Browsing by Author "Beaudry-Bellefeuille, Isabelle"

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Implementation of the Homeostasis-Enrichment (Hep®) Approach for an Infant at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report
(Necmettin Erbakan Univ, Fac Medicine-Neu Press, 2025) Balikci, Aymen; Balikci, Ayse Firdevs Aracikul; Demirbag, Izgi Miray; Sirma, Gamze Cagla; Beaudry-Bellefeuille, Isabelle; May-Benson, Teresa A.
Background and Clinical Significance: This case report explicates the implementation and outcomes of the Homeostasis-Enrichment-Plasticity (HEP (R)) Approach in a 10-month-old male infant with an increased risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who exhibited challenges in sensory functioning and motor development. Case Presentation: The intervention was carried out utilizing the eleven-step HEP (R) Approach process. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-2 (PDMS-2), Test of Sensory Function in Infants (TSFI), Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-3 (ABAS-3), and Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) were used as outcome measures before and after the intervention. A pediatric physical therapist conducted an hour-long intervention weekly for 10 weeks using the HEP (R) Approach implementation guide. Post-intervention, the infant's fine and gross motor skill scores in the PDMS-2 and General Adaptive Composite in the ABAS-3 exhibited significant improvement, as determined by the 95% confidence interval overlap analysis. The TSFI total score also improved categorically. An overall GAS score of +1.6 corresponded to a t-score of 74.12, indicating significant progress towards the individualized intervention goals. Conclusions: The HEP (R) Approach enhanced motor development, sensory functioning, general adaptive skills, and parental goals in a 10-month-old infant at risk for ASD. The results support further examination of the HEP approach's effectiveness in infants at risk for ASD.
Citation - WoS: 3
Citation - Scopus: 2
The Homeostasis-Enrichment (hep®) Approach for Premature Infants With Developmental Risks: a Pre-Post Feasibility Study
(Mdpi, 2024) Balikci, Aymen; May-Benson, Teresa A.; Sirma, Gamze Cagla; Kardas, Ayten; Demirbas, Duygu; Balikci, Ayse Firdevs Aracikul; Beaudry-Bellefeuille, Isabelle
Background: The environmental enrichment (EE) framework has inspired several early intervention (EI) approaches. This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, caregiver acceptance, and satisfaction of implementing the HEP Approach intervention, a novel EI model based on the EE paradigm. Outcome measures for motor development, individual functional goals, sensory functions, caregiver-provided environmental affordances, and motivation for movement were examined. Methods: A pre-post-study design examined 18 premature infants (<33 weeks six days gestation) with a corrected age of 4-10 months. A 21-item Likert scale survey assessed the feasibility, safety, acceptability, and satisfaction of implementing the HEP Approach intervention. The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2, Test of Sensory Functions in Infants, Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development, and Infant Movement Motivation Questionnaire were used for outcomes. The goal attainment scale measured progress toward parent goals. The HEP Approach consisted of 12 one-hour sessions implemented over three months. Results: Most participating parents found the HEP Approach intervention feasible, safe, acceptable, and satisfactory. GAS scores demonstrated significant gains with a mean t-score of 67.75 (SD = 2.00). Results found significant improvement (p <= 0.05) in all outcome measures. Conclusions: Results suggest that the HEP Approach intervention is safe, feasible, and acceptable to implement. Outcome measures were meaningful and sensitive in identifying improved motor development, individualized parental goals, sensory functions, caregivers' use of environmental opportunities, and movement motivation in premature at-risk infants. Results suggest further studies on the HEP Approach are feasible, and highlight the potential of this intervention to inspire and guide future research in this field.