Abstract
How early support should be for children with developmental disabilities during infancy was examined by clarifying factors that did not lead to early support and long-term prognosis situation through the examination of actual support. 【Survey I】61 parents of children enrolling in an elementary special-needs classroom were surveyed by questionnaire and 22 by interview to classify children retrospectively according to the presence and situation of support. Comparisons were made among 3 groups: “support” continuation group (24 cases), “support”
discontinuation group (21 cases), and “support” absence group (16 cases) (“support” omitted hereinafter). In the
continuation group, parents “realized” their situation early and many had “reliable supporters”, while in the absence group, parents “realized” their situation late and many had no supporters. 【Survey II】A follow-up interview was conducted with 15 patients after 8 years. Long-term prognosis was good in the continuation group, whereas there were many challenges and occasional poor prognosis in the discontinuation and absence groups.
It was suggested that support promoting “realization” of developmental disabilities including “difficulties in
raising children” during infancy and securing continued supporters from early childhood were supportive factors for improving long-term prognosis.
