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Factors affecting walking in a profoundly retarded population
Insights
Most children with profound mental retardation begin walking by 30 months. Neurological factors significantly impact walking ability and age of onset in this population.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Profound mental retardation presents diverse developmental challenges.
- Understanding motor milestones like walking is crucial for assessing development.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated factors influencing walking in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the age of walking onset in children with profound mental retardation.
- To investigate the influence of neurological handicap on walking ability and age.
- To explore the relationship between cognitive level and walking acquisition.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 127 children diagnosed with profound mental retardation.
- Analysis of walking status and age at onset.
- Sub-classification based on the degree of neurological handicap.
Main Results:
- 53% of children achieved walking, with a median age of 30 months.
- Increased neurological handicap correlated with a later age of walking onset.
- Neurological factors were associated with both delayed walking and reduced ambulatory ability.
Conclusions:
- Walking acquisition in profoundly mentally retarded children is influenced by neurological status.
- The minimal cognitive threshold for walking may be lower than commonly believed.
- Early identification of neurological issues is important for supporting motor development in this group.
Abstract:
A total of 127 children with profound mental retardation were reviewed to determine the age at which walking began. 53 per cent of the children walked at a median age of 30 months. Further sub-classification revealed that both the number of ambulatory children and their age at walking varied with degree of neurological handicap, children with additional neurological problems having a higher median age for beginning to walk. The minimal cognitive level required for walking remains unknown, but is probably less than generally accepted. In this profoundly retarded population, the existence of neurological factors was associated with both increased age at walking and with decreased ability to walk.