Article

AIM: To develop and evaluate a test activity from which bimanual performance in
adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) can be observed and scored with
the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA), and to evaluate the construct validity of
the AHA test items for the extended age range 18 months to 18 years. METHOD: A new test activity was developed and evaluated for its ability to elicit bimanual
actions in adolescents with (n=20) and without (n=10) unilateral CP. The AHA
scores of 126 adolescents (mean age 14y 3mo, SD 2y 6mo; 71 males, 55 females) and
157 children with unilateral CP (mean age 6y 1mo, SD 2y 10mo; 102 males, 55
females) were analysed using the Rasch measurement model. RESULTS: The test
activity elicited bimanual actions in 100% of typically developing adolescents
and in 96.8% and 57.9% of adolescents with unilateral CP (moderately and severely
limited hand function respectively). The scale demonstrated good construct
validity; thus the same scoring criteria can be used for the age range studied.
INTERPRETATION: The new Assisting Hand Assessment for adolescents (Ad-AHA)
activity is valid for use with 13- to 18-year-olds to elicit bimanual performance
in adolescents with unilateral CP. The same AHA scoring criteria can be used both
for children and for adolescents within the age range 18 months to 18 years.
CI - (c) 2016 The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology published by John
Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS