Biomedical subjects
J S Haber
Publications and source records attributed to J S Haber.
The pediatrician and early intervention for the developmentally disabled or handicapped child.
New federal legislation involving infants at risk for handicaps and their families, in the form of Public Law 99-457, will rely on interaction between pediatricians and other professionals to maximize health and social benefits. Involvement in early identification and remediation of infants at risk is a role well suited to the primary care pediatrician. Early Intervention Programs offer remediation and enhancement of development for children at biologic or environmental risk. Pediatricians should be alert to screen, identify, and assess children who may be helped by Early Intervention Programs. The primary care pediatrician should work with children who have these problems, help coordinate care, and serve as an advocate for the child and family.
Early diagnosis and referral of children with developmental disabilities.
Recent legislation has created a national program for providing early intervention, including identification, remediation and counseling, for children with developmental disabilities. Providing such services requires interaction between early childhood intervention professionals and primary care physicians in an unprecedented manner. Family physicians and other primary care professionals can identify at-risk children at an early stage. The physician's knowledge of the family can be crucial in the successful delivery of high-quality medical care to this population. This article describes a practical, four-stage approach to primary care participation in the identification, referral and follow-up of developmentally delayed and handicapped children.