Interventions for children with neurodevelopmental delay

To review studies in the scientific literature of five physical interventions commonly recommended for children with neurodevelopmental delay.

A literature search for and a review of the results of controlled and other studies conducted in the course of the last 25 years.

Institute of Child Health, University of Cape Town.

Patterning; neurodevelopmental therapy; sensory integrative therapy; optometric visual training; auditory integration therapy.

Findings and conclusions drawn in the studies reviewed.

Controlled studies fail to provide evidence to support claims made for the five interventions examined.

In the absence of scientific evidence for efficacy patterning, neurodevelopmental therapy, sensory integrative therapy, optometric visual training and auditory integrative therapy cannot be recommended for children with neurodevelopmental delay.