Development of social functioning in children with cerebral palsy: A longitudinal study.
Andrea Burgess, Leanne Sakzewski, Koa Whittingham and 4 others
PMID 36282970WHAT IT FOUND
Children with cerebral palsy who communicate effectively with familiar partners (CFCS level I) developed social skills similar to typical peers by age 12.
Those with communication difficulties at unfamiliar levels (CFCS II-V) had social function significantly below age expectations. Intellectual impairment also predicted poorer social function.
Key findings
01At 8 to 12 years, 35 of 45 children in CFCS level I had social function scores within the normal range, while 25 of 29 children in CFCS levels II to V scored two standard deviations below the norm.
02Communication classification (CFCS) predicted social development trajectories better than motor (GMFCS) or hand function (MACS) classifications.
03Intellectual impairment was associated with poorer social function scores, but this association was weaker when adjusted for communication level (CFCS).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The number of children in CFCS levels III, IV, and V was small, limiting generalizability for these specific groups. The study relied on a linking equation to compare PEDI and PEDI-CAT scores, which may have introduced error for children with very low or high scores. Data from 18 months were excluded due to small sample size at that timepoint. The study did not account for the intensity or type of therapy interventions received between timepoints.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and the University of Queensland. No commercial conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that children with severe gross motor impairment (high GMFCS) will automatically have poor social functioning, or that those with good motor skills will have good social skills. The study shows that communication ability (CFCS) is the more accurate predictor of social development outcomes.