Functional Hand Grasp of Young Children Ages 9 to 18 Months: A Comparison of Down Syndrome and Typically Developing Children
Graduation Date
2006
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy
Department
Occupational Therapy
Department or Program Chair
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Thesis Advisor
Bonnie Napier-Tibere, EdD, OTR/L
Abstract
The purpose of this preliminary pilot study was to explore the grasping patterns of young children with Down syndrome in relation to typically developing children of the same chronological age. Qualitative data was collected through observing 6 children, 3 with Down syndrome and 3 typically developing children between the ages of 9 to 18 months. The children were each videotaped as they picked up a cube, a peg and a pellet. Each child’s specific grasping patterns were rated on a four-point scale, with higher scores representing greater refinement and maturity. Six different developmental grasping patterns were also observed and documented. This small sampled study does not focus on any statistical information but was rather intended to contribute to a larger body of knowledge as well as prompt future research specifically in the area of patterns of grasp for children with Down syndrome.