Search results for ‘Subject term:"physical disabilities"’ Sort:
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Stability and change in children with Developmental Coordination Disorder
- Authors:
- SUDGEN D. A., CHAMBERS M. E.
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 33(5), September 2007, pp.520-528.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are a heterogeneous group who have a marked impairment in the performance of functional motor skills. Provision for these children is usually made via a paediatrician through occupational or physiotherapy; though with a prevalence rate of 5%, regular provision is rarely possible because of limited professional resources. This study covers a period of nearly 4 years and initially examined a group of 31 children first identified as having DCD at 7–9 years of age. The children were observed and assessed before, during and after a total of 16 weeks of intervention carried out by parents and teachers. This was followed by a period of monitoring of performance for 26 of the children in the motor domain plus other abilities such as educational progress and self-concept. Individual children were tracked using a variety of qualitative and quantitative approaches, building up longitudinal whole child profiles. Following intervention, 14 of the 26 children have shown improvement and stability in all areas and no longer display DCD symptoms. Eight children have profiles which have shown variability, with the children moving in and out of the DCD classification, while the remaining four children have consistently scored poorly in their movement skills and in addition received ongoing support in school for academic subjects. The study has confirmed that children with DCD show varying profiles over a period of time and that the profiles have distinct characteristics related to events in the child’s life. This approach to examining stability and change in the progressions of children’s difficulties is in keeping with an ecological approach to explaining development with its multilayered influences creating changes.
Developmental Coordination Disorder and Joint Hypermobility Syndrome – overlapping disorders? Implications for research and clinical practice
- Authors:
- MCCLURE I., LE COUTEUR A.
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 33(5), September 2007, pp.513-519.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (JHS) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) are two childhood disorders usually identified separately. DCD is a heterogeneous condition with little known of the underlying aetiology of the disorder. This paper examines the potential overlap between DCD and JHS and examines children with DCD for symptoms which may be consistent with a diagnosis of JHS. Implications for research and clinical practice are considered. A questionnaire covering a range of symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of JHS and related autonomic nervous systemic symptoms was completed by parents from 27 children with DCD and compared with responses from parents of 27 typically developing children. Children with DCD showed a significant difference from the group of typically developing children on questions regarding hypermobility, pain and autonomic nervous system symptoms, typifying JHS. This study has shown a similarity in symptoms seen in some DCD children to those with a diagnosis of JHS. In addition, children are also presenting with multi-system symptomatology including those involving the autonomic nervous system. This study reinforces other recent work showing the reverse pattern of JHS children showing similar functional similarities to DCD children. This has implications for future research in DCD in order to understand the underlying aetiology of this complex disorder. In addition, it is important for clinicians to be aware of these findings in order to provide appropriate and tailored support and treatment for children presenting with differing patterns of co-ordination difficulties. Children with DCD and JHS may require appropriate podiatry as well as recognition of their symptoms of pain and how this may affect participation in physical activity.
Abuse of the disabled child: a systematic review of population-based studies
- Authors:
- GOVINDSHENOY N., SPENCER N.
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 33(5), September 2007, pp.552-558.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Systematic review of population-based studies published between 1966 and January 2006. Medline, Embase, Cinahl, Cochrane library, National Research Register, Social Sciences database and PsychInfo databases were searched for potentially relevant studies. Inclusion criteria: population-based cohort, case–control or cross-sectional studies of children <18 years of age that reported empirical data on the association of abuse with disability. Risk estimates were expressed as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) where possible. Meta-analysis was not undertaken because of heterogeneity of studies. Four studies met the inclusion criteria. Two were longitudinal studies, one was a retrospective birth cohort and the remaining study was a cross-sectional survey. Types of disability studied varied widely as did methods used to ascertain abuse and neglect. Two studies accounted for potential confounding. Three studies reported an association between psychological and emotional disabilities and abuse. Two studies reported an association of learning disability with abuse. Only one study examined the association of physical disability (cerebral palsy) with abuse reporting an adjusted odds ratio for all forms of abuse of 1.79 (95% CI 0.96, 3.36) and for physical abuse of 3.00 (95% CI 1.29, 6.78). The evidence base for an association of disability with abuse and neglect is weak. Psychological and emotional problems, and learning difficulties appear to be associated with abuse but this association might arise because these conditions share a common aetiological pathway with abuse. There is limited evidence that physical disability predisposes to abuse.
Children's experiences of disability: pointers to a social model of childhood disability
- Authors:
- CONNORS Clare, STALKER Kirsten
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 22(1), January 2007, pp.19-33.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The social model of disability has paid little attention to disabled children, with few attempts to explore how far it provides an adequate explanatory framework for their experiences. This paper reports findings from a two-year study exploring the lived experiences of 26 disabled children aged 7-15. They experienced disability in four ways - in terms of impairment, difference, other people's behaviour towards them, and material barriers. Most young people presented themselves as similar to non-disabled children: it is suggested they may have lacked a positive language with which to discuss difference. It is further argued that Thomas's (1999) social relational model of disability can help inform understandings of children's experiences, with 'barriers to being' having particular significance.
From child to adult: an exploration of shifting family roles and responsibilities in managing physiotherapy for cystic fibrosis
- Authors:
- WILLIAMS Brian, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 65(10), November 2007, pp.2135-2146.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Although chest physiotherapy is central to the management of cystic fibrosis many report problems with adherence. Research in other long-term conditions suggests that non-adherence may be exacerbated as the child grows older and self-care responsibilities are transferred to the young person. The authors explored the nature and variation in roles of family members, how responsibility was transferred from the parent/family to the child, and what factors aided or hindered this process The authors conducted in-depth interviews with 32 children with a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis aged 7–17 years, and with 31 parents attending cystic fibrosis clinics in two Scottish regions. Family responsibilities were primarily focused on mothers. The level and nature of involvement varied along a continuum that separated into six parental and five child roles and changed over time. However, this movement was frequently reversed during periods of illness or mistrust. The day to day experience of such a transfer was not straightforward, linear or unproblematic for any of the family members. Three factors were identified as assisting the transfer of responsibility: parents’ perceptions of the benefits of transferring responsibility, children's perceptions of the benefits, and the available physical, social and psychological resources to support such a transfer. The principles and lessons from “concordance” (a therapeutic alliance based on a negotiation between equals and which may lead to agreement on management or agreement to differ) may provide a foundation for newly developing relationships between parents and their children emerging into adulthood. Further research is required to develop more specifically the content and structure of required support, its effectiveness in achieving more concordant relationships, and the resulting impact on adherence, perceived health and well-being from the perspective of the young person and parent.
The need for short breaks and how to run them
- Author:
- -
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 27.09.07, 2007, p.24, 26.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
This article analyses research findings and highlights the importance of short break and respite care for disabled children and their carers.
Health professionals’ perceptions of feeding-related quality of life in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy
- Authors:
- MORROW A. M., QUINE S., CRAIG J. C.
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 33(5), September 2007, pp.529-538.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aim was to identify the major determinants of feeding-related quality of life (QoL) in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy (QCP) from the perspective of health professionals to provide a framework for comprehensive clinical evaluation of health status in this group. A trained facilitator conducted five semi-structured focus groups during September and November 2003. Participants were recruited through the two paediatric hospitals in Sydney and community-based services, and included general and specialist paediatricians (n = 18), nurses (n = 15) and allied health professionals (n = 13), with an 80% response rate. All sessions were audio- and videotaped. nvivo software was used to facilitate thematic analysis of the transcribed audiotapes. Responses clustered into five themes: delivery of health services, parent–child interaction, the child’s physical and emotional well-being, and social participation. Participants thought the QoL of child and parent was inseparable. Parent–child interaction, delivery of services and physical well-being were the topics which prompted most participant interaction. These findings did not vary across disciplines. Health professionals identified five domains which provide a framework within which clinicians may comprehensively evaluate the health status of children with QCP and feeding difficulties. These five domains may also be used to inform a new feeding-related QoL instrument for use in this group of patients.
Time away from “smelling the roses”: where do mothers raising children with disabilities find the time to work?
- Author:
- BRANDON Peter
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 65(4), August 2007, pp.667-679.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Using the Australian Time Use survey (TUS), this study examined time allocation among working parents raising children with disabilities. Findings showed that raising children with disabilities reduced the time working mothers had for leisure activities, but increased the time for socializing activities. Consistent with the literature, the latter effect probably reflects the special need of working mothers raising children with disabilities for strong social networks offering regular support. While a mother's time for personal care was reduced by a child with a disability, a father's time for personal care was unaffected. Thus, mothers were relatively more disadvantaged than fathers in terms of total time for themselves. This study offers new knowledge on the impact of childhood disability on working parents’ time for personal care and leisure, activities that can improve their psychological and physical well-being.
Health visitors are key to child-centred services
- Authors:
- CERNIK Kate, KELLY Sharon, GRIMES Bernie
- Journal article citation:
- Community Practitioner, 80(8), August 2007, pp.16-17.
- Publisher:
- Community Practitioners' and Health Visitors' Association
The Early Support Programme (ESP) was established by central government in 2004 and set out to develop better coordinated, family-focused services for young disabled children and their families across England. The programme is a collaboration between the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department of Health. This article looks at the difference the Early Support Programme is bringing to the lives of disabled children and their families. It is argued that health visitors are uniquely placed to provide these services.
Accent of activity
- Author:
- SALE Anabel Unity
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 14.06.07, 2007, pp.18-19.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Move, an activity based-programme, teaches children with severe disabilities the skills of sitting, standing and walking by combining knowledge about education, therapy and the family. The author looks at its success at one school in Wales, where children and young people are achieving a surprising measure of independence.