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Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities
Published on: January 29, 2014
Perspectives on tactile intervention for children with cerebral palsy: a framework to guide clinical reasoning and
Megan L Auld1,2, Leanne M Johnston1
1a School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences , The University of Queensland , Brisbane , Australia.
Insights
Children with cerebral palsy (CP) often have tactile impairments. This study introduces the "Apartment Block Theory" to guide tactile intervention selection for better outcomes in children with CP.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatrics
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Tactile impairments are a common challenge for children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- Existing research on specific interventions for tactile dysfunction in CP is limited.
- Effective management strategies are needed to improve sensory processing in affected children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To consolidate current literature on tactile interventions for children with CP.
- To present a novel framework, the
- Apartment Block Theory
- , for guiding tactile treatment selection.
- To inform future research directions for optimizing tactile function in this population.
Main Methods:
- The study introduces the "Apartment Block Theory" as an analogy for understanding tactile interventions.
- Three intervention strategies are described: passive tactile stimulation, active tactile-enhanced motor training, and visually enhanced touch.
- The theory links intervention effectiveness to a child's capabilities in visual, motor, and attention domains.
Main Results:
- The framework categorizes children with CP based on their sensory and motor profiles.
- It identifies which intervention strategies are most suitable for specific subgroups.
- The theory provides a structured approach to tailoring tactile treatments.
Conclusions:
- The "Apartment Block Theory" can aid clinicians in selecting appropriate tactile interventions.
- It offers guidance for researchers planning future studies on tactile function in CP.
- Visually enhanced touch and active motor training show promise, with passive stimulation considered for complex cases.
Purpose:
Many children with cerebral palsy (CP) are known to experience tactile impairments. Research evaluating specific interventions to manage this is, however, minimal. This paper seeks to consolidate current literature and provide a framework to help clinicians and researchers think strategically about tactile treatment selection and future research planning.
Method:
The framework is described via a novel analogy - "The Apartment Block Theory". The theory describes the relative effectiveness of three intervention strategies aimed at overcoming a poorly responsive tactile system: (1) Pressing the buzzer - providing repeated passive tactile stimulation at the periphery; (2) Sneaking in the door - providing active tactile-enhanced motor training that capitalises on the opportunity to provide high-dose tactile input during motor interventions; and (3) Connecting another way - providing visually enhanced touch strategies with the aim of enhancing tactile function, which can be compared to phoning the apartment as an alternative to using the buzzer.
Results:
Using this theory, the paper describes which sub-groups of children with CP may benefit from each intervention strategy when considering their capabilities in visual, motor, and attention domains.
Conclusions:
This theory can assist clinicians to provide effective interventions and researchers to make informed future research decisions to optimise tactile function for children with CP. Implications for Rehabilitation Although tactile impairments are reported to be common in children with cerebral palsy, very few successful interventions are reported in the literature. Visually enhanced touch is a successful strategy for treating tactile impairments in children with cerebral palsy who have sufficient vision and attention. Combining intentional tactile input with upper limb movement training may improve tactile function in children with cerebral palsy who have sufficient movement and attention. In children who have complex co-morbidities, including both visual and movement impairments, it may be necessary to consider providing passive tactile stimulation in tactile intervention.
