Profile of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities who are referred to rehabilitation clinics: A pilot study.

Aim: The aim of the study is to define the profile of the children with neurodevelopmental disabilities who are referred to a pediatric rehabilitation clinic and to identify the risk factors related to their problems. Material and Method: Three hundred and ninety-six children and their parents who were referred to a rehabilitation clinