Assessment of adaptation of children of younger school age with cerebral palsy to occupations at correctional school

Formation of a school maturity at children of younger school age is the main objective of modern education. Special attention in the last decades is paid to children with disturbances of a musculoskeletal system, in particular, to children with the cerebral palsy (CP). Such children study at special correctional schools which prepare the pupils for independent life and work in society.

Research objective: to estimate adaptation of children of younger school age with cerebral palsy to occupations at correctional school.

Materials and methods. 75 children with the diagnosis are examined: Cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia mild or moderate severity, delay of psychomotor development, pseudobulbar dysarthtia. All children studied in state-funded educational institution for children with limited opportunities of health special (correctional) comprehensive school (the IV look) No. 584 "Ozerki" of Vyborgsky district of St. Petersburg (school No. 584 "Ozerki"). The age of children was from 7 to 11 years. The following indicators were estimated: quality of life of children by means of the questionnaire of PedsQL for category of children of 8-12 years, electroencephalogram indicators, the neurologic status, extent of disturbance of the speech. Children were examined by the neurologist, the psychologist and the logopedist.

Results. 72% of children had the average and low level of adaptation. According to classification by L.A. Wagner (1989), “the low level” of adaptation prevailed at boys (42.2%) (the negative relation to school, suppressed mood, frequent complaints to an illness). “High level” also dominated at boys (33.4%) while at girls “the high level” of adaptation was observed only at 6 people (20%). Clinical inspection taped that at children the hyper excitability syndrome prevailed (at boys – 51.2%, girls – 63.3%). Also it was noticed that extent of disturbance of the speech depends on degree of a lesion of the central nervous system and also on age and sex features. The quality of life of children of elementary school is reduced. In scales of the questionnaire of PedsQL “physical functioning”, “emotional functioning”, “life at school” points don’t exceed 50. Only in a scale “social functioning” an indicator more than 70 points.

Conclusions. The complex rehabilitation including the medical, psychology and pedagogical and logopedic care is necessary for children of elementary school of school No. 584 “Ozerki”.