, eds. Shaffer and Avery's diseases of the newborn. 6th ed.Philadelphia: W B Saunders, 1989.
28.
HarrisonH. The premature baby book. New York: St Martin's Press, 1983.
29.
LesterBMTronickE. Stimulation and the pre-term infant. Clinics in perinatology. Vol. 17, No.1. Philadelphia: W B Saunders, 1990.
30.
MeiselsSJShonkoffJP. Handbook of early childhood intervention. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
31.
OsofskyJD, ed. Handbook of infant development. 2nd ed.Chichester: John Wiley, 1987.
32.
SameroffACChandlerMJ. Reproductive risk and the continuum of caretaking casualty. In: HorowitzFDHetheringtonMScarr-SalapatekSSiegelG, eds. Review of child development research, Vol. 4. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1975: 187–244.
33.
SammonsWAHLewisJM. Premature babies: A different beginning. St Louis, MO: C V Mosby, 1985.
34.
SweeneyJ, ed. The high risk neonate: Developmental therapy perspectives. Binghampton, NY: Haworth Press, 1986.
35.
Vanden BergKA. Behaviourally supportive care for the extremely premature infant. Care of the 24–25 week gestational infant (small baby protocol). In: GundersonLPKennerC, eds. Neonatal Network1990; 129–57.