Effect of Contingency Paradigm-Based Interventions on Developmental Outcomes in Young Infants: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to identify controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of contingency paradigm-based interventions to improve feeding, motor, or cognitive outcomes during the first year of life. Summary of Key Points: Seventeen studies, including 10 randomized controlled trials, incorporating contingency paradigm-based interventions were identified. Three of 3 trials reported improvements in nutritive sucking using pacifier-activated lullaby in preterm infants before term age. Seven of 12 trials reported improvements in reaching, manual exploration, and kicking behaviors in term and preterm infants; and 6 of 10 trials reported gains in early cognition using sticky mittens and contingent toys. Conclusion and Recommendations for Clinical Practice: Contingency paradigm-based interventions can improve feeding outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit in very preterm infants, and increase reaching, and perceptual-cognitive behaviors in term infants. Future research is needed to establish contingency paradigms as an effective early intervention strategy. What This Adds to the Evidence: This review synthesizes a body of literature on contingency paradigm-based interventions and highlights its potential paradigm-based interventions to improve developmental outcomes in infants.