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[Object permanence in children with neurological and psychomotor disorders]
C Pisaturo1, S Frassoni, A Borreani
1Divisione e Cattedra di Neuropsichiatria Infantile, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova.
Insights
Infants with psychomotor handicaps can develop object permanence, a key cognitive skill. Psychomotor therapy aids this development, offering a sensitive measure for tracking sensorimotor progress in these children.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Pediatric Neurology
Context:
- Investigating cognitive development in infants with psychomotor handicaps.
- Focus on object permanence as an indicator of cognitive progress.
Purpose:
- To determine if object permanence development is a viable sign of cognitive development in infants with psychomotor handicaps.
- To assess the efficacy of psychomotor treatment in fostering object permanence.
Summary:
- Five male infants (12-33 months) with perinatal brain injuries, including preterm infants, received psychomotor treatment and were assessed for object permanence using traditional (B-L) and non-traditional (U-H) tests.
- Four children achieved early stages of object permanence, showing delayed but adequate acquisition relative to developmental age.
- One child with severe impairments did not complete tasks, suggesting object permanence acquisition is not strictly age-dependent and can be facilitated by therapy.
Impact:
- Object permanence acquisition may serve as an accurate and sensitive tool for monitoring sensorimotor development in children with psychomotor handicaps.
- Findings suggest psychomotor therapy can support the development of object permanence in this population.
- This cognitive milestone's development is not solely age-dependent, highlighting the importance of individualized developmental assessments.
Abstract:
The aim of this research was to investigate whether the development of object permanence is an available sign of the cognitive development in infants with psychomotor handicaps. Subjects consisted of 5 males, ranging in age from 12 to 33 months, with handicaps as a result of perinatal brain injury. Four were preterm infants. All of the children received psychomotor treatment. Their stage of object permanence was assessed using traditional (B-L) and non traditional test (U-H). (The children's performances on the U-H scales have an "Intrinsic validity"). Four children achieved the first stages of the development of object permanence. The acquisition of object permanence was delayed in comparison with the age-appropriated time, but it may be considered adequate in comparison with the "developmental age" (B-L). One children with severe mental and motor disorders solved no task, the findings suggest that the children with psychomotor handicaps may gain the concept of object permanence and that psychomotor treatment may assist them in the development of the concept. This performance is not age-dependent. So the acquisition of the concept of object permanence may be considered an accurate and sensitive tool for the follow-up of the sensorimotor development in the handicapped children.