Early intervention improves intellectual development in asphyxiated newborn infants

Objective To evaluate the effect of early intervention on the intellectual development in asphyxiated newborn infants. Methods Full term asphyxiated infants (Apgar score less than or equal to 6 at 5 minutes after birth) were randomly assigned to early intervention group (34 cases) and conventional care (30 cases) group. The normal control group consisted of 38 infants. Sex, mother's educational background, environmental condition and physical development were not significantly different in the 3 groups. Zero to two years early intervention program was compiled on basis of the national and foreign material about 1 month ahead of average development of the child. It included motor, cognitive, speech development and social behavior. Parents were instructed to carry out early intervention. Results At the age of 1. 5 years, average score of mental development index (MDI) in early intervention group was 14. 6 higher than that in conventional care group (F = 18. 86, P < 0. 0001). MDI score in early intervention group caught up with that in normal control group (F = 2. 17, P > 0. 05). Conventional care group was 9. 7 lower than normal control group (F = 10. 14, P < 0. 01). Two of 30 cases (6. 7%) in conventional care group was mentally retarded while none was mentally retarded in the early intervention group. Conclusions The results showed that the early intervention could promote intellectual development of asphyxiated infants and be of much benefit to the prevention of mental retardation.