To devise the best possible extensive therapeutic concept for your child we first thoroughly evaluate its development stage and analyze its problems. Together with you, the parents, we agree on therapeutic goals and discuss the available therapeutic approaches.
To evaluate your child’s skills, we conduct a thorough medical anamnesis, a physical examination, and a detailed observation of its natural motion behavior. The functional skills are evaluated through specific tests.
Digest of the evaluation methods used:
GMFM / GMFCS
The GrossMotorFunctionMeasure (GMFM) was developed as a clinical measurement to evaluate the gross motor skills of children affected with cerebral palsy. Several forms of activities are tested, including recumbency, rotation, walking, running, and jumping. The activities correspond with the normal gross motor skill development.
The GrossMotorFunctionClassificationSystem (GMFCS) allows for classifying motor skills of children and adolescents affected with cerebral palsy, including sitting ability, transfer skills, and mobility.
AHA
The AssistingHandAssessment (AHA) measures how effectively children with unilateral motor impediments (unilateral spastic cerebral palsy / paresis of the arm plexus) use the affected hand (assisting hand) in bimanual play situations. It is a standardized test for children between 8 and 19 months (Mini-AHA) and children between 18 months and 12 years of age.
In contrast to most existing procedures, this hand motor skill test does not measure abstract skills, but analyzes the actual use of the hands in everyday settings.
The test results allow for articulating goals for therapy as well as measuring the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches.
MFED
The Munich Functional Development Diagnostics (MFED) system allows for apprehending a child’s developmental stage differentiated by functions (first year of age: crawling, sitting, walking, gripping, perception, talking, speech comprehension, social behavior; second and third year of age: core motor function, hand motor function, perception processing, speaking, speech comprehension, independence, social behavior). For each different function, the developmental age can be determined.
The method helps to identify children facing developmental problems. As a second step, a specific neurological development analysis is necessary.
In addition, we use modified Ashworth scales, time-up and go, muscle function and girth measurements, angle measurements of the joints, walking test with time measurement.
We also offer a first information and consultation session.
Our development diagnostics are part of a supplemental treatment not covered by health insurances. The costs of the diagnostics have to be paid by the patient.