New Research Highlights the Potential of At-Home Neurodevelopmental Programs

A large 2024 study published in Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that children and adolescents participating in a structured at-home neurodevelopmental program showed significant improvements in key cognitive areas, including attention, working memory, reasoning, and inhibitory control.

The study included more than 16,000 participants aged 4–17, making it one of the largest studies of its kind to date.

What the Research Looked At

Researchers examined whether a home-based neurodevelopmental program could produce outcomes comparable to an in-person format.

The program included:

• Sensory-motor activities

• Cognitive training exercises

• Rhythm and timing activities

• Parent-supported implementation at home

Participants included children with parent-reported developmental and learning challenges, such as:

• ADHD

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Anxiety

• Dyslexia

• Sensory processing difficulties

Cognitive performance was measured using the standardised Creyos before and after program participation.

Key Findings

The study reported improvements across multiple cognitive domains, including:

• Attention

• Working memory

• Short-term memory

• Response inhibition

• Reasoning ability

Importantly, results showed that children participating in the at-home format achieved outcomes comparable to those participating in the in-person version of the program.

Why This Matters for Families

Many families face barriers to accessing in-person support, including:

• Distance from services

• Time constraints

• Financial pressures

• Limited local availability

This research is important because it suggests that structured, parent-supported home-based interventions may still support meaningful cognitive improvements when delivered consistently.

For many families, flexibility can be the difference between starting support or not starting at all.

Important Considerations

As with all large retrospective studies, there are limitations:

• No non-treatment control group

• Reliance on parent-reported diagnoses

• No long-term follow-up data

• Not a randomised controlled trial

While findings are encouraging, further research is needed to better understand long-term outcomes and effectiveness across different populations.

Study Details

• Published in Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (December 2024)

• Authors: Rebecca Jackson & Yue Meng

• Sample size: 16,330 children and adolescents aged 4–17

• Assessment tool: Creyos

• Peer-reviewed by East Carolina University and Alverno College

• Open-access (CC BY 4.0)

• DOI: 10.3389/frcha.2024.1450695

• PMC: PMC11731937

The Bigger Picture

Research continues to highlight the connection between movement, sensory processing, attention, and cognitive development. Increasingly, studies are exploring how multimodal approaches may support children experiencing developmental, behavioural, and learning challenges.

At Connected Kidz, we stay informed by emerging research to help families better understand the factors that may influence their child’s development and learning profile.

Research Reference

Jackson, R., & Meng, Y. (2024). Cognitive outcomes of an at-home neurodevelopmental program. Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/frcha.2024.1450695