Cerebral Palsy Studies & Dissertations

The goal of this dissertation was to develop guidelines for treating crouch gait, a prevalent movement abnormality among children with cerebral palsy. The outcomes of orthopaedic surgeries to treat crouch gait are unpredictable and sometimes satisfactory.

This thesis prospectively evaluated the cognitive and functional outcomes and health-related quality of life of children admitted urgently to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Hospital for Sick Children.

Perinatal hypoxic ischemic (HI) injury is a leading cause of long-term neurological complications in newborn babies. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of endopeptidases that are capable of degrading the extracellular matrix (ECM) components.

Impairments of upper limb function can negatively impact an individual’s ability to carry out everyday tasks.

Maternal exposure to viral and bacterial infection during pregnancy is associated with fetal dysmorphology and neurodevelopmental disorders including schizophrenia, cerebral palsy, autism and mental retardation.

The overall result is that there is a deterioration of motor function in many individuals already early in adulthood. These deteriorations are preceded and/or followed by musculoskeletal problems such as pain and limited range of motion, often in combination with fatigue. Despite deteriorations many people maintain daily personal activities, but are often forced to prioritize among societal activities.

There is a small but growing population of people who suffer from impaired balance. The causes range from old age to stroke to cerebral palsy.

Dysarthria is one of the most common signs of speech impairment in the cerebral palsy (CP) population. Facilitating strategies for speech enhancement in this population often include training on speech breathing.

The work introduces a new theoretical system designed to automate the scheduling of pediatric occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) appointments across any number of regional service locations.

This qualitative thesis uses discourse analysis to examine parental resistance towards medical treatment of critically ill children

The assessment of any therapy requires not only an understanding of how that therapy works but also how it affects health related quality of life (HRQOL).

To investigate the effect a supination splint would have on upper limb function of cerebral palsy children for six months after receiving Botox® injections.

Children who have multiple disabilities often have complex communicational needs (Crickmay 1966; Orelove & Sobsey, 1996; Van Riper & Erickson, 1996; Workinger 2005). To augment or supplement these children’s communication skills some form of alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) may be provided (Beukleman & Mirenda, 2005

There are a lack of reliable and valid clinical outcome measures to assess the effects of medical interventions in children with cerebral palsy, potentially compromising research and clinical practice in this area. The objective of this thesis was to identify and develop reliable outcome measures that could be used to evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin A in children with cerebral palsy.

The present thesis aims at assessing the cognitive effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2 ) therapy, a technique known for a certain “medical adventurism” around the world.

Despite lack of scientific evidence, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) has been used as a treatment for children with cerebral palsy (CP). Recently, a multi-centre randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed the efficacy of HBO2 therapy for children with CP.

Perinatal hypoxia-ischaemia is a major cause of disability, including cerebral palsy, yet a neuroprotectant which fully protects the brain remains elusive.

The thesis contends that holistic, community-based treatment is preferable to carceral options for offenders with fetal alcohol conditions, presents emerging support for this contention, identifies barriers to the implementation of community-based treatment, and culminates with analyses of ways of influencing policy reform or of legally mandating non-carceral treatment options.

Quantitative approaches to directly measure infant movement have not utilized miniature electronics technology, nor been used effectively in evaluating neurological dysfunctions’ affect on movement. This thesis presents a new quantitative technique for measuring infant general movements (GMs) using micro-electromechanical accelerometers, while discussing future improvements for this technology and possible benefits to present methods of diagnosing cerebral palsy.

Unilateral arm/hand dysfunction caused by obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP) or hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) is most often afflicted on a child in the pre- or perinatal period of life.

Response blocking and response interruption are common interventions for problem behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement in the treatment literature, but these interventions may be extremely challenging for caregivers to implement with fidelity (i.e., immediately blocking each instance)

This dissertation examines the relationship between several neighborhood and individual-level factors and the probability of delivering a preterm infant. Infants born prematurely, or at less than 37 weeks of gestation, have a greater risk of long-term developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, than infants born at full term.

Children with CP are extremely heterogeneous in terms of etiology and clinical features. The diversity of symptoms among CP syndromes is a challenge for different branches of health research. Despite the efforts of many studies in examining rehabilitation strategies to improve upper limb (UL) function in children with CP, the confidence in the validity of these studies’ evidence is still moderate to low.

People with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have difficulty using computer pointing devices due to unintentional movement in their upper extremities. Fifty percent of people with CP have impaired arm-hand function which limits their ability to interface with pointing devices and effectively control cursor movement on the computer screen. This thesis involves two studies which utilize an Isometric Joystick in order to access the computer and complete target acquisition tasks.

Cerebral palsy is a neuromuscular disorder that affects movement and posture. It is characterized by poor muscle tone and posture, spasticity, unsteady gait, limited mobility, speech impairments, and a forward displaced center of gravity. A child with cerebral palsy experiences certain impairments towards normal function and development, making typically routine daily functions such as eating, walking and writing a challenge.

Cerebral palsy is an occurrence in which the nerves and muscles if the body may function properly, but there is damage to the brain that causes it to transmit incorrect electrical impulses to the muscles including both too many and too few signals.

Students with disabilities have to overcome many barriers when attaining post-secondary education. This thesis investigates how programs and policies affect students with disabilities.

In recent years, increased focus has been placed on the role of intrauterine infection and inflammation in the pathogenesis of fetal brain injury leading to neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy.

To investigate the effect a supination splint would have on upper limb function of cerebral palsy children for six months after receiving Botox® injections.

Three experiments were designed to explore the measurement of muscle fatigue in people with cerebral palsy (CP).

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a persistent but not unchanging disorder of movement and posture, appearing early in life and caused by a non-progressive lesion of the developing brain.

Chronic sorrow has been defined as a permanent and reoccurring experience of pervasive sadness and loss which underlies the life experience and which recurs over time for the parent of a child with developmental, medical, or behavior issues that prevent him from participating in society in a way previously anticipated by parents.

There is increasing evidence that a positive start to school sets the child up for continued positive educational experiences and future life opportunities(Dockett & Perry, 2007). In an inclusive era, it is important to investigate the processes that promote the success of inclusion.

Social participation is essential to well-being for adolescents with and without disabilities. Adolescents with a disability, however, often have fewer friendships and experience social isolation compared to their peers without disability. Telecommunications play a vital role in facilitating social participation for adolescents yet those with a disability experience reduced access. Based on the World Health Organisation’s framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) this study aimed to identify environmental factors (barriers and facilitators) that impact on participation in telecommunication use, as perceived by adolescents with cerebral palsy and their communication partners.

The survival rates for very low birthweight (VLBW; birthweight ≤1500 g) children are increasing, but they run a greater risk than controls of developing neurosensory disabilities and other functional problems during childhood.

Perinatal hypoxic ischaemic injury is an important cause of both neonatal death and long-term disability. The sequence of resuscitation followed by a latent phase then a secondary cascade of injury is well documented.

Postural instability is a classical characteristic of cerebral palsy (CP), but it has not been examined in the during simultaneous supra-postural activity.

[Truncated abstract] Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability in childhood (Reddihough & Collins, 2003). The most characteristic features of those with cerebral palsy are the physical disabilities that arise as a result of the brain lesion, including; spasticity, muscle weakness and atrophy, soft-tissue contracture and joint deformity.

Notions of quality of life dictate philosophies and policies for services for people with developmental disabilities. There is an abundance of research on quality of life, much of which has influenced the significant amount of study of quality of life for people with developmental disabilities

There are a lack of reliable and valid clinical outcome measures to assess the effects of medical interventions in children with cerebral palsy, potentially compromising research and clinical practice in this area. The objective of this thesis was to identify and develop reliable outcome measures that could be used to evaluate the effects of botulinum toxin A in children with cerebral palsy.

Antenatal causes of cerebral palsy and adverse pregnancy outcomes: investigating associations between inherited thrombophilia, cytokine polymorphisms and viral infections.

The primary focus of this research project was an evaluation of the Group Stepping Stones Triple P parenting program for parents of a child with a disability.

This research develops and validates a task-specific parenting self-efficacy measure focussing on the following domains: showing affection and empathy, engaging in play, facilitating routines, establishing discipline strategies, providing appropriate learning and development activities, and promoting communication interaction.

One of the major goals for the nation, described in the Surgeon General’s Report Healthy People 2010, is to promote the health of people with disabilities, prevent secondary conditions, and eliminate disparities between people with and without disabilities in the U.S.

Studying the challenges faced by families with children who have developmental disabilities has produced a considerable body of literature. Much of this literature focuses on the families’ needs for information and social support.

This study was undertaken to determine if persons with disabilities encounter difficulties in accessing dental care in Ontario, to identify barriers to accessing dental care and to determine if persons with disabilities and caregivers value oral health.

This study used duration of eye gaze toward a stimulus to measure preference. The study took place in two schools for students with mental retardation and developmental disabilities.

This dissertation examines the relationship between several neighborhood and individual-level factors and the probability of delivering a preterm infant. Infants born prematurely, or at less than 37 weeks of gestation, have a greater risk of long-term developmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, than infants born at full term.

People with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have difficulty using computer pointing devices due to unintentional movement in their upper extremities. Fifty percent of people with CP have impaired arm-hand function which limits their ability to interface with pointing devices and effectively control cursor movement on the computer screen. This thesis involves two studies which utilize an Isometric Joystick in order to access the computer and complete target acquisition tasks.

Caregiver strain is a complex phenomenon with the potential to have a deleterious effect on caregivers’ ability to perform their caregiving duties. Previous research has suggests that differences in race influence caregivers’ reported level of strain, with African Americans tending to report lower levels of strain than their Caucasian counterpart.

Family stress is affected by a child’s challenging behavior and by the disruption of family routines as a result of the child’s disability. Therefore, families with children with disabilities need professional support as they work with their children to decrease their children’s behavior problems and to reduce the level of parental stress.

This project aims to investigate how carers and other professionals perceive the music therapy process over time. Music therapy has been used to address a wide range of diagnoses and developmental issues of young children.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of physical disability in children. Disabilities are associated with walking, sitting and hand function. The nature and severity of impairments varies but in all cases the demands placed upon caregivers is significant.

Cerebral palsy is one of the chronic conditions which have become a serious health burden worldwide. Consequently, this health burden involves healthcare as a whole, regardless of whether the focus is on the macro or micro system.

Advances in medical technologies and changing philosophies of health care have led to a rapid increase in home-based care for children with disabilities. While there are cost savings for health services if children are cared for at home there are extensive additional demands on the time and resources of parents, particularly primary caregivers, who are usually mothers.

In recent years, increased focus has been placed on the role of intrauterine infection and inflammation in the pathogenesis of fetal brain injury leading to neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy.

Three experiments were designed to explore the measurement of muscle fatigue in people with cerebral palsy (CP).

Participation in everyday life is vital to a child’s development and well-being and is a basic human right. One definition of participation is engagement in life areas.

Increases in the number of parents in the paid labor force and welfare reform have resulted in more families requiring non-parental child care. Most often this care is provided in environments outside of the child’s own home.

The purpose of the present work was to study hand impairments and manual ability in children with cerebral palsy (CP) as well as to clarify their relationship.

The development of reading competency is one of the most significant pedagogical achievements during the first few years of schooling. Although most children learn to read successfully when exposed to reading instruction, up to 18% of children experience significant reading difficulty (Shaywitz, 1998).

While there is extensive literature on parental stress associated with parenting a child with special health needs, few researchers have looked specifically at the stress associated with parenting a child fed enterally.

This research study examined the relationship between family cohesion and depression in mothers and fathers of children with disabilities. One hundred and six two-parent families who had a child with a disability provided information on their feelings of cohesion through Bloom’s cohesion subscale and depression through the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D).

There is increasing evidence that a positive start to school sets the child up for continued positive educational experiences and future life opportunities(Dockett & Perry, 2007). In an inclusive era, it is important to investigate the processes that promote the success of inclusion.

Social participation is essential to well-being for adolescents with and without disabilities. Adolescents with a disability, however, often have fewer friendships and experience social isolation compared to their peers without disability. Telecommunications play a vital role in facilitating social participation for adolescents yet those with a disability experience reduced access. Based on the World Health Organisation’s framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) this study aimed to identify environmental factors (barriers and facilitators) that impact on participation in telecommunication use, as perceived by adolescents with cerebral palsy and their communication partners.

Postural instability is a classical characteristic of cerebral palsy (CP), but it has not been examined in the during simultaneous supra-postural activity.

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of parents of children with developmental disabilities living in a regional community on the New South Wales coast.

Investigating the possible complex role of paternal stress in life satisfaction is essential because of the increasing importance of the role of fathers in our society. There are many difficulties and demands that face not only fathers of typically developing children, but also disabled children in particular.

This thesis consists of five experimental studies from seven data collection periods. The first two studies quantitatively analyse children with and without cerebral palsy using upper limb three dimensional (3D) motion analysis.

This qualitative study describes the lived experience of five mothers who care for their child with severe cerebral palsy. The phenomenon was elicited utilizing Roy (Roy & Andrews, 1999) adaptation model of nursing as the theoretical framework and phenomenology implementing Colaizzi’s (1978) method of data analysis

The selection of resources is one of a librarian’s most important responsibilities. It impacts the level of access to information that patrons have. The selection process becomes more complex when the library’s mission supports a specific population, children and young adults, with distinct needs and limitations.

Children and adults acquire countless skills through the strategy of imitation. However, some children with disabilities do not demonstrate the ability to imitate in the course of their natural development.

An exploratory qualitative study was undertaken to determine how ten children, aged 8 to 12, with a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy describe and experience peer teasing and bullying at school.

Assessment in early intervention refers to the systematic collection of information about children, families, and environments to assist in making decisions regarding identification, screening, eligibility, program planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

This study explores the theoretical implications of a deconstructed view of disability to the counselling and support of children labelled with disabilities.

The aim of Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT) is to assist individuais with
neurological impairment achieve their highest level of functional ability.