Communication difficulties in children with Cerebral Palsy who are aged 2-7years and having learning disability at Katalemwa Cheshire home for Rehabilitation services

Abstract

TITLE: Communication difficulties in children with Cerebral Palsy who are aged 2-7 years and having learning disability at Katalemwa Home for Rehabilitation. AIM: To determine the receptive and expressive language skills in children with Cerebral Palsy. RESULTS: A total of 36 children (22 males, 14 females);median age 5yrs, interquartile range 2- 7yrs; Spastic quadriplegia n=14,spastic diplegia n=7;spastic hemiplegia n=4;athetoid n=9 and hypotonia n=2. Fifty percent (50%) of respondents were able to understand spoken language, 58.3% of the respondents were able to express themselves and 41.7% were unable. Out of those who expressed themselves, (61.9%) were verbal and (38.1%) were nonverbal. Respondents with spastic CP were 69.4%, 25% with athetoid CP and 5.6% with hypotonic CP. Children aged 4-7 were more delayed compared to those aged 2-3 years. CONCLUSION: Most respondents had spastic CP and they had severe receptive and expressive language delays followed by those with hypotonia who were moderately delayed and lastly by those with athetoid CP who were mildly delayed. All age groups had receptive and expressive language delays however those ranging from 4-7 were in severe condition. This meant that they had this difficulty since childhood and the severity increased as they grew old.