A prospective study of the families of young severely disabled children applying to a non-governmental organization for financial support examined the respective contributions of a child's intrinsic impairment and the family's environment to their participation. The study population comprised the families of 600 children of median age 2 years 8…

Neonatal microstructural development in the posterior limbs of the internal capsule (PLIC) was assessed using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fractional anisotropy (FA) in 24 very-low-birthweight preterm infants at 37 weeks' gestational age and compared with the children's gait and motor deficits at 4 years of age. There were 14 participants with…

The authors question the assumption that parent participation is critical to the success of early intervention programs and cite the lack of research support for this notion in programs for young children with cerebral palsy. They note that financial considerations may still dictate the need for parent participation. (CL)

The parent of a cerebral palsied child with spastic quadriplegia relates the process of arriving at the decision to utilize tube feeding via a surgically placed gastrostomy. (DB)

Findings from two studies of 42 children with profound developmental delays (26 males and 15 females) using systematic and intense response-contingent learning opportunities interventions are reported. Response-contingent learning games were used to promote the participants' use of behavior that either produced environmental consequences or…

Eighteen studies (1952-1982) evaluating early therapeutic intervention for children with cerebral palsy are reviewed. Studies are explained to feature provisions of some type of traditional, neurophysiological/sensorimotor, or eclectic therapy and to have excluded pharmacological, dietary, or other specialized treatment procedures. Analysis is…

Two techniques to normalize muscle tone were evaluated with nine infants and young children with cerebral palsy who were enrolled in the Rural Infant Stimulation Environment (RISE) Program, near Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Electromyography (EMG) and skin temperature data were used to assess the effects of trunk rotation and slow rolling on a ball. EMG…

Surveyed were the effects of religious beliefs on the emotional adjustment of 22 mothers and 14 fathers of cerebral palsied children 4 years of age or under. Subscription available from: Institutes of Religion and Health, 3 West 29th Street, New York, New York 10001. (DB)

Through a case study of the effects of a "paradoxical" intervention, the author shows how temper tantrums were reduced in a five-year-old cerebral palsied child. (Author/BW)

Possible prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal causes of cerebral palsy are explored and a causal pathway theory is presented that provide a methodology to study the impact of the various causal factors. The role of an interdisciplinary team in assessment and program development is discussed and prevention strategies are presented. (Contains…

The behavior of 37 retarded, cerebral palsied children (aged 18 to 60 months) was evaluated by means of two behavior rating scales. (DB)

Intended for professionals and parents, this monograph focuses on the service needs of young children with cerebral palsy. Section I presents an overview of cerebral palsy, including etiology, incidence, and history of management. Section II describes service needs in the following areas: prevention; early identification; treatment; the…

The report of an interdisciplinary conference held at Santa Monica, California (March 16-18, 1970), contains papers on interdisciplinary programing for infants with known or suspected cerebral dysfunction. Following a general overview by R. R. Rembolt, a description of the Meeting Street School Home Developmental Guidance Program (Providence,…

Children with cerebral palsy sometimes display nutritional inadequacy, as evaluated through anthropometric measurements and laboratory values. Causes of poor nutritional status include inadequate calories offered or adequate calories offered but not consumed. Inadequate caloric retention may be due to vomiting, rumination, or gastroesophageal…