چکیده:
Objectives: Down syndrome (DS) is the most common multiple congenital anomaly syndrome associated with a developmental disability. Children with Down syndrome have delay in both motor and mental age. This study carried out to explore relationship between mental and motor age of children with DS. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 participants with DS (5 to 7 years old) using randomized method of sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Mental and motor age of participants was measured by Peabody Developmental Motor Scales and Goodenough Draw A Man Test. Results: test result was analyzed for total, gross and fine motor age and mental age. Results were interpreted by the statistical method of pearson correlation analysis. There was significant correlation between mental age and total motor age based on pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.93). Conclusion: Results of the study showed that there were strong positive correlations between gross, fine and total motor age, and mental age of children with Down syndrome and suggest the hypothesis that simultaneous utilization of motor and mental practice through rehabilitation programs is more effective than mere practice.
خلاصه ماشینی:
Relationship between motor and mental age in children with Down syndrome Hossein Sourtiji Isfahan university of Medical Sciences Seyed Mohammad Sadegh Hosseini1; Farin Soleimani, MD.
Conclusions: Results of the study showed that there were strong positive correlations between gross, fine and total motor age, and mental age of children with Down syndrome and suggest the hypothesis that simultaneous utilization of motor and mental practice through rehabilitation programs is more effective than mere practice.
The motor skills of children with down syndrome as reported in many studies that indicated specific deficits in aspects of movement such as timing (5), balance(5, 6) and coordination as well as physiological aspects such as muscle tone and strength(6).
The development of motor skill proficiency through childhood and into adolescence is slower for those with Down syndrome and in some areas their persistently make slow progress that is below their mental age (11).
Some of the possible causes of delay in the development of fine motor skills in Down Syndrome include: hypotonia (low muscle tone), loose joints and ligaments, hand shape (hands are smaller and fingers are shorter than typical), decreased cognitive skills (making it more difficult for the child to reason things out and to learn to coordinate his movements) (8, 9, 15).
Table 2: correlation between motor and mental age ( به تصویر صفحه مراجعه شود) Discussion: Findings of present study demonstrate statistically strong relation between motor and mental age of children with down syndrome.