More recent research has shown that longterm
developmental prognosis for infants
born at very early gestational ages is improving,
and yet these infants still remain at
higher than average risk for developmental
delay (Schaefer et al., 1980). The concern
about environmental factors contributing to
this risk begins in the nursery. There has been
some agreement that the usual environment
of the neonatal intensive care unit is deficient
in normal developmental experience. Lawson