The Effects of Early Stimulation on Low-Birth-Weight Infants

SCARR-SALAPATEK, SANDRA, and WILLIAMS, MARGARET L. The Effects of Early Stimulation on Low-Birth-Weight Infants. CmHLD DEVELOPMENT, 1973, 44, 94-101. Infants born at low birth weights (< 1,800 g) to disadvantaged mothers are at developmental risk for both biological and social reasons. A stimulation program to enhance sensorimotor development was implemented for the first year of life. 30 consecutively born infants were alternately assigned to experimental (E) and control (C) groups. The E group received visual, tactile, and kinaesthetic stimulation during 6 weeks in the nursery. Weekly home visits to improve maternal care were made until the infants reached 12 months of age. Newborn tests at 4 weeks and Cattell IQ scores at 1 year indicated greater developmental progress for the E fhan for the C group.