Executive functions in preschool children with cerebral palsy--Assessment and early intervention--A pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the level of executive functioning among preschool children with cerebral palsy (CP) and evaluate effects of the Program Intensified habilitation (PIH).


METHODS
In this non-randomized, prospective study, 15 preschool children with CP, and their parents attended the PIH for a 1-year period. Executive functions were evaluated using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive functions-Preschool version (BRIEF-P), filled out by parents and preschool teachers.


RESULTS
Before PIH, scores of executive function difficulties were close to the general population mean. After PIH, fathers and preschool teachers reported reduced levels of executive difficulties on, respectively, the Emergent Metacognition Index and the Flexibility Index on the BRIEF-P. Mothers reported no changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The children in our sample showed age-appropriate levels of executive functions before attending PIH. Some aspects of executive skills difficulties were reduced after PIH. Using BRIEF-P contributed to the differentiation of cognitive strengths and weaknesses among the children.
a Child Habilitation Unit, Department of Pediatrics , Sørlandet Hospital HF , Kristiansand , Norway .
Kristian
K
Sørensen
b Adult Habilitation Unit, Department of Rehabilitation , Sørlandet Hospital HF , Kristiansand , Norway , and.
Janne Risholm
JR
Liverød
a Child Habilitation Unit, Department of Pediatrics , Sørlandet Hospital HF , Kristiansand , Norway .
Bjørn
B
Lerdal
a Child Habilitation Unit, Department of Pediatrics , Sørlandet Hospital HF , Kristiansand , Norway .
Ida E
IE
Vestrheim
a Child Habilitation Unit, Department of Pediatrics , Sørlandet Hospital HF , Kristiansand , Norway .|c Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Medical Faculty , Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) , Trondheim , Norway.
Jon
J
Skranes
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010290:Parents; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Cerebral palsy; executive functions; intensive habilitation; intervention; preschool children