PREDICTORS OF DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES FOR MEDICALLY FRAGILE EARLY INTERVENTION PARTICIPANTS

Little is documented about the determinants of developmental outcomes for medically fragile infants who receive early intervention. In this controlled longitudinal study 65 premature infants with intraventricul ar hemorrhage (IVH) were randomly assigned to intervention groups begi nning at 3 months adjusted age (Early) or 12 months adjusted age (Dela yed). The sample was 65% African American and 35% Caucasian, and over half the youngsters were being raised by single mothers. Although cost analyses revealed that it was almost twice as expensive to begin sens orimotor intervention at the earlier age, annual comprehensive assessm ents revealed no significant differences in developmental outcomes bas ed on age at start. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed tha t Maternal Education and Neonatal Medical Problems were significant pr edictors of outcomes at years 1, 3, 5, and 7 regardless of age at star t. Related findings from other studies are discussed along with implic ations for policy and future research.