Daily time management in children with Spina Bifida

Background: Spina bifida (SB) often result in a complex disability. The motor ability has been well described as well as the urological impairments. In recent years it has been shown that SB often cause a cognitive... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
Spina bifida (SB) often result in a complex disability. The motor ability has been well described as well as the urological impairments. In recent years it has been shown that SB often cause a cognitive dysfunction. Despite this information no study, to the best of our knowledge, has investigated the ability to adapt to time in children with SB, an ability much depending on cognition. For persons with SB being able to adapt to time is important as they need to perform catheterization every three hours or their renal function risk to be seriously damaged. The aim was to investigate if children with SB have lower time-processing abilities than typically developed children, and to describe the profile of time management abilities in children with SB
Method:
21 children, aged 10-17 years, consecutive sample, accepted to participate. Instruments used; for time processing abilities; KaTid-Y, for time management abilities Time-S and Time-P
Results:
This study shows that the children with SB had lower overall time-processing abilities than typically developed children. They had a profile of self-rated low use of strategies to adapt to time. The parents perceive that their children had extended difficulties in daily time management
Conclusion:
This knowledge is an important new piece in the puzzle of understanding why persons with SB have such low autonomy.
Application to Practice:
OT.s must approach the ability to adapt to time in persons with SB, both with assessments and interventions.