Use of the HOME Inventory With Medically Fragile Infants

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME; Caldwell & Bradley, 1980) Inventory provides useful information about the social environment of medically fragile infants. The HOME was scored, and maternal and infant interactive behaviors were observed in the home at 6 and 12 months corrected age for 60 medically fragile infants (28 who were neurologically normal and 32 who were neurologically compromised) and their mothers. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II (Bayley, 1993) Mental Development Index (MDI) was administered at 16 months. The total HOME score showed high internal consistency, with moderate consistency for the subscales. The HOME correlated with observed maternal and child behaviors, but the relations were stronger for the neurologically normal infants. The HOME Inventory at 6 and 12 months was related to the Bayley MDI for both neurologically normal and compromised infants. These results indicate that the HOME Inventory can provide useful information for medically fragile infants, even those infants with neurological impairments.