Article

The aim of this study was to compare executive function in children with
left- and right-sided unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing
children. METHOD: There was a cross-sectional cohort of 46 children with
unilateral CP (24 right-side, 22 left-side; 25 males, 21 females; mean age 11y
1mo, SD 2y 5mo) and 20 typically developing children (nine males, 11 females;
mean age 10y 10mo, SD 2y 4mo). Four cognitive domains of executive function were
assessed: attentional control, cognitive flexibility, goal setting, and
information processing. Subtests from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System,
the Test of Everyday Attention for Children, the Rey-Osterrieth Complex figure,
and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition were utilized.
Between-group differences (right unilateral CP, left unilateral CP, and typically
developing children) were examined using analyses of covariance. RESULTS:
Children with CP performed significantly more poorly than typically developing
children on all executive function measures (aggregate executive function:
F(1,63)=31.16; p<0.001; eta(2) =0.33). There were no significant differences
between children with left and right unilateral CP, except in the case of
inhibition/switching total errors, with children with left unilateral CP making
fewer errors than children with right unilateral CP (F(1,39)=4.14; p=0.049;
eta(2) =0.1). INTERPRETATION: Children and adolescents with unilateral CP
experience difficulties across multiple executive function domains compared with
typically developing children, irrespective of the side of hemiplegia. This
finding supports an early vulnerability model of early brain injury and has
implications for intervention for children with CP.
CI - (c) 2013 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS