[Preventive approach to newborn infants, at risk, early intervention: what is its purpose? 2]

In this study, the bases of the principle of early intervention have been examined. At-risk neonates should be assessed as early as possible via a preventive and therapeutic approach. Before the situation aggravates to such an extent that treatment administered has no effect, early intervention can in fact prevent a number of difficulties from taking place, which arise when the environment cannot be adapted to the at-risk neonates. During early childhood, the association of the child's developmental processes and the parent's available energy, resulting in development of the child's optimum potential, has in fact exceeded our expectations. The assessment of the infant's capacity to organize positive interaction experiences with a nurturing adult has led us to better understand the plasticity process which permits the neonate's recuperation form damage to the central nervous system (CNS). Informing the parents in question of our observations and approach in order to improve the child's behaviour has resulted in gained confidence and cooperation, and therefore optimum recuperation. Our assessments of normal and premature neonates have both for ourselves and the parents led to a better understanding of organization and ongoing development, which in early childhood may also include the direct interview procedure. In other words, assessment by observation of a neonate's state of health consists not only of evaluating organizational capacities connected with his or her present state, but also how the infant will affect parental attitudes, and in turn what the parents will have to do to organize the child. By sharing our assessment with the parents, and with close cooperation, we aid them in identifying the positive elements as well as the defects in the child's potential. Thus the parents can utilize their nurturing capacities in their relationship with the child to bring about the best recuperation possible. Repeated observations enable an evaluation to be made of the neonate's organizational capabilities during the recuperative period following birth, and adaptation to the new environment. Adopting the same procedure throughout the child's first year of life has permitted us to share with the parents observation of the child's progress, and to point out to them the effect that they have in this area. The above system has aided the parents by showing them that the child can be organized and that its health is recuperable, even after damage to the CNS or premature birth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)