Interventions for children with neurodevelopmental delay.

OBJECTIVES: To review studies in the scientific literature of five physical interventions commonly recommended for children with neurodevelopmental delay.

DESIGN: A literature search for and a review of the results of controlled and other studies conducted in the course of the last 25 years.

SETTING: Institute of Child Health, University of Cape Town.

SUBJECTS: Patterning; neurodevelopmental therapy; sensory integrative therapy; optometric visual training; auditory integration therapy.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Findings and conclusions drawn in the studies reviewed.

RESULTS: Controlled studies fail to provide evidence to support claims made for the five interventions examined.

CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of scientific evidence for efficacy patterning, neurodevelopmental therapy, sensory integrative therapy, optometric visual training and auditory integrative therapy cannot be recommended for children with neurodevelopmental delay.