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Current practice among NeuroDevelopmental Treatment Association members
1Cecil and Ida Green Research and Training Institute, Reginald S. Lourie Center for Infants and Young Children, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Summary
Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) is often provided 1-2 times weekly, focusing on movement and function. Therapists integrate NDT with other approaches, believing it requires updates to align with current practices.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Therapy
Background:
- Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) is a common intervention approach used by therapists.
- Understanding current NDT practices and clinician beliefs is essential for its continued development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe current NDT service delivery by occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language therapists.
- To identify patient populations most responsive to NDT.
- To examine clinicians' attitudes toward NDT philosophy and practice.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was distributed to 431 members of the Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association, Inc.
- The survey assessed current NDT practices, including setting, duration, frequency, techniques, and clinician beliefs.
Main Results:
- NDT is typically provided 1-2 times weekly, emphasizing qualitative movement and functional performance.
- Clinicians view individuals with mild to moderate motor dysfunction as most responsive to NDT.
- Therapists employ an eclectic approach, integrating NDT with other methods, and believe in family involvement and NDT as a total management program.
Conclusions:
- There is broad agreement among clinicians that the foundational principles of NDT require revision.
- The study highlights the need to update NDT's theoretical underpinnings to reflect current thinking in therapy practice.