The Effect of the HEP Approach in Infants With Down Syndrome
The Effectiveness of the HEP (Homeostasis-Enrichment-Plasticity) Approach in Infants With Down Syndrome
Izgi Miray Demirbag
26 participants
Sep 3, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This study evaluates the effect of the HEP (Homeostasis-Enrichment-Plasticity) approach on motor and sensory development in infants with Down syndrome. Thirty-two infants will receive either HEP or traditional therapy over 12 sessions, and outcomes will be measured using standardized developmental tests.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria4
- Must be between 4 and 12 months old
- Must have been diagnosed with Down Syndrome
- Must not be at any neurological risk
- Parent must agree to participate regularly in the study process
Exclusion Criteria5
- History of intraventricular hemorrhage (Grade III or IV)
- Major vision or hearing impairment
- History of febrile convulsion
- Medical conditions (e.g., oxygen dependence) that prevent active participation in the study
- Participation in other experimental rehabilitation studies
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Interventions
This intervention is administered to the HEP Intervention arm. The HEP approach, which includes intervention, is a child-centered, family-based early intervention approach based on the principles of enriched environment and plasticity, emphasizing the importance of homeostasis. It is based on theories that argue that development occurs as a result of the dynamic interaction between the environment, time, task, and individual (Ecological Theory, Dynamic Systems Theory, Perception-Action Theory, Neuronal Group Selection Theory, and the Person-Environment-Occupation Model). Hypotheses for intervention are generated based on a comprehensive assessment of these four fundamental factors (environment, time, task, and individual), and 10 core principles derived from environmental enrichment studies are applied with the guidance of ecological models.
Participants in this arm will receive conventional pediatric therapy, consisting of 12 weekly sessions of 45 minutes each. Sessions will focus on standard motor and sensory development exercises, delivered by a physical therapist experienced in pediatric rehabilitation.
Locations(1)
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NCT07163780