Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Published on: January 7, 2020
Rates of early intervention services in children born extremely preterm/extremely low birthweight
Ianthe S Mills1, Lex W Doyle2,3,4,5,6, Jeanie Ly Cheong2,3,4,5
1Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Insights
Early intervention (EI) services are highly utilized by extremely preterm infants, with increased usage over time. Factors like medical complications, not social risks, are associated with EI receipt in this population.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Public health
Background:
- Extremely preterm (EP) or extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants face significant developmental risks.
- Early intervention (EI) services are crucial for optimizing outcomes in high-risk infants.
- Understanding factors influencing EI utilization is vital for equitable service provision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the rates of EI service use in EP or ELBW infants born between 1991 and 2013.
- To identify biological and socio-economic factors associated with receiving EI in this cohort.
- To examine trends in EI utilization over time.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of EP/ELBW infants and matched term-born controls in Victoria, Australia.
- Parent-reported EI participation assessed up to 8 years of age.
- Analysis of neurodevelopmental outcomes and socio-economic factors in relation to EI use.
Main Results:
- EI rates were significantly higher in preterm infants (OR 4.29) compared to controls.
- EI use increased substantially over time, from 42% (1991-92) to 64% (2005) in preterm cohorts.
- Postnatal corticosteroids, periventricular leukomalacia, newborn surgery, and increased disability severity were associated with higher EI rates. Physical impairments had higher EI rates (95%) than cognitive impairments (73%).
- Social risk factors were not associated with EI participation.
Conclusions:
- EI participation is high among extremely preterm infants and has increased over time.
- Medical complications and severity of disability, rather than socio-economic factors, are associated with EI use in EP/ELBW infants.
- Findings highlight the importance of medical factors in accessing EI services for high-risk infants.
Aim:
To determine the rates of early intervention (EI) service use in extremely preterm (EP, <28 weeks' gestation) or extremely low birthweight (ELBW, <1000 g) infants between 1991 and 2013, and identify biological or socio-economic factors associated with receiving EI.
Methods:
Participants comprised consecutive EP or ELBW survivors born in 1991-1992, 1997 or 2005 in Victoria, Australia, and randomly selected, matched term-born controls. The main outcome measure was parent-reported EI participation up to 8 years of age. Neurodevelopmental outcomes and socio-economic risk factors were compared with EI participation to identify associations among the preterm groups.
Results:
The rates of EI were higher in the preterm groups than the control groups overall (odds ratio 4.29, 95% confidence interval 3.28, 5.59, P < 0.001), and the rates of EI rose significantly over time - from 42% in the 1991-1992 preterm cohort to 64% in the 2005 preterm cohort. Among the preterm groups, post-natal corticosteroid therapy, cystic periventricular leukomalacia and surgery in the newborn period were all independently associated with increased odds of receiving EI. Increased severity of disability was associated with higher rates of EI. The majority (95%) of preterm children with a physical impairment received EI, compared with only 73% of children with a cognitive impairment alone. EI participation rates were independent of social risk.
Conclusion:
EI participation is high in the EP population, and rates of EI use have increased over time. Contrary to previous reports, social risk factors were not found to be associated with EI use.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Environmental Influences on Intelligence
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:30Preventive Healthcare Services
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion