Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 30, 2026

Non-Invasive Modulation and Robotic Mapping of Motor Cortex in the Developing Brain

Non-Invasive Modulation and Robotic Mapping of Motor Cortex in the Developing Brain

Published on: July 1, 2019

Motor development in children with Dravet syndrome

Karen Verheyen^1,2, Evi Verbecque¹, Berten Ceulemans²

¹Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology

|January 16, 2019

Abstract

Aim:

The aim of this study is to describe the course of motor development in children with Dravet syndrome.

Method:

Forty-three participants (21 males, 22 females; mean age at last assessment 53.89mo±42.50mo) met the inclusion criteria of having a confirmed diagnosis of Dravet syndrome and presence of data on motor development. All data between 1985 and 2018 were derived retrospectively from their medical records. Gross motor milestones and motor age equivalents were used to describe motor development. Standardized neurodevelopmental assessment and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development defined the overall motor development. Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, and the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration were used to describe development in specific motor domains.

Results:

Children with Dravet syndrome showed a delay in both sitting (seven out of 14) and walking independently (11 out of 25). Overall motor age equivalents revealed a delay in 29 out of 38 assessments (age 9-115mo). All assessments of children older than 2 years (16 out of 16) showed a delay. Gross motor delay was present in seven out of seven and fine motor delay in 10 out of 13 assessments (age 19-167mo).

Interpretation:

Motor development is delayed in the majority of children with Dravet syndrome older than 2 years and increases with age.

What This Paper Adds:

A delay in motor development is present in most children with Dravet syndrome older than 2 years. Large diversity in early gross motor milestones confirms heterogeneity in Dravet syndrome.

More Related Videos

Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Measurements of Motor Function and Other Clinical Outcome Parameters in Ambulant Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Published on: January 12, 2019

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Published on: March 27, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...

Nephrotic Syndrome I : Introduction

Nephrotic Syndrome I : Introduction

Nephrotic Syndrome is a chronic kidney disorder defined by clinical findings such as severe proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and edema. These symptoms result from damage to the glomeruli, the kidney’s filtering units, increasing their permeability to proteins.Definition and Meaning:Proteinuria, defined as the loss of more than 3.5 grams of protein per day in adults, is a crucial feature of nephrotic syndrome. This condition is often accompanied by edema, the accumulation of...

Motor Units

Motor Units

A motor unit consists of two main components: a single efferent motor neuron (i.e., a neuron that carries impulses away from the central nervous system) and all of the muscle fibers it innervates. The motor neuron may innervate multiple muscle fibers, which are single cells, but only one motor neuron innervates a single muscle fiber.

Motor Units

Motor Units

The motor unit is a fundamental component of the neuromuscular system and plays a crucial role in coordinating muscle contractions. It consists of a somatic motor neuron, which connects and controls multiple skeletal muscle fibers, forming a single functional segment. The axon of the motor neuron branches out and establishes synaptic connections known as neuromuscular junctions with individual muscle fibers within the motor unit.
Motor units come in different sizes, with smaller units...

Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction

Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) encompasses a spectrum of heart conditions caused by sudden obstruction of coronary arteries, typically resulting from the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque and subsequent thrombus (blood clot) formation. This obstruction can lead to partial or complete blockage of blood flow, causing varying degrees of myocardial ischemia or infarction.ACS includes the following clinical entities:Unstable Angina (UA)Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI)ST-Elevation...

Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction

Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by functional disturbances in the gastrointestinal system, presenting a cluster of symptoms without evident structural or biochemical abnormalities. It primarily affects the large intestine and may cause abdominal pain, bloating, excessive gas, diarrhea, constipation, or both.
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Combined nutrition and physical activity education for early adolescents with malnutrition: A systematic review of overweight interventions and the undernutrition evidence gap.

PLOS global public health·2026

Bi-allelic GAD2 variants cause a rare developmental encephalopathy with early-onset seizures.

Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics·2026

Efficacy and safety of fenfluramine in Dravet syndrome: The impact of patient clinical characteristics.

Epilepsia open·2026

Prolonged fenfluramine use in open-label studies of Dravet or Lennox-Gastaut syndromes: Long-term safety, tolerability, patient global functioning, and considerations for interpreting effectiveness.

Epilepsia·2026

CMIP as a novel candidate gene for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.

European journal of human genetics : EJHG·2026

Cerebral, spinal, ophthalmological and skeletal findings associated with abusive and non-abusive head injury in children under 2 years old: A systematic review.

Child abuse & neglect·2026

See all related articles