Effects of Sensory Stimulation Therapy on the Improvement of Growth and Behavioral Development for Instituted Infants

감각자극 요법이 시설 영아의 신체 및 행동발달에 미치는 효과

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of sensory stimulation therapy on the physical growth and behaviors of infants accommodated at two Korean orphanages. Method: Thirty-eight full term infants were assigned to a control (n=20) or an experimental (n=18) group within 14 dys of birth. In addition to routine orphanage care, infants in the experimental group received 15 minutes of massage twice a day, 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Result: Compared to the control group, the experimental group had gained significantly more weight and had larger increases in length and head circumference after the 4-week intervention period. In addition, the experimental group showed significantly better behavioral performance in the scoring of habituation (e.g., light), motor (e.g., motor maturity), and state range (e.g., peak of excitement, rapidity of build-up) behavioral clusters of Brazelton's NBAS. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that sensory stimulation therapy may facilitate the physical and behavioral development of the newborn infants placed in the orphanages.