Family-professional collaborative intervention via telehealth with an infant with Down syndrome and visual impairment: a case report.

Abstract

Background: Collaborative interventions, involving partnerships between professionals and families, make it possible to actively engage families in the rehabilitation process. However, no study was found that used a physiotherapy intervention via telehealth for infants with Down syndrome (DS).

Objective: Describe the case report of a family-professional collaborative intervention via telehealth for an infant with Down syndrome and visual impairment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Case description: A male infant five months old participated in a collaborative intervention for a period of eight weeks. Three goals were set with the family, and a goal-oriented home program, involving visual stimulation strategies, was organized.

Outcomes: Two goals were achieved. The family scored changes in performance and satisfaction with the infant's performance according to the adapted Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Improvement of motor skills was verified by Alberta Infant Motor Scale and changes in mobility and daily activities performance were measured by the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory - Computer Adaptive Test.

Conclusion: The use of family-professional collaborative intervention via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic shows promising results for achieving the goals established by the family collaboratively with the physical therapists.