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Unit 4
Instructor: Jose Davila
Risk Factors and Early Intervention
• Many factors—known or unknown—can
place a child at risk for developmental
disability.
• The goal of this chapter is to prevent
disabilities in the children of our country.
Terms and Definitions
• Risk factors are biological or
environmental conditions associated with
cognitive, social, affective, and physical
problems.
• The presence of risk factors increases the
probability of adverse outcomes but does
not guarantee them.
Biological Risk
• Biological risks exists when prenatal, perinatal,or
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postnatal events increase the likelihood that the
child will experience developmental problems.
Prenatal—from conception to birth
Perinatal—from the twelfth week of pregnancy
through the first birthday.
Postnatal—twenty-eighth day of life through the
first birthday
Prenatal Factors
• Teratogens are substances that can cause birth
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defects (alcohol, drugs, illnesses).
Illnesses of the mother during pregnancy can
cause damage to the developing fetus (e.g.
rubella, CMV, STDs, HIV/Aids)
When STDs are identified and treated during the
first trimester of pregnancy, harm to the fetus
can be avoided.
Aids and HIV can be transmitted during
pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding.
Thalimodine Tragedy
• The thalimodine tragedy of the 1950s
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demonstrated that great care must be taken
with all drugs during pregnancy.
Thalmodine was prescribed to pregnant women
for nausea; over time it was learned that taking
the drug during the first trimester of pregnancy
caused shortened or missing arms and legs in
fetus.
Polysubstance Abusers
• Apolysubstance abusers are those who
use a combination of drugs as well as
alcohol.
• Babies of mothers who have used cocaine,
heroin or methadone marijuana, PCP, or
amphetamines appear to be at significant
risk, and may be particularly vulnerable to
the effects of an unstable environment.
Long-Term Effects
• Long-term effects of prenatal drug exposure on the child
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are difficult to predict.
Maternal alcohol use during pregnancy can result in fetal
alcohol syndrome or alcohol-related neurodevelopmental
disorder.
Smoking can result in pregnancy complications as well
as low birth weight and physical abnormalities in the
infant.
Younger mothers and older mothers are at risk for
different pregnancy complications. (e.g. mothers over
age 35 are more likely to have a child with down
syndrome.
Perinatal Period
• The perinatal period ranges from the twelfth
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week of pregnancy to the twenty-eighth day of
life.
Premature babies are born before the thirty
seven weeks’ gestation; low baby weigh less
than five and a half pounds.
Advances in neonatology and high-risk infant
care have ensured the survival of many low
birthweight babies.
Postnatal Period
• Diseases like meningitis and conditions like
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chronic otitis media can result in disabilities that
affect school performance.
Among the diseases that can place a young
child’s learning at risk are asthma or chronic
lung disease, HIV, and ongoing ear infections.
Nutritional deprivations is usually associated with
extreme poverty, and it is difficult to separate
the effects of poor nutrition from the other
deprivations of poverty.
Environmental Risk
• Environmental risk includes all the risk factors related to the
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environment in which the child develops.
Early exposure to lead is associated with a greater likelihood of
school problems.
Neurotoxins damage the developing nervous system.
Accidents are the most common postnatal risk factor.
Poverty—which can include both economic and social factors—is a
major cause of environmental risk.
Child abuse may be responsible for some cases of mental
retardation, physical disability, and emotional disturbance in the U.S.
today.
Developmental problems most often stem from a combination of
biological and environmental risk factors.
Prevention
• Inoculation, or vaccination against infectious diseases, is
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a prevention strategy that should be available to every
child.
Genetic counseling can also be a step in preventing
disability.
Early and consistent prenatal care is the most effective
way to prevent many disabilities.
Amniocentesis and chronic villous sampling can provide
information on the health of the fetus.
Early-intervention is the set of services provided to
children from birth to age 3 and their families that is
designed for their unique characteristics and needs.
Early Intervention
• Research documents the effectiveness of early
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interventions services.
Early-Intervention can be provided in the family
home, at an early intervention center or in the
community.
Family involvement and family support are the
foundation of effective early intervention.
The IFSP is written not just for the child, but for
the family.
Identification and Assessment for
Infants at Risk
• Three groups of infants and toddlers are eligible
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for early intervention services under law.
1. Those with an identified condition related to
developmental disability, such as hearing or
vision loss or Down Syndrome.
2. Those who are experiencing developmental
delay in motor, cognitive, communication,
psychosocial, or self-help skills.
3. Those who are at risk for significant
developmental delay because of biological
and/or environmental events in their lives.
Identification and Assessment of
Infants at Risk
• Best practices in assessment demand that multiple types
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of data from multiple sources, especially the family, be
used for good decision-making.
Children with responsive and consistent caregiving have
the best chance of recovering from the effects of risk
factors.
Resilient children can overcome the odds and become
healthy, productive adults.
Personal factors and a close bond with primary caregiver
may help resilient children overcome early risk factors.
• Any questions????
• Discussion Board Requirements!!!!
• Thank you for the hard work.
• Take care.