Sensory feedback for head control in cerebral palsy

Five school-aged children with cerebral palsy were given an auditory feedback signal when their heads tilted past a predetermined angle. After three to seven individual sessions, all of the children were able to work in the classroom on regular school activities while using the sensory feedback to monitor and after head position. Over a period of nine weeks, all children improved their stabilizing skills of the head and neck when responding to the performance information. Three of the children were successful at self-monitoring for up to one hour while maintaining the head within the required zone at least 80 percent of the time. Inability of the other two children to do so was probably related to poorer motor control and possibly to a lack of independent work skills.