Cognitive and affective aspects of psychomotor assessment of myodystrophic children with the aim of specific treatment

: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of cognitive and affective problems in the treatment of children suffering from myodystrophy. It was hypothesised that psychomotory assessment taking appropriate account of data regarding the evaluation of cognitive and affective development might allow an adequate and realistic therapeutic protocol to be defined. For this purpose the authors examined 55 myodystrophic patients aged between 6 and 10 years old during the period January 1980 and June 1993 using traditional psychomotory tests (Stanford-Binet and/or WISC in relation to the various age groups), projective tests (CAT, TAT) and graphic tests. The latter were also evaluated according to Koppitz's criterion which enabled emotional indicators (EI) to be assessed. All 55 cases were evaluated in collaboration with the 1st Pediatric Clinic of the Neuro-Psychomotory Unit of "G. Gaslini" Institute. Psychomotory treatment, which by definition is addressed to the entire person, specifically took cognitive and affective data into consideration. In fact, as observed by Johnson and Alexander, in myodystrophy functional skills are more often limited by cognitive and motivational factors than by actual menomation. The results showed that the concentration on psychological aspects in the rehabilitation of myodystrophic children allows the neuropsychological component of movement (practognosia) to be preserved for as long as possible despite the progress of instrumental deficit (anatomic degeneration). In the authors' experience and in comparison to that of other Authors, it was possible to state that a "personalized" approach allows the subjects to improve their own "presence in the world".