Motor Milestones: Sensory Motor Trends of Young Children with Classic Galactosemia

Speech problems affect about 66% of children with classic galactosemia (CG), but little is known about early motor and sensory motor development in this at-risk population (Rubio-Gozalbo et al., 2019). Research has been focused on speech and language development leaving a paucity of data on motor and sensory differences. This paper describes preliminary data regarding sensory motor and motor development patterns in young children with CG. Babble Boot Camp© (BBC) is an NIH-funded randomized control trial (RCT) implementing proactive interventions designed to support the speech language development of infants with CG. Cases were randomly assigned to a motor-first group (Motor Milestones), receiving virtual occupational therapy through 14 months, or a speech-first group, receiving virtual speech therapy through 14 months. All cases received speech and language therapy from 15 to 24 months. Controls, typically developing infants, did not receive occupational therapy or speech therapy. Participants were recruited through social media, advertisements, metabolic clinics, and the Galactosemia Foundation. Infants in the motor milestones group were assessed with the Developmental Assessment of Young Children and Sensory Profile-2 pre-enrollment (< 6 months of age) and post-treatment follow-up at 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 years of age. Results show that 17.5% of participants with CG had delays in gross motor, 22.5% in fine motor, and 45% in sensory processing. Data from the Motor Milestones portion of BBC is important emerging evidence for occupational therapy in early intervention, preschool, and outpatient settings. This research supports the need for occupational therapy services during early intervention to minimize or prevent long-term motor and sensorimotor delays in infants with CG. Understanding patterns and addressing literature gaps helps support the need for occupational therapists to address motor delays, improve activities of daily living, play, promote functional independence, and provide caregiver education to best support the occupational performance of children with CG.