This book reviews current understanding of normal muscle tone and how it differs in spastic, thixotropic and hypotonic patients. The book contains practical advice on measuring the postural system and will be of interest to pediatricians and also to physiologists involved in investigating muscle tone.

This book's main focus is the development of skilled motor actions by children: commonplace but vital actions such as maintaining posture, walking, reaching and grasping, and manipulating objects and tools. It represents a state-of-the-art report on motor development linking neurophysiological and neuropsychological approaches. Contributors employ examples from both normal and pathological development to study pre- and postnatal brain development and its relationship to skilled motor actions and patterns of behavioral change.

This is a practical guide to the value of behavioral techniques in the treatment of children with various disorders including hyperactivity, conduct problems, autism, and communication difficulties. Written by an international group of experts, this resource will provide practitioners in the field with a clear picture of the value of behavioral methodology. It also stresses the necessary assessment and evaluation procedures required in order to implement the techniques appropriately.

This is the second edition of the manual describing this popular and practical tool for the clinical neurological examination of the newborn. In addition to a number of developments on the original scheme in the light of clinical and research experience, the new manual also facilitates the recording and performance of the examination by providing clear information on its administration aided by illustrative diagrams. New sections include a simplified version of the examination suited to inexperienced staff, applicable both for screening and for use in developing countries; a revised proforma...

A comprehensive review of congenital hemiplegia, this clinical reference covers all aspects from etiology and pathology to clinical assessment and management of orthopedic, neurological, and psychological conditions. The team of expert international contributors highlight the many distinct problems of hemiplegia and review all current approaches. They also describe probable future developments, especially unilateral hemisphere lesions, a current topic of particular interest to basic science researchers.

This volume presents current research and accepted good practice in the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. The authors give detailed information on the neurology of speech and language, and offer guidelines for the assessment of non-speaking children. The chapters discuss such topics as issues of prognosis for speech, timing of intervention, and the importance of working within a multidisciplinary framework. The central role of families and schools in the successful introduction and support of AAC for social communication and curriculum access is recognized,...

The editors have assembled professional experts to introduce non-craniofacial specialists to ways they can contribute to the welfare of children with craniosynostosis, who are born with congenital deformities of the face and skull. Blindness, deafness, severe learning difficulties and facial deformities are associated problems common in severe cases. Apart from specialized craniofacial units, professionals involved in primary or secondary care have no means to cope with the many practical problems that these children present.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 179

The complex nature of the postural control system makes it vulnerable to adverse conditions during early life, such as prenatally or perinatally acquired lesions of the brain or preterm birth. Children with disorders of the developing brain nearly always have dysfunctions in postural control. The postural control system of children with other neurodevelopmental disabilities such as myelomeningocele or muscle disease is also challenged: it has to find age-specific solutions for the postural problems posed by the disorder. These...

Disabled children who are unable to live at home are doubly needy: in addition to their disability, they are deprived of normal family life. Children who do not grow up in a stable, nurturing environment are unlikely to achieve their potential. Moreover, disabled children often have complex medical problems. Disabled children living away from home are often involved with many different professionals: although individually these professionals may provide appropriate support, the sum of their efforts rarely adds up to the actions of a 'good' parent. The book considers the key issues that must...

This handbook is aimed at clinicians and others who are engaged in caring for ageing adults with developmental disabilities. It is intended to inform understanding, promote assessment, assist in care planning, and especially to improve everyday living for this needy but sadly often neglected group of vulnerable individuals. The authors base their guidance on evidence, focusing on important insights that are likely to be valuable to the clinician interested in the care of the individuals on whose behalf the book has been prepared.

A brief general overview of the area is followed by a...