Parents Perceived Effects on Usage of the Adaptive Positional Devices for Children with Delayed Developmental Milestones

Abstract

Background Parents who have young children with complex physical disabilities face challenges that are both physically and emotionally demanding. Parents of children with disabilities spend more time providing child assistance and supervision than other parents.Aim To determine the parent-perceived effects of adaptive positional seating and standing devices for children with delay in developmental milestones aged 2 to 14 years.Method The present study was conducted at Mobility India outpatient rehab clinic urban slums of the Bengaluru City Rural Chamrajnagar District Karnataka and two rehabilitation centres in Andhra Pradesh. A cross-sectional study was designed in which 52 parents of children with cerebral palsy were interviewed with QUEST Version 2.0 the pre and post usage positional device questionnaires. Results The usage of the pre positional device questionnaire reported that child positioning child-caring was time taking amp burdensome parent engagement in household and earning activities was difficult. The usage of the post positional devices reported that it helped to achieve near-normal positioning helped in feeding child enhanced eye contact with siblings and family members and improved communication by signing and indication. Parents took less time in child feeding caring with positional devices and engaged themselves in the household and earning activities. The positional devicersquos usage showed a significant effect on achieving milestones and also provided therapeutic benefits.Conclusion The parentrsquos perceived effects on the usage of the adaptive positional device for children with delayed developmental milestones were that it helped in physical abilities communication psychosocial and personal care. The parents felt relief from long-term engagement with children which created enough time for household and earning activities.