NHMRC TRIP Fellowship: inTOUCH: Tactile assessment in children with Cerebral Palsy (2014–2018)
Abstract:
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood physical disability affecting two in every 1000 live births (ACPR 2009). Traditionally the treatment of CP has focussed on reducing motor impairments, however, recent research has shown that over 77% of children with unilateral CP have an impairment in tactile (touch) function that significantly affects movement. Given that approximately 23000 Australians with CP may have a deficit in touch function, this impairment needs to become part of routine clinical examination for these individuals.
Currently therapists are not assessing tactile function rotuintely in clinical practice because of time constraints, a lack of understanding of the problem and limited knowledge of how to accurately assess it. This is also reflected in the research literature, with inconsistent and unreliable reporting of touch deficits in the CP population, as well as a complete absence of successful treatments. We have developed a testing framework
for examining tactile function in these children and have confirmed its reproducibility and relationship to movement deficits in the hand. In this
project we would like to educate, train and assist clinicians with the implementation of tactile assessment as part of their daily practice. This will
involve an initial audit of current tactile assessments from clinicians and consumers at the Cerebral Palsy League, followed by a multi-step
education process of group workshops, provision of resource kits, simulated assessments and individual support for client selection and implementation. Consumers will also be involved in this process, with parent forums and surveys being completed to ensure that they are aware of the presence of tactile impairment and its need to be examined. With this process in place, children with CP will be receiving tactile assessments that will inform parents and clinicians of risks to uppper limb function and help them to direct treatment accordingly.
Grant type:
NHMRC Translating Research into Practice Fellowships
