Learning patterns of young children with above-elbow prostheses.
In order to develop an improved method of teaching young child amputees to operate the forearm lift and elbow lock of a conventional above-elbow prosthesis, learning patterns of 12 young above-elbow amputees were observed and described by occupational therapists. From these observations, signs of readiness for learning were identified and a method was proposed for teaching these controls to children. The therapist gave the child physical assistance as well as verbal instruction and a demonstration for each part of the operation and then for the combined motion. Application to activities required development of new habit patterns and appeared to be related to cognitive abilities beyond the sensorimotor level. Mechanical features of the double cycle lock tended to complicate learning and demonstrated the need to develop an elbow lock mechanism that better meets the needs of children.
D000674:Amputees; D001132:Arm; D001186:Artificial Limbs / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male