Therapists and educators who work with young children often encounter children who have problems related to perinatal complications or experiences. This section directs you to areas within this website that can provide information helpful in working with former Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) patients and their families. Make sure to check the section on related web links for resources elsewhere on the internet.
Perinatal Conditions Associated With Developmental Problems
Understanding how perinatal factors influence later development and behavior can be helpful in providing intervention for children with special needs. We have included information on a variety of perinatal conditions which often result in developmental challenges, and you may wish to refer to this section to look up information on particular conditions when you work with children who began life in a NICU.
These are some of the more common neonatal complications which can increase a child’s risk of neurodevelopmental problems:
Prematurity And Its Impact On Development
Children who were born extremely prematurely often have developmental differences, behavioral issues, and/or sensory issues which are related to neonatal history. Information regarding developmental milestones for prematurely born children and developmental issues frequently associated with neonatal complications, can help you understand not only the etiology of a particular problem, but how important it is as an indication of long-term difficulty and what type of intervention strategy (if any) should be considered.
Common developmental issues include:
- developmental delays
- cerebral palsy
- growth issues
- sensory impairment (Including Vision, Hearing, and Touch)
- mental retardation
- learning disabilities
- behavioral challenges: attention and activity level, discipline, and language delays
Articles
Parent Hand-Outs
We have also included a selection of parent hand-outs that you may find useful in explaining issues related to neonatal complications. Please feel free to copy these and distribute them as needed. Please copy each in its entirety, including copyright and any notations appended in footnotes.
- Attention Problems: Structured Play
- Attention Problems: Reading Activity
- Building on Language Skills
- Communication Alternatives
- Discipline / Alternatives to Physical Punishment
- Hearing Loss: What are the signs in an infant or toddler?
- Suggestions for Managing Behavior of Children With Language Delays / Hearing Loss
- Time-Out
- Tactile Hypersensitivity