Article

The aim of this study was to determine population-specific developmental
milestones for independence in self-care, mobility, and social cognitive skills
in children with achondroplasia, the most common skeletal dysplasia. METHODS:
Population-based recruitment from October 2008 to October 2010 identified 44
Australian children with achondroplasia aged 3 to 7 years. Consenting parents of
35 children (16 males, 19 females 14 aged 3y; 12 aged 5y; nine aged 7y) reported
their child's self-care, mobility, and social cognition function using the
Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM-II) at the ages of 3 (n=14),
5 (n=12), or 7 (n=9) years. Children were excluded from the study if they had an
additional neurological or musculoskeletal condition. RESULTS: Functioning
improved in children with achondroplasia between the ages of 3 and 5 years, but
not subsequently. Milestones in the achondroplasia group were delayed across all
ages and domains compared with normative reference data. Children with
achondroplasia required greater caregiver assistance for self-care and mobility
skills than typically developing children based on normative data. Social
cognition appeared to be an area of relative strength. INTERPRETATION: Children
up to 7 years of age with achondroplasia show delayed milestone acquisition and a
greater need for caregiver assistance for all domains. As functional delays are
likely to be related to common musculoskeletal impairments associated with
achondroplasia, access to physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech
and language pathologists skilled in achondroplasia management may assist
children and families to become more independent, particularly around the time of
starting school.
CI - (c) The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (c) 2011 Mac Keith
Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS