Article

OBJECTIVES: To explore the communication skills of children with cerebral palsy
(CP) at 24 months' corrected age with reference to typically developing children,
and to determine the relationship between communication ability, gross motor
function, and other comorbidities associated with CP. DESIGN: Prospective,
cross-sectional, population-based cohort study. SETTING: General community.
PARTICIPANTS: Children with CP (N=124; mean age, 24mo; functional severity on
Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS]: I=47, II=14, III=22, IV=19,
V=22). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parents reported
communication skills on the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales
Developmental Profile (CSBS-DP) Infant-Toddler Checklist. Two independent
physiotherapists classified motor type, distribution, and GMFCS. Data on
comorbidities were obtained from parent interviews and medical records. RESULTS:
Children with mild CP (GMFCS I/II) had mean CSBS-DP scores that were 0.5 to 0.6
SD below the mean for typically developing peers, while those with
moderate-severe impairment (GMFCS III-V) were 1.4 to 2.6 SD below the mean. GMFCS
was significantly associated with performance on the CSBS-DP (F=18.55, P<.001),
with gross motor ability accounting for 38% of the variation in communication.
Poorer communication was strongly associated with gross motor function and
full-term birth. CONCLUSIONS: Preschool-aged children with CP, with more severe
gross motor impairment, showed delayed communication, while children with mild
motor impairment were less vulnerable. Term-born children had significantly
poorer communication than those born prematurely. Because a portion of each gross
motor functional severity level is at risk, this study reinforces the need for
early monitoring of communication development for all children with CP.
CI - Copyright (c) 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS