Pediatric rehabilitation: 5. Transitioning teens with disabilities into adulthood.

This self-directed learning module focuses on preparing adolescent patients with special health care needs for adulthood by promoting their independence in their own self-care; helping them to navigate issues of sexuality, marriage, and parenting; preparing the patient and family to make guardianship decisions during the transition between childhood and adulthood; and planning for higher education or vocation. Emphasis will be on the role of the physiatrist in providing this guidance and its importance in improving the patient's quality of life. It is part of the study guide on pediatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric medicine.

Pediatric rehabilitation: 1. Common medical conditions in children with disabilities.

This self-directed learning module focuses on the physiatric management of the common morbidities associated with pediatric traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy. It is part of the study guide on pediatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric medicine. The goal of this article is to enhance the learner's knowledge regarding current physiatric management of complications related with pediatric traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy.

Pediatric rehabilitation: 4. Prescribing assistive technology to promote community integration.

This self-directed learning module highlights the equipment and assistive technology needs of children and youth with disabilities. This article specifically focuses on preparing families and patients for equipment transitions that occur over the course of childhood and adolescence including progressing from stroller to wheelchair to powerchair, as well as job training and use of augmentative communication. It is part of the study guide on pediatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric medicine.

Pediatric rehabilitation: 3. Facilitating family-centered treatment decisions.

This self-directed learning module focuses on the role of accurate diagnosis, psychological support, and family integration of children who have chronic impairments such as pain, spasticity, or cognitive disability. It is part of the study guide on pediatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric medicine. The role of therapeutic, medical (traditional and nontraditional) and psychological interventions that improve family and individual function are emphasized.

Pediatric rehabilitation: 2. Environmental factors affecting participation.

This self-directed learning module highlights the environmental factors that influence the participation of children and youth with disabilities in life situations, including activities of self-care, mobility, socialization, education, recreation, and community life. It is part of the study guide on pediatric rehabilitation in the Self-Directed Physiatric Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric medicine. This module emphasizes the participation of children with disabilities in adapted sports and reviews mobility devices to promote function, in the context of the International Classification of Functioning and in reference to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Potential clinical impact of compounded versus noncompounded intrathecal baclofen.

Objective: To assess the differences between commercial and pharmacy-compounded preparations of baclofen for intrathecal administration.

Design: Random sample.

Setting: Pharmacies in the United States advertising compounded intrathecal baclofen preparation.

Cerebral palsy masking spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive anterior horn cell disease that results in progressive muscular weakness and atrophy without sensory involvement. A wide clinical spectrum that ranges from early death to essentially normal adult live exists. We describe a case of two 12 years olds, who represent two of three surviving non-identical quadruplets, born at 25 weeks gestational age.

Adapted recreational and sports programs for children with disabilities: A decade of experience.

Objective: To identify and describe community based adapted sports and recreational programs (SARPs) for children with physically disabilities, documenting program types, benefits, challenges, growth and/or decline, and lessons they have learned over a 10-year period.

Methods: In 1996, a total of 277 children's hospitals and freestanding rehabilitation hospitals stating that they provided pediatric rehabilitation services were contacted and asked to provide information regarding adapted recreational and sports programs in their region. Seventy-nine SARPs were identified, contacted, and survyed about programming, benefits and challenges they faced.