The Importance and Efficacy of Interdisciplinary Early Intervention for Children with Impairment or Impending Disability: Literature Survey

Background Early childhood intervention is based on four basic principles: holism, a family-centered approach, interdisciplinarity, and networking. There are a variety of methods and very different at-risk groups; thus, an assessment or general valid statement on the efficacy of early childhood intervention seems difficult, and subgroups are indicated for each at-risk group. Methods We performed a literature review on the topic efficacy of interdisciplinary early childhood intervention via PubMed. Medline, Embase, and CINAHL. The search period for the literature used extended from 1 January 1990 until 30 April 2019. We considered literature in English and German and the search terms were "early childhood intervention" combined with "effects, development, disability, prematurity," etc. Results We finally analyzed 50 publications divided into five at-risk groups: preterm infants, physical disability, autistic spectrum including language delay, behavioral problems, and psychosocial risks. In 39 of the 50 publications (78%), including 4 reviews and/or meta-analyses, and 2 Cochrane reviews, positive effects of the interdisciplinary early childhood interventions were found. These were observed in studies with small sample sizes and in publications with large cohorts. Conclusions Early childhood intervention is able to help and support children with disabilities or related endangerments and their parents, and be able to prevent or mitigate developmental disorders in an interdisciplinary manner. Because of the heterogeneity of the possible types of interventions and their intensity, it is difficult to make a general statement on efficacy, despite the positive results of our literature survey, because all early childhood intervention measures have to be adapted individually to each child.