This study found that 19 of 51 infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn were diagnosed with sensorineural hearing loss, an incidence 25 times greater than that of intensive care unit infants in general. Treatment durations with mechanical ventilation were significantly longer for the hearing-impaired group compared to the…

Investigates the utterances of 1 French and 1 U.S. infant at 0; 5,0; 8,0; 11, and 12 by transcribing and acoustically analyzing them for syllable duration and vowel format values. The French-learning infant tended to produce more regularly timed nonfinal syllables and showed significantly more final-syllable lengthening than the English-learning…

This paper outlines a set of "best practice" criteria for designing and evaluating early intervention programs for special needs infants and toddlers, from an international perspective. The paper recommends that early intervention programs be based on six principal values: community coherence, cultural sensitivity, right to services, family…

This article presents a rationale for comprehensive developmental assessment for infants with cleft palates/lips and related disorders. The assessment model is based on risk factors influencing early development and on clinical research on developmental outcomes. Implications on the clinical assessment process and early intervention are discussed.…

Updates information provided in an earlier issue of this journal which examined the problem of drug-exposed infants. Focuses on three areas discussed in that issue: (1) the response of the courts and the legislatures to the problem; (2) the medical effects of prenatal exposure to cocaine; and (3) the impact of drug-exposed infants on the…

The ability of 10 9-month-old infants with Down's syndrome to acquire a simple contingency was assessed. Unlike a group of nondisabled infants, the Down's syndrome infants did not, in general, learn the contingency. Results are related to the possibility of a decline in conditionability with age and a relationship between conditionability and…

Infants were followed longitudinally from 1;2 to 1;10. Parents maintained a journal of child's spoken words and, at 2-month intervals, completed representative checklist of words produced. Results suggest that the diary method is more effective during early emergence of language, and the representative checklist method is more effective late in…

This editorial proposes that the dependent variables that predict childhood intelligence quotient (IQ) from habituation and recognition memory assessments made during infancy may primarily reflect individual differences in rate of information processing. Inhibition may be a stable thread in mental development. (Author/SLD)

The relationship between different measures of maternal directiveness and different measures of referential style were investigated in the same group of eight mother-infant dyads. Findings suggest that the attentional regulation hypothesis may be less valuable as a means of explaining stylistic variation in early vocabulary composition. (15…

Reviews literature that illustrates concerns about childhood chronic illness and its effects on families. Includes an example of research on preterm infants with low birthweight and complex medical needs. Preliminary analyses of infants' intervention needs during their first 18 months are discussed in relation to the reduction of family stress.…

Followup to earlier report that focused on initial uses of first 10 words produced by 4 children is presented. Results of analysis of subsequent use of these 40 words is presented. Findings indicate that the role of linguistic input in early lexical development may decline sharply once a child has established initial uses for words. (24…

Twelve mothers were videotaped interacting with their children, aged 13 months, and 100 maternal utterances were coded for pragmatic intent. Prescriptives were coded as either changing or following the child's focus of attention. Results show that, given a joint focus, directing a 13-month-old's behavior can have beneficial effects on subsequent…

Relations between attendance in stable high quality day care programs and grade school behavior and performance were determined in two studies of elementary school children. Found that time in quality infant care was significantly related to positive social behavior and higher academic achievement. (GLR)

This article describes a hospital-based education program that provides early intervention services to infants with chronic health impairments and developmental disabilities and their families during hospitalization. Emphasis is on family-centered care and transition to home/community services. An additional benefit is education of other health…

The weeks just prior to conception and the early weeks of pregnancy are extremely crucial. By adopting a healthy lifestyle, parents can give their babies a head start toward a healthy life. Both men and women play an important role in preconception planning and behavior. (SM)