The determination of sensory deficits in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy /

Abstract

Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive disorder associated with brain injury, defect, or disease, of early onset. Emphasis is placed on the more easily observable motor deficits, with any underlying sensory deficits often being overlooked. Existing sensory assessments have either been standardized on an adult population or for a paediatric population without significant neuromotor impairment. Thus, there is a need to formulate a standardized sensory assessment battery that may be used to evaluate physically handicapped children. A review of the literature highlights the necessity to evaluate the presence and extent or sensory dysfunction in school-age hemiplegic children, using a standardized clinical sensory assessment battery, as well as somatosensory evoked potentials.

A reliable sensory battery, which assesses 5 sensory modalities, was formulated and normative data for school-age children was derived. Sensory function was evaluated in 9 hemiplegic children (4-19 years) and 18 healthy age-matched controls. Significant bilateral sensory deficits were documented in hemiplegic children. Thus a sensory assessment should be an integral part of the evaluation of a child with hemiplegia.