An Evaluation of Early Intervention Effectiveness at Increasing Age Levels for Program Initiation

Previous research has identified a negative correlation between developmental outcomes and length of early intervention programs. In the present investigation, these counterintuitive findings were examined on a sample of “at risk” children who had received a home-based infant development program and who had been enrolled at different age levels. Findings indicated that treatment length was negatively, but not significantly, correlated with developmental outcome. In addition, start age was found to be significantly negatively correlated with outcome, suggesting that certain developmental indices may decrease over time for certain populations. When the regression of time with start age was taken into account in the analyses, large and reliable treatment effects were observed at all start age levels. Results are discussed with respect to future research endeavors.     

An Activity-Based Language Intervention Program for Kindergarten Children: A Retrospective Evaluation

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of a small-group intervention based on the naturalistic approach on 220 children from 3–5 years of age. All kindergarten children received weekly sessions delivered by a SLP in collaboration with the kindergarten teacher. These sessions included various book related activities. Two intervention groups were identified: children from middle SES neighborhoods and children from low SES neighborhoods. A control group was matched to the first group and included children from middle SES neighborhoods. Children participating in the program were pre and post tested using three language tests in order to assess basic language skills. The main finding was that children in the intervention groups showed significantly greater gains from pre- to post-test relative to children in the comparison group. The program benefited children from different SES environments. The greatest progress was in the area of vocabulary. In sum, the combination of small group setting and age-appropriate interactive activities served to provide language promoting opportunities for these children.     

An Analysis of the Use of Teleconferencing to Support a Rural Early Intervention Program

One of the difficulties encountered in providing early intervention programs in rural localities is ensuring ongoing educational support. In a recent project weekly case conferences between a multidisciplinary resource team and local parents, teachers and volunteers were conducted viateleconferencing. Analysis of these teleconferences indicates that, as expected, information‐giving was a major function of the multidisciplinary team; somewhat surprising, however, was the high frequency with which teachers, parents and volunteers offered information and suggestions about the children and their programs. The paper also identifies and discusses additional functions of teleconferences in an early intervention project.     

Evaluation of a Community-Based Aging Intervention Program

This study evaluated the outcome and process of a community-based aging intervention program for the elderly in Taiwan. The program included education on nutrition and dietary behavior and on physical activities. Outcome and process evaluations were conducted. The program may have had some effects on decreasing some dietary behavioral problems and increasing regular exercise, but the effect on health outcome was not proved. The strength of this program was its proper design, dosage, and implementation; the weaknesses included a low participation rate, low commitment and continuity, and selection bias for the nonparticipants who might be frailer than the actual participants.     

Assessing Early Intervention Outcomes: Beyond Program Variables

THE EARLY INTERVENTION field is witnessing some major shifts in the focus of efficacy research. The traditional preoccupation with the question as to whether early intervention works is giving way to greater concern with understanding how programs make their impact. While this is seen as a progressive shift, much of the focus has so far been placed on how specific dimensions of the intervention process contribute to outcomes. Little attention has been paid to extra‐program variables which impinge upon or interact with the intervention process to shape outcomes. This paper presents the perspective that an intervention program is only one of many factors with potential influence on child and family functioning. Consequently program efficacy must be assessed in relation to both program and extra‐program variables. A framework outlining five classes of “independent” variables and two classes of outcomes to be considered in efficacy research is presented. Regression and path analytic techniques are presented as two potentially useful tools for addressing the different kinds of efficacy questions currently being raised in the literature.     

Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Early Years Language Intervention

Research into the long‐term effects of language delay reflects an increasing concern that many children’s needs are not being met by current early years educational practice. This paper reports on a two‐part intervention designed to improve language skills within a nursery setting. In the first part of the intervention, a directly taught small group was found to be effective in improving language skills in children with language delay. However, in the second part of the intervention, creation of a “language rich” nursery environment was not fully implemented by nursery staff. A baseline assessment of all the nursery children revealed that alongside the high incidence of language delay in the nursery population there was also a high incidence of delay in non‐verbal reasoning skills as assessed by a single sub‐test from the British Ability Scales II Early Years. The findings raise the question: how can educational psychologists and speech and language therapists work together with teaching staff to create a “language rich” environment in the early years that will address the needs of all children?     

分散式早期教育干预效果的初步研究

本文对分散式早期教育干预在秦巴山区宁强实验点早期教育干预中的应用进行了实验研究,结果表明：①早期教育干预效果是显著的,干预儿童,尤其是弱智及边缘儿童的智商有明显提高;②早期教育干预中实施的分散式的家庭巡回干预方式是有效的、可行的。     

Second Generation Research on the Effectiveness of Early Intervention

This commentary discusses the program of research carried out by the Utah State Early Intervention Research Institute (EIRI) in the context of the characteristics associated with second generation research in early intervention. Specifically, the series of EIRI research studies focused on the three program features of age of start, intensity of intervention, and parent participation. This commentary provides an evaluation of these program features in terms of scientific quality, specificity of the research, and consistency with contemporary developmental/ecological approaches. Directions for future research are noted, and these include: greater emphasis on establishing expectations for outcomes derived from developmental models, multisite studies to permit more effective specificity analyses, and emphasis on identifying the characteristics of children and families who are at greatest risk of not responding to prevailing early intervention services and supports.     

