Effects of the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) at age 8 years: preliminary data

Abstract

The current study reports the effects of NIDCAP (Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program) at 8 years of age for a randomized controlled trial of 38 very early born (< or =29 weeks postmenstrual age), high-risk preterm infants. It was hypothesized that the experimental group at school age in comparison with the control group would perform significantly better neuropsychologically and neuroelectrophysiologically. Twenty-two (11 control, 11 experimental) children of the original 38 (18 control, 20 experimental) participants were studied at school age with a detailed neuropsychological battery and with EEG spectral coherence measures. Results indicated significantly better right hemisphere and frontal lobe function in the experimental group than the control group, both neuropsychologically and neurophysiologically. Neurobehavioral and physiological results in the newborn period successfully predicted the beneficial brain function effects at age 8 years. Results support the conclusion that the NIDCAP intervention has lasting effects into school age.

Figure 1

Coherence factors at 2 weeks corrected age (2wCA), control versus experimental. Arrow color indicates E-group coherence: green = decreased; red = increased. Background color indicates loading on original principal components analysis: blue = decreased; red-orange = increased. Frequency and index electrode above. Head in vertex view, nose above, left ear to left.

Figure 2

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Revised IQ distribution at 8 years corrected age (8yCA). C = control group; E = experimental group. Horizontal line denotes mean value.

Figure 3

Coherence factors at 8 years corrected age (8yCA), control versus experimental. Arrow color indicates E-group coherence: green = decreased; red = increased. Background color indicates loading on original principal components analysis: blue = decreased; red-orange = increased. Index electrode lower left; frequency lower right. Head in vertex view, nose above, left ear to left.