Educational outcomes for children with cerebral palsy: a linked data cohort study. (26th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gillies, Malcolm B; Bowen, Jennifer R; Patterson, Jillian A; Roberts, Christine L; Torvaldsen, Siranda
• Is Part Of: Developmental medicine & child neurology. Volume 60:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 397
• Page End: 401
• Publication Date: 2017-12-26
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Pediatric neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.13651
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0012-1622

Abstract

Abstract : Aim: To identify a cohort of children with cerebral palsy (CP) from hospital data; determine the proportion that participated in standardized educational testing and attained a score within the normal range; and describe the relationship between test results and motor symptoms. Method: This population‐based retrospective cohort study used data from New South Wales, Australia. We linked hospital data for children younger than 16 years of age admitted between 1st July 2000 and 31st March 2014 to education data from 2009 to 2014. Hospital diagnosis codes were used to identify a cohort of children with CP ( n =3944) and describe their motor symptoms. Educational outcomes in the CP cohort were compared with those among children without CP. Results: Of those with educational data ( n =1770), 46% were exempt from reading assessment because of intellectual or functional disability, 7% were absent or withdrawn from testing and 47% participated in testing. About 30% of all children with educational data had test scores in the normal range. The proportion was greatest among those with hemiplegia (>40%) and lowest among those with tetraplegia (<10%). Interpretation: One‐third of children with CP participated in standardized testing and achieved a result in the normal range. The proportions were lower in children with more severe motor symptoms. What this paper adds: From 2009 to 2014, most Australian children with cerebral palsy (CP) attended a mainstream school. The rate of disability‐related exemption from standardized educational testing was almost 50%. Thirty per cent of children with CP achieved educational scores in the normal range. What this paper adds: From 2009 to 2014, most Australian children with cerebral palsy (CP) attended a mainstream school. The rate of disability‐related exemption from standardized educational testing was almost 50%. Thirty per cent of children with CP achieved educational scores in the normal range. This article is commented on by Lebeer on pages336–337 of this issue. This article's abstract has been translated into Spanish and Portuguese. Follow the links from theabstract to view the translations.