BE

xwith hyperlinks - Tagged

Developmental Delay

  • Definition: Developmental delay refers to a significant lag in a child's physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or social development compared to peers.

Neurological Assessment of the Child

Purpose

  • Assess the neurodevelopmental status of the child to identify any delays in growth and development.

Assessment and Evaluation Process

Assessment

  • Definition: A systematic process of obtaining a history, performing a systems review, and administering tests.

  • Aims to gather data about the child’s functional abilities.

  • May require referral to additional professionals for comprehensive evaluation.

Evaluation

  • Involves clinical judgments made by the physiotherapist based on collected data.

  • May result in referring the child to other healthcare professionals when necessary.

Diagnosis

  • May not always result in a specific diagnosis.

  • Both a process and an outcome involving the evaluation of examination data to identify areas needing intervention.

Prognosis

  • Physiotherapist estimates the level of optimal improvement achievable through intervention and the timeframe for this improvement.

Episode of Care

  • Refers to the entire course of treatment provided to a child, including ongoing evaluations.

Intervention

  • Defined as purposeful, skilled interactions with the child that align with the established diagnosis and prognosis.

  • Involvement of other professionals is included when appropriate.

  • Ongoing evaluation helps assess the effectiveness of the intervention and may lead to further referrals.

Outcomes

  • Evaluation of outcomes can concern various domains:

    • Pathology

    • Impairments

    • Functional limitations and disabilities

    • Health and wellness

    • Societal resources

    • Patient/client satisfaction

Continuous Assessment and Reassessment

  • Importance: Continuous assessment is crucial for adapting treatment.

  • The therapist adjusts handling techniques according to the child's responses and abilities.

  • Assessment is aimed at identifying barriers preventing the child from achieving functional skills appropriate to their developmental stage.

Types of Assessment

Naturalistic Assessment

  • Observational assessment within the child’s home or classroom environment.

  • No physical intervention; utilizes toys and materials present in the environment.

Arena Assessment

  • Involves a multidisciplinary team where one therapist leads the assessment process.

  • All team members participate actively to evaluate the child holistically.

Standardized Assessment

  • Utilizes developed tools to yield a raw score that correlates with age equivalency or developmental quotients.

Causes of Developmental Delay

  • External Factors: Includes forms of neglect and deprivation.

  • Neuromuscular Issues: Abnormal muscle tone affecting motor functions.

  • Systemic Impairments: Involvement of other bodily systems such as:

    • Cardiovascular

    • Musculoskeletal

    • Integumentary (e.g., burns, skin damage)

  • Cognitive Factors: Learning disabilities, communication difficulties, emotional and behavioral responses.

Causes of Mild Gross Motor Development Delay

  • Benign Muscular Hypotonia: Represents one of the underlying causes.

  • Lack of Experiences: Insufficient gross motor experiences can hinder development.

  • Genetic Conditions: Conditions ranging from mild to severe impact gross motor skills.

  • Cerebral Palsy (CP): A diagnosis related to motor function deficits.

Assessment Activity

Observation of Bottom Shuffling

  • Assess patterns of movement and functionality of two 10-month-old babies observed in provided video clips.

  • Evaluate their communication skills and play behavior.

  • Consider any concerns regarding their development based on observations.

Hypotonicity

Definition

  • A condition characterized by excessively low resistance to passive stretch, often impacting muscle tone and coordination.

Causes

  • Results from loss of afferent or efferent neural activity affecting lower motor neurons, leading to alterations in musculoskeletal tissue.

  • Problems with descending pathways associated with cerebellar or vestibular disorders disrupt muscle tone regulation.

Child Presentation

  • Child exhibits poor posture using joint extension to hold position.

  • Standard posture includes arms hanging, excessive kyphosis or lordosis, and legs locked in extension.

  • Movement becomes challenging, characterized by reduced coordination and lack of precision in transitions and muscle activation.

Treatment Approaches

Aims

  • Support the child in achieving developmental milestones.

Techniques

  • Employ small equipment and engage in developmental activities.

  • Focus on improving proprioception and activating extensor muscles.

  • Protect at-risk joints and strengthen weaker muscle groups.

  • Integrate co-contraction activities through age-appropriate play activities.