Hey, thanks Bobby.  I'm forwarding this on to OT's.  The problem's we
encounter usually are that parents want their children to walk and talk and
then realize that there is more to it.  I do a lot of educating on getting
those little ones independent, with what ever mode of communication or
transportation possible.  Many of the little ones work so hard walking they
don't have energy for the important learning.

Beth T.

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of BG Greer, PhD
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2002 5:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Longitudinal Study of Adults with CP


I thought the list would be interested in the following study:

Bobby

Functional status of adults with cerebral palsy and implications for=20
treatment of children.
Bottos M,=A0Feliciangeli A,=A0Sciuto L,=A0Gericke C,=A0Vianello A.
Dev Med Child Neurol.=A02001 Aug;43(8):516-28.


Neuromotor Child Disability Centre, Azienda USL, Bologna, Italy.=20
[log in to unmask]
This study examined the evolution of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP)=20
from childhood to adulthood. Seventy-two adults with a diagnosis of CP
born=20
between 1934 and 1980 were studied. Individuals were recruited and data=20
comprehensively collected using case notes and through direct assessments
of=
=20
the majority of participants from three rehabilitation units in Bologna,=20
Padua, and Rovigo in Italy. The main findings can be summarized as
follows:=20
contact with health and rehabilitation services was radically reduced
once=20
individuals reached adulthood; more individuals who were integrated into=20
mainstream schools achieved and maintained literacy than those who had=20
attended special schools; in a high number of participants, motor
performanc=
e=20
deteriorated once into adulthood. Independent walking or other forms of=20
supported locomotion were lost in many on reaching adulthood. Of those
who=20
continued to walk, walking deteriorated in terms of distance. It was=20
concluded that even though CP has been considered as predominantly a=20
childhood pathological condition, the evolution of the effects of CP do
not=20
stop at 16 or 18 years of age. For this reason, the traditional child-
(or=20
infant-) oriented approach concentrating mainly or exclusively on the=20
achievement of independent walking, may not be an ideal approach to
children=
=20
with CP. Instead a more independence-oriented therapeutic approach would
be=20
appropriate.