Exceptionality Resource File

SECTION DESCRIPTION

TASKS TO COMPLETE

1. Disability Name, Type & Category

Disability

· Name: locomotor disability

· Type: Physical /Mental impairment and physical limitations

· Category: Poliomyelitis, cerebral palsy, amputation, spine, head, soft tissue, fracture and muscular dystrophy are all disorders that might cause mobility problems (Krishnan, et al. 2021).

2. Causes & Statistical Data

Several diseases and injuries can leave patients unable to walk or move around for an extended period. Polio is probably the most recognized case in point. We've all seen how polio leaves victims needing wheelchairs and crutches to get around. This is because, due to polio's common effect of weakening limb muscles, the affected individual would have limited mobility in their limbs.

Other sources include:

· Locomotor impairment is often the result of amputation (the loss of a limb or part of a limb).

· CP, or Cerebral Palsy

· Myotonic dystrophy

· Disorders of the nervous system

· Illnesses of the heart and lungs

In children, cerebral palsy (CP) is the leading cause of motor impairment. Prevalence estimates for CP vary from 1 to nearly 4 per 1,000 live births or per 1,000 offspring, according to current population-based studies directed all over the globe. In 2010, the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network estimated that CP affected 1 in 345 children in the United States, or 3 out of every 1,000 children aged 8 years old” (Qin, et al. 2021). Children born early or with a low birth mass are more probable to grow cerebral palsy. The data suggest a worldwide drop in the incidence of CP, especially in children of moderate and extremely low birth weight.

Source: “Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, February 23). Learn more about cerebral palsy (CP). Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/index.html”

3. Treatments &  Therapies 

1. Conventional surgery: Tendon lengthening, bone fusions, and derotation osteotomy are the cornerstone of surgical therapy for children with cerebral palsy for a long time. As a result of the sequential nature of these treatments, a "birthday syndrome" has been identified (orthopedic surgery once a year, followed by “physiotherapy to relearn a walking method,” and then another process the following year to issue the resultant tightened muscles). Multi-level surgical intervention is progressively replacing these programs because of their lack of positive effects on the child's sense of self-worth, social development, or academic performance.

2. Targeted training: The idea upon which this prospective treatment is founded is that a typically developing kid acquires motor control from the head to the feet. To prevent the kid from becoming overwhelmed by too many control demands, this method employs specifically built equipment to offer the appropriate degree of support for one or two joints at a time. Using the program for a certain amount of time each day, it is possible to advance “motor control learning” in a downward way after rigorous evaluation identifies the greatest body segment missing in control (typically the head in offspring with cerebral palsy). The approach is showing promising early results.

3. Less orthodox treatments: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, cranial osteopathy, reflexology, etc. are some of the newer therapies for “children with cerebral palsy.” The passage of time and scientific investigation has proven that many of these treatments are not 100% recommended. However, we need to be well-informed about such "trends" when they are at their peak so that we may effectively assist vulnerable parents (Campos-Pires, et al. 2020). Although the scientific grounds for their usage are not always apparent, it is crucial to have an open mind on these topics.

4. Botulinum toxin: Botulinum toxin injections into spastic muscles to prevent further neuromuscular transmission have become widespread in current years.7,22 Primarily, it has been applied to the “calf muscles” of children with hemiplegia or diplegia to prevent dynamic equinus of the ankle. Botulinum toxin's effects are temporary; therefore, more injections are required every three to four months. Although the method is straightforward, seems risk-free, and effectively paralyzes the muscle, it has not been demonstrated whether or if it improves gait in the long run. Clinical trials have not consistently shown any positive effects.

4. Implications on a Child’s Development and Learning 

· physical  

The physical growth of a kid is drastically altered by an impairment in locomotion. Their mobility is restricted, preventing them from doing things like crawling, walking, and running. Their muscular tone, coordination, and mobility will all suffer as a result.

· motor 

Fine motor capabilities and gross motor aids, such as walking and leaping, are both encompassed in the motor domain. Having trouble with both fine and gross motor abilities, a kid with a locomotor may have trouble with activities that call for precise movements or coordinated physical motions.

· cognitive  

The capability to think, reason, and understand information is known as cognitive development. Children with locomotor disability may be at a weakness when it comes to knowledge about their environments and creating interactions with others (Dana, 2020). Fewer opportunities for hands-on learning can stunt their intellectual development and limit their capacity to solve problems.

· communication  

The growth of communication skills comprises not only the capability to comprehend and use language but also to generate and share one's own. A child's social and language growth may be underdeveloped if they have worry moving about and receiving around. Their inability to use gestures or other non-verbal means of communication successfully may also result from physical mobility difficulties.

· social-emotional

A child's capability for social communication, emotional control, and individuality formation are all part of the socio-emotional domain. A child's capability to engage in bodily play or participate in actions with their peers may be restricted by a locomotor impairment. This can have consequences for their emotional and social development, putting them in danger of feeling emotions like anger, aloneness, and low self-confidence.

5. Implications on the Family Members

1. Grief, frustration, and fear are just some of the feelings that families may go through as they adjust to their child's condition. They might struggle with issues of acceptance, settling into new habits, and coping with potential constraints and future uncertainty.

2. Medical costs, specialized tools, assistive devices, therapy sessions, and house and vehicle adaptations can all add up, putting a strain on families' budgets. The financial resources of a family might be seriously taxed by such expenses.

3. It's possible that households may have to make major changes to how they usually do things (Gokhale, 2021). This may need setting aside more time for things like doctor visits, therapy sessions, and the use of mobility aids. Installation of ramps and alterations to toilets, among other possible modifications, may be necessary to make the home accessible to the youngster.

4. The physical restrictions of a kid can cause social isolation and make it hard for families to participate in everyday activities. They may face prejudice and discrimination, which may be taxing on their psyches and undermine their health.

V ideo link:

Link: “ https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-development/children-with-disabilities-class”