Efeitos do uso dos recursos de tecnologia assistiva no desempenho funcional de crianças com paralisia cerebral sob a ótica dos pais

Abstract

Assistive Technology (AT) has resources used as facilitators in the treatment of people with neurodevelopmental disorders such as Cerebral Palsy (CP), minimizing injuries and promoting functional gains and quality of life. Considering these aspects, the objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of the use of Assistive Technology resources on the functional performance of children with cerebral palsy from the parents point of view. The design is a Case Report, carried out at the Núcleo de Tratamento e Estimulação Precoce (NUTEP) from October 2021 to January 2022. Data collection took place through medical records and structured interview with the sample composed of parents of children diagnosed with or suspected of having CP and who use orthoses, devices and/or furniture for at least one month. The interview included the description of the technology, guidance on its correct use, difficulties faced in acquiring and for daily use, time of daily use, environment used to use the furniture, and what has changed, for them, in the child's functional performance after the use of AT. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and organized in an Excel database, being analyzed with calculations of mean, standard deviation and frequency of responses. Eight family members of children diagnosed with CP were interviewed, with 62.5% (5) of the children being female and 37.5% (3) male, mean age of 39.4 months (±25.1). All used AT for at least 2 months, mean 20 months (±18.14), and used orthoses, 25% (2) associated with the use of devices and 37.5% (3) with furniture. The family members were instructed on the use, however 87.5% (7) had difficulties. Regarding functional performance, all reported the improvement of their children after the use of AT, with 87.5% (7) reporting improvement in aspects related to postural tone and balance, 62.5% (5) to gross motor development , 62.5% (5) in playing and interacting with the family and 37.5% (3) in manual skills. With this study, it was possible to verify that the use of assistive orthotic technology, devices and furniture can contribute positively to the functional development of children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, from the perspective of the parents, specially in the aspects of postural tone, balance, gross motor performance, manual skills, play, participation and interaction with the family.