Systematic cognitive monitoring of children with cerebral palsy : the development of an assessment and follow-up protocol

• Cerebral palsy (CP) is associated with cognitive impairments, learning difficulties and reduced social participation. Individual assessment is necessary for individually tailored interventions. This paper describes the development of a systematic follow-up programme of cognition, and the challenges of integrating it into the regular follow-up of children with CP. Initiated by the Nordic users‘ organisations, a group of psychologists proposed a protocol of follow-up of cognition in children with CP – the CP Cog. This protocol consists of neuropsychological instruments covering general cognitive functioning, visuospatial and executive functioning. The article presents a natural experiment describing development and implementation of the cognitive protocol in three Scandinavian countries. This introduction illustrates challenges associated with implementation, especially how the success of the protocol hinges on structural backup within the different countries. In conclusion the CP Cog assessment protocol holds the promise of increasing the awareness among habilitation professionals that children with CP are in need of cognitive evaluation and educational support. © 2015 Nordic Network on Disability Research

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Cerebral palsy

cognition

interventions

learning difficulties

systematic follow-up

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)