3. Developmental track of babies

Developmental track of the babies with early intervention employing the INA approach was conducted at fixed time points using the non-intrusive General Movements (GM) tool [73–75]. The babies showed about 70% delta in developmental improvement comparing w/wo INA when the babies were around 55 wPMA.

Using the developmental tool ABAS (Adaptive Behavioral Assessment Scale) [76], the children showed about 40% delta in developmental improvement comparing w/wo INA, when the babies were around 1.5 years old (Graphs 1, 2).

Intervention group. 78.27% of the subjects got the same results in delta1 and delta2 (for 8.70% both delta are equal 0 and for 69.57% both delta were equal 1), 21.74% of the subjects did not get the same results in delta1 and delta2—delta1 = 1 and delta2 = 0 (no opposite cases). We calculated the kappa coefficient (system consistency) = 0.3575 (confidence limit 95% is 0.0242 till 0.7393). We conducted McNemar's Test (significance of results), P = 0.0625.

Control group. 87.50% of the subjects got the same results in delta1 and delta2 (for 66.67% both delta were equal 0 and for 20.83% both delta are equal 1), 12.50% of the subjects did not get the same results in delta1 and delta2—delta1 = 0 and delta2 = 1 (no opposite cases). We calculated kappa coefficient (system consistency) = 0.6897 (confidence limit 95% is 0.3774 till 1.000). We conducted McNemar's Test (significance of results), P = 0.2500.

In order to test if group (w/wo early intervention) and the babies' preliminary grades were dependent, we used Fisher Exact test and got non-significant result (P = 0.5806), which proves no link between group (w/wo early intervention) and babies' developmental grade. In order to test if group (intervention/control) and the babies' grades at 55 wPMA were dependent, we used Fisher Exact test and got

right and left cortical hemispheres, unlock the traumatic experience in the right hemisphere, promote new connections in interhemispheric neural cycles, contributing to the high delta scores in the participants who received INA compared with

We assume that longer intervention periods would keep the high delta scores to older age, allowing the brain more training and a longer period of enhanced conditions. In the next stage of the project, we define the correlation between concentration curves of biomarkers related to brain injury in the participants' body fluids, and

Indeed, the research described here directs the light on a certain vulnerable group of babies. However, the scientific and clinical products of this project, when properly tuned, may be successfully applied to various groups who are at developmental risk—children and youth diagnosed with post-trauma, or under extreme/

This scientific work is dedicated to my dear parents for their unlimited love and care.

The hydro therapists at Sheba MC Rehabilitation Pool for their collaboration. The Haifa University Research Dean Fund for their generous support.

The National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel, for their generous support.

, Amir Kushnir<sup>3</sup>

, Chava Kasher<sup>4</sup>

,

The parents of the babies for their trust and cooperation.

The Magi-Adelis Research Fund for their generous support.

\*, Marina Soloveichick<sup>2</sup>

3 NICU, Bar-Ilan University, Faculty of Medicine, Israel

\*Address all correspondence to: drhagitfriedman@gmail.com

1 Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

6 Pediatric Neurology, Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Israel

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

Caroline Barmatz<sup>5</sup> and Omer Bar-Yosef<sup>6</sup>

4 NICU, Sheba Medical Center, Israel

2 NICU, Carmel Medical Center, Haifa, Israel

5 Hydrotherapy, Sheba Medical Center, Israel

provided the original work is properly cited.

127

those who did not.

neuro-developmental track.

INA Early Intervention for Babies at Risk DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.83610

acute emotional load, etc.

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank:

Author details

Hagit Friedman<sup>1</sup>

Graph 1.

Difference in developmental tracks between before and after early intervention period (delta), in group with INA (blue) compared to group without INA (red), at the age of 55 wPMA (delta1) and at the age of 1.5 years (delta2).

### Graph 2.

Developmental grades before, immediately after, and 1 year after early intervention period.

significant result (P = 0.0016), which proves a link between intervention and infant early developmental grade.

In order to test if group's grade (intervention/control) and delta1 were dependent, we used Fisher Exact test and got significant result (P < 0.0001). In the intervention group. 8.70% got delta = 0, and in the control group. 79.17% got delta = 0. In order to test if group's grade (intervention/control) and delta2 were dependent, we used Fisher Exact test and got significant result (P = 0.0199). In the intervention group. 30.43% of delta = 0, and in the control group. 66.67% got delta = 0.
