Investigation of a Hybrid Environmental Enrichment-Based Early Intervention Approach for Infants at Risk of Cerebral Palsy
This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and caregiver acceptance of the Homeostasis-Enrichment-Plasticity (HEP®) Approach, a novel early intervention based on the environmental enrichment paradigm, applied as a hybrid model for infants at risk for cerebral palsy (CP). The effects on functional goals, development, and parental well-being will be examined. The intervention consists of weekly one-hour sessions for 12 weeks with 17 infants aged 4-10 months at risk for CP, identified via the Prechtl Assessment or brain imaging. Feasibility and acceptance will be assessed by a 24-item Likert scale. Developmental outcomes will be measured with GAS, Bayley-III, ISFT, and DASS-21.
⁃ Infants who meet the following criteria will be included in the study:
• According to the general movement assessment, babies from birth to the 8th week have poor repertoire, synchronized cramps or chaotic movement pattern, and the presence of abnormal fidgeting movements between the 6th and 9th weeks.
• A neurologist has detected the presence of abnormal brain imaging on magnetic resonance imaging or cranial ultrasound,
• Absence of congenital anomalies,
• The family agrees to participate regularly in the study.