[ad_1]
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) can participate in a range of activities, according to a study published in Disable Rehabil.
The researchers conducted a study to determine how children with cerebral palsy participate in activities and how their participation is affected by communication abilities along with personal and environmental factors.
Individual interviews were conducted among 13 parents of children aged 4 to 9 years with CP, and themes were mapped to domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health – Version for Children and Youth (ICF-CY).
Activity, participation and environmental factors constitute areas of learning and application of knowledge, communication, mobility and interpersonal interactions and relationships. Facilitators include being around children, receiving support from family and school, a positive attitude from the child, and a familiar routine.
Barriers include parents’ personal interactions with their children, unfamiliar people and settings, negative feelings toward others, and children’s frustration. These barriers did not prevent children from participating in activities.
Communication and its impact on children is seen as important by parents who note how it affects their children’s relationships, independence and behaviour. Environmental factors that could be modified by intervention were highlighted by barriers and facilitators. Changes in these factors can improve communication and participation.
Early learning tasks, mobility, interactions and communication were the main activities in which the children participated. Researchers suggest that intervention aimed at improving activities and participation focuses on the disability, environment, child, and social factors that influence activities. These include children’s personality characteristics, communication and physical disabilities, familiarity with the environment and the support and attitudes of others.
Therapists must also recognize and manage how communication deficits can impact children’s behavior, social skills, and independence. These impacts can have a negative impact on children’s activities and participation.
Reference:
Mei C, Reilly S, Reddihough D, Mensah F, Green J, Pennington L, et al. Activities and participation of children with cerebral palsy: parental perspectives. Disable Rehabil. 2015;37(23):2164-73. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2014.999164
[ad_2]
Source link