Reproducibility of Tactile Assessments for Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

A systematic review identified tactile assessments used in children with cerebral palsy (CP), but their reproducibility is unknown. Sixteen children with unilateral CP and 31 typically developing children (TDC) were assessed 2-4 weeks apart. Test-retest percent agreements within one point for children with unilateral CP (and TDC) were Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments: 75% (90%); single-point localization: 69% (97%); static two-point discrimination: 93% (97%); and moving two-point discrimination: 87% (97%). Test-retest reliability for registration and unilateral spatial tactile perception tests was high in children with CP (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.79-0.96). Two tests demonstrated a learning effect for children with CP, double simultaneous and tactile texture perception. Stereognosis had a ceiling effect for TDC (ICC = 0) and variability for children with CP (% exact agreement = 47%-50%). The Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, single-point localization, and both static and moving two-point discrimination are recommended for use in practice and research. Although recommended to provide a comprehensive assessment, the measures of double simultaneous, stereognosis, and tactile texture perception may not be responsive to change over time in children with unilateral CP.

Reproducibility of the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and the Mini-BESTest in school-aged children

“…The ICC values were interpreted according to recommended criteria [39] previously used in studies with children [40], whereby an ICC > 0.75 was considered to be excellent, 0.74 -0.60 to be good, 0.59 -0.40 to be fair and < 0.4 to be poor.…”

Construct validity and responsiveness of the functional Tactile Object Recognition Test for children with cerebral palsy

“…Previous literature advocates the use of familiar everyday objects in haptic object recognition assessment methodologies for children (Auld et al ., ; Yekutiel et al ., ). However, more recently studies have indicated a ceiling effect for measures of stereognosis that use common objects and suggest that novel or more complex objects are needed to reflect changes in performance over time (Auld et al ., ). None of the participants in the current study (TD or CP) achieved a maximum score on the fTORT, and variability in performance was seen across age groups.…”

“…These deficits can present bilaterally or unilaterally, and often with more than one somatosensory domain involved (e.g. proprioception and haptic object recognition) (Auld, Ware, Boyd, Moseley & Johnston, ; McLean, Taylor, Valentine, et al .).…”

Quantitative Assessment of Cortical Auditory-tactile Processing in Children with Disabilities

“…A common choice is direct electrical median nerve stimulation 7,8 , with the potential for discomfort. Other effective methods use active tasks such as discrimination, recognition, and localization of stimuli, requiring both attention and high levels of comprehension 9 . All of these methods are therefore limited in their use in young children and infants.…”