Episode 208 (Professor Alicia Spittle)

Early Detection and Early Intervention - where are we now (and what does the future hold)?

The last time we had Alicia on the pod, we spoke about the Cochrane Review she led titled “Early developmental intervention programmes provided post hospital discharge to prevent motor and cognitive impairment in preterm infants” which was published in 2024. In this week’s episode, we thought we’d ask Alicia about the state of early intervention right now and what the provision of therapy looks like within our current context of early detection and early intervention for children with cerebral palsy.

There have been some rather significant developments in the early detection and early intervention space over the past 20 years. From the rapid technological advances to the value of co-design and involvement of people with lived experience, we now have some impressive evidence to guide our clinical pathways. However, what is very clear now is the vital importance of implementation. The industry has generated substantial knowledge that now needs to be implemented into practice with one particularly important aspect that we must include - family involvement and well-being. 

Alicia speaks ever so passionately about our role as therapists and I cannot help but to feel even more compelled to ensure that the family is at the centre of everything we do. It is exciting to know that we have the evidence now, so it’s time to put it into practice and it can start in your very next session.

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/27041-alicia-spittle