Characteristics and Rehabilitation Services Requirements of Children in Cognitive Motor Training class: A Survey in Taichung County

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics and rehabilitation services requirements of children in cognitive motor training class in Taichung County. Methods: Two physiatrists interviewed children and their parents from eight elementary schools. Perinatal history and physical performance were studied in these children. Information in 187 sets of questionnaires was analyzed. Participants were grouped into four categories according to their major deficit: 18 children (10%) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 64 children (34%) with cerebral palsy (CP), 40 children (21%) with developmental delay, and 65 children (35%) with mental retardation. Results: Most of the mothers had normal deliveries, except for the mothers of CP children (48% had an abnormal delivery and 22% required oxygen). Concerning the perinatal history, CP children had a higher incidence of admissions to intensive care unit (47%,p＜ 0.01), respiratory complications (30%,p＜0.05), and blood transfusions (16%,p＜ 0.01). In the postnatal period, over 78% of these children had been admitted to the hospital for illness. Forty-one children (22%) had joint contracture, mainly in the ankle joint (83%). During this study, 48% of the children were receiving rehabilitation services. A high percentage of parents, 92%, hoped their child could be enrolled in a rehabilitation program in the future, 67% of parents hoped their child could receive speech therapy in the future. Conclusions: This study can be used as an important reference to arrange rehabilitation services for children in educational organizations.