Surveys

Objective: The goal of this study was to identify child development trends observed by pediatric physical therapists.

Methods: The Web-based survey was conducted in 2008 by Pathways. The survey was taken by a total of 409 therapists who belong to the Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association (NDTA) or the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and who work regularly with children. These therapists average more than 20 years of experience.

Results: Two-thirds of the therapists reported that, in the past several years, they had observed an increase in early motor delays in babies under twelve months of age. Of these therapists, more than eight in ten named lack of Tummy Time while awake as the number-one reason for the increase. Three-fourths had observed early motor delay cases that could be associated with babies spending too much time on their backs while they were awake (in car seats, bouncers, etc.). Seventy percent of the therapists observed that most parents have little or no understanding of Tummy Time.

Conclusions: New parents are concerned with the basics: sleeping, eating, changing and nurturing. However, a few simple steps—even just holding and soothing the baby in a different position—can help infants get used to Tummy Time. Pathways recommends starting Tummy Time with just a few minutes. By three months of age, babies should be getting an hour of Tummy Time per day. This does not need to be all at once, but in several shorter intervals throughout the day,

Contact us at friends@pathways.org for a full research report.

This research was conducted by the Chicago-based marketing consulting firm, Hyde Park Group, on behalf of Pathways.

Objective: As a follow-up to Therapist Survey I, Pathways conducted a national survey aimed at expanding upon some of the observations that therapists previously reported and discovering new trends in child motor, sensory and communication development. The survey included additional questions about children 0-3 and expanded the age range to include questions about school-age children.

Methods: Between May 2009 and November 2010, 507 members of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the Pediatric Section of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association (NDTA) participated in a web-based survey. Survey responders average more than 17 years experience working regularly with pediatric clients. All results reported are significant at the 95% confidence level.

Results: More than two-thirds (68%) of pediatric therapists evaluated or treated children between ages 3 and 8 years old who had been previously misidentified with learning disabilities or behavioral issues.  An overwhelming majority (88%) reported seeing children with sensory processing deficits that were misidentified as having other rehabilitation or medical diagnosis. 

Conclusion: The behaviors of a child with sensory deficits are extremely varied, which also can make them hard to detect by professionals and parents.  Sensory processing deficits can translate into delays with coordination, balance, focus, organization, and fine motor skills, which impact performance in home, school and social settings.  Furthermore, children with neurological diagnoses present a challenge in discerning whether or not sensory challenges are compounding their primary diagnosis.  Earlier identification and a comprehensive therapy program addressing all deficits will help children reach their full potential.

Contact us at friends@pathways.org for a full research report.

This research was conducted by the Chicago-based marketing consulting firm, Hyde Park Group, on behalf of Pathways.

Objective: This study examines parental perceptions about early motor delays and the diagnostic process, as well as their general knowledge about infant milestones and response to concerns. The overarching purpose is to determine a level of parental knowledge and understand more fully how the early screening process can be improved.

Methods: Surveys made up of 53 questions were fielded in two rounds: five Chicago pediatrician’s offices from July to September of 2002, and three additional pediatrician’s offices, two in Chicago and one in Oak Park, from June to August of 2004. Surveys were also fielded in the physical therapy department at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago in September of 2002 to increase the sample of parents whose children were positively diagnosed with movement delays.

Results: The vast majority of parents would use their health care provider as the main source for information about their child.

39% of parents whose children were diagnosed with a motor delay were told to “wait and see” by their pediatrician regarding their concern in their infants development.

55% of parents surveyed reported that infants of three months or younger should be lifting up their heads and pushing up on their arms while on their tummy.

About 15% of parents indicated that they would seek help if the child did not achieve the skill by three months; the remaining parents would wait longer to seek help, 20% waiting until the child reached six months of age or more.

For milestones achieved in the first year of life, fewer than 50% of parents would seek help if their child did not achieve the milestone according to the Pathways guidelines. For milestones achieved later (12 months of age or later), about 70%-85% parents would seek help if the milestone was not met according to Pathways’ guidelines.

Conclusions: This study suggests a number of avenues to improve the early detection of movement delays. Because parents regard pediatricians and physician specialists as the most reliable sources of information on movement delays, it is likely that parents would respond best to an early intervention program that involved their own physicians. Even though parents in this study would seek help from their pediatrician later than would be optimal, previous research indicates that parent reports are reliable and helpful indicators to pediatricians. Therefore, the key to a successful intervention seems to center around prompting parents to discuss their concerns with their pediatricians earlier than they would be inclined to do so.

Contact us at friends@pathways.org for a full research report.

This research was conducted at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago IL with the help of Jenifer Cartland, PhD Director and Suzanne Greene McLone, MPH Epidemiologist and the Child Health Data Labs in 2005.

Objective: This survey looked to enhance the information gathered in the Child Health Data Lab survey findings on parental perception with a nationally based sample. The goals included evaluating condition names, gauging the awareness of various forms of therapy, and evaluating methods of communicating and reaching parents concerned about their children.

Methods: The survey was sent to a national sample of 423 adults, reflecting the demographic balance of parents with at least one child less than 36 months old. Survey demographics were balanced to reflect gender, income, ethnicity, age, and the geography of this population. All results reported are significant at the 95% confidence level.

Results: Two-thirds of parents (67%) did not know that their child should be lifting up his head and pushing up on his forearms by the end of three months and only five percent said they would take action if their child did not achieve that milestone by three months.  For each successive physical milestone (6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months) parents were more aware of age-appropriate movements.

Conclusions: The three-month milestone is critical, and is a potential early indicator of early motor delays.  The results of the survey indicate that most parents are not only unaware of this milestone, but have a wait-and-see attitude about bringing an issue to the attention of a medical professional.  If parents have questions or concerns about their child’s development, they should visit Pathways’ Tools for a Doctor’s Visit.  Parents are the best advocates for their children, and early detection and intervention are key to giving children the best opportunity to reach their full potential.

Contact us at friends@pathways.org for a full research report.

This research was conducted by the Chicago-based marketing consulting firm, Hyde Park Group, on behalf of Pathways in April 2006.