从神经可塑性角度探究自闭症早期干预的有效性

早期干预是国内外自闭症领域的研究热点,大量的实证研究表明早期干预能够有效改善自闭症的早期症状,特别是对于处在发展关键期的儿童。早期干预能够促进大脑沿着正常的轨迹发展,从而对早期发展中的大脑产生根本的影响。     

Second Generation Research on the Effectiveness of Early Intervention

This commentary discusses the program of research carried out by the Utah State Early Intervention Research Institute (EIRI) in the context of the characteristics associated with second generation research in early intervention. Specifically, the series of EIRI research studies focused on the three program features of age of start, intensity of intervention, and parent participation. This commentary provides an evaluation of these program features in terms of scientific quality, specificity of the research, and consistency with contemporary developmental/ecological approaches. Directions for future research are noted, and these include: greater emphasis on establishing expectations for outcomes derived from developmental models, multisite studies to permit more effective specificity analyses, and emphasis on identifying the characteristics of children and families who are at greatest risk of not responding to prevailing early intervention services and supports.     

美国残疾婴儿和学步儿早期干预计划

美国"残疾婴儿和学步儿早期干预计划"旨在为3岁以下残疾婴幼儿提供早期干预服务,以满足3岁以下残疾婴幼儿及其家庭的特殊需要."残疾婴儿和学步儿早期干预计划"的重要特点是免费性、普及性和全纳性.已有研究表明,美国"残疾婴儿和学步儿早期干预计划"的效果是积极的.我国可以借鉴美国的做法,逐步采取残疾婴幼儿早期干预措施,尽可能为残疾婴幼儿的发展提供帮助.     

Using Research to Improve the Cost Effectiveness of Early Intervention Programs

Since the implementation of Public Law 99457, the number of children served by early intervention programs has increased substantially. This article describes the d e s of advocacy and science in contributing to that expansion. A biosocial systems model of early development is used to explain how comparative experimental research can help to improve the cost effectiveness of early intervention programs. Examples of the benefits of such research are taken from the other articles reported in this issue of Early Education and Development.     

Commentary on Comparative Evaluation of Early Intervention Alternatives

Young children's preferences for conflict management strategies were assessed with hypothetical puppet interviews. A total of 48 children enrolled in a university nursery school were each presented 12 vignettes depicting common peer conflicts. Vignettes varied as a function of conflict issue (roles and possessions) and peer friendship status (friends and nonfriends). Three conflict resolution strategies were contrasted: negotiation, power assertion, and disengagement. The results indicated an overwhelming preference for negotiation. In contrast, power assertion was the least desirable means of resolving disputes. No differences emerged as a function of conflict issue or friendship status. Neither were there differences according to the age or sex of the subject. The findings indicate that young children evince a similar preference for resolving conflicts through negotiation and cooperation as has been reported in studies of older children and adolescents.     

Using Research to Improve the Cost Effectiveness of Early Intervention Programs

Since the implementation of Public Law 99457, the number of children served by early intervention programs has increased substantially. This article describes the d e s of advocacy and science in contributing to that expansion. A biosocial systems model of early development is used to explain how comparative experimental research can help to improve the cost effectiveness of early intervention programs. Examples of the benefits of such research are taken from the other articles reported in this issue of Early Education and Development.     

Effectiveness of a Family‐focused Early Intervention Program in the Education of Children with Hearing Impairments Living in Rural Areas

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a family‐focused early intervention program developed to meet the needs of children with hearing loss and their parents. The participants were 12 children with severe and profound hearing loss who lived in a rural area of Turkey. They did not have any additional disabilities. Their ages ranged between 0 to 4 years. These children and their families had not participated in any intervention program before this research was designed. The 12 participants and their families were assigned to either an experimental or a comparison group. The data was collected before and after the implementation of the program, using three instruments; a preliminary information form for parents, a Scale of Parental Needs and an observation form to evaluate verbal communication. After the implementation of the intervention program, statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and comparison groups regarding their verbal communication.     

The Cost-Effectiveness of Increasing Hours Per Week of Early Intervention Services for Young Children with Disabilities

Although there is a widespread belief that increasing the hours of early intervention services for children with disabilities will result in increased benefits for the participating children and their families, there is little research evidence to support this point of view. In this study, young children with disabilities were randomly assigned to receive either one hour per week of early intervention services, or three hours per week. Measures of child and family outcomes over the subsequent five-year period demonstrated no consistent benefits associated with increasing the hours of intervention. Possible reasons for the lack of benefits are discussed in the context of previous research.     

The Cost-Effectiveness of Increasing Hours Per Week of Early Intervention Services for Young Children with Disabilities

Although there is a widespread belief that increasing the hours of early intervention services for children with disabilities will result in increased benefits for the participating children and their families, there is little research evidence to support this point of view. In this study, young children with disabilities were randomly assigned to receive either one hour per week of early intervention services, or three hours per week. Measures of child and family outcomes over the subsequent five-year period demonstrated no consistent benefits associated with increasing the hours of intervention. Possible reasons for the lack of benefits are discussed in the context of previous research.     

Efficacy of Text Lookback Training for Poor Comprehenders at Two Age Levels

Abstract

Twenty-four high school juniors and an equal number of middle school students were randomly assigned to either training or control groups in two settings. Students who were trained received instruction over three days on the use of text lookbacks to answer questions. After one week, trained and control subjects were tested for use of lookbacks and for question-answering accuracy. Only the younger trained students’ performance was significantly superior to that of control-group peers. Possible explanations for differential efficacy of training are discussed.