Abnormal Motor Development Research Articles

Early intervention: a conflict of therapist and educator.

Given the motor problems of infants and young children who have cerebral palsy, increasing emphasis is being placed on early therapeutic strategies, such as neurodevelopmental treatment. Although the underlying rationale for neurodevelopmental treatment is the inhibition of abnormal motor development, this approach may in fact also limit the child's interaction with the environment, a prerequisite for subsequent intellectual development. There may be potential conflict for an interventionist who must make a decision between focusing on motoric gain for children with motor problems and facilitation of their cognitive development.

Correlation of early neurologic outcome and CT findings in neonatal brain hypoxia and injury.

Ninety cranial computed tomography scans were analyzed in 56 high risk neonates (30 premature and 26 term). Neurologic follow-up averaging 18 months in length was obtained. Four types of intracranial hemorrhage were seen: subdural (with three subtypes), germinal matrix--intraventricular, primary subarachnoid, and cerebellar. The four types differ in age of occurrence, mechanism, and prognosis. Mild periventricular low density was present in most of the neonates and did not correlate with future neurologic deficit. Severe periventricular leukomalacia (16%) and cortical low density zones (12%) at 40 weeks did correlate with abnormal motor and mental development.