Haptic Exploratory Procedures of Children and Youth with and without Cerebral Palsy

ABSTRACT

Aims: Compare haptic exploratory procedures (EPs) and exploratory movements (EMs) of children. This study also tested the interrater reliability of a novel digital recording method. Methods: Participants were 31 children with typical development (TD) (aged 6 years 1 month to 15 years 9 months; 14 male) and 23 children with spastic unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) (aged 6 years to 15 years 5 months; 13 males; right hemiplegia, n = 12). Results: There were no statistically significant differences between groups for expected EP (p = .15), additional EPs (p = .78), or EMs (p = .69) but there was for mean duration of exploration (p < .001) and accuracy (p < .001). This suggests that although children with CP performed similar haptic EPs for each object as children with TD, they took more time and were less accurate in their identification. There was substantial agreement between the two raters' observations of expected EP, κ = .64, p < .0005. Conclusion: Children with CP performed similar haptic EPs as their TD peers. However, despite similarities, the results indicate that for children with CP manual ability was not the primary determinant of accuracy or speed of identification. This study provides evidence for a reliable method of recording haptic EPs.

KEYWORDS:

• Cerebral palsy
• hand function
• haptic exploratory procedures
• haptic object recognition
• somatosensation

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the participants and their families who gave up their time so generously. We would also like to thank Curtin University and Princess Margaret Hospital for Children for their ongoing logistical support and provision of resources throughout this study. This research was completed with financial support from an Australian Postgraduate Award, Curtin Research Scholarship and Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation PhD Top-Up Scholarship. Support from NHMRC project grant (#1022694 to LMC) and the James S. McDonnell Foundation Collaborative Award (# 220020413 to LMC) are acknowledged.

Disclosure of statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

About The Authors

Susan Taylor (PhD) is an occupational therapist at the Complex Pain Service and Occupational Therapy Department at Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Australia, and has a great interest in clinical research and knowledge translation.

Sonya Girdler (PhD) is an occupational therapist and Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and has a great interest in the field of neurodevelopmetal disabilites.

Sara McCutcheon (BSc) (Hons) is an occupational therapist who graduated with honours from Curtin University, Perth, Australia and has a keen interest in the paediatric field.

Belinda Mclean (PhD) is an occupational therapist and Research Associate at Perth Children's Hospital, Perth, Australia, and has a keen interest in the paediatric field.

Richard Parsons (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia and has a great interest in biostatistics.

Torbjorn Falkmer (PhD) is an occupational therapist and Dean of Research at the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University in Perth, Australia and has a great interest in the adult and paediatric research field.

Peter Jacoby (PhD) is a biostatistician employed as a Principal Research Fellow at Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Australia, and has a great interest in biostatistics.

Leeanne Carey (PhD) is an occupational therapist and founding leader of the Neurorehabilitation and Recovery research group in the Stroke division at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Melbourne, Australia, and currently holds a Future Fellowship awarded by the Australian Research Council, and has a great interest in neurorehabilitation.

Catherine Elliott (PhD) is an occupational therapist and Chair of Kids Rehab Western Australia at Perth Children's Hospital, and Professor at the Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and has a great interest in the paediatric research field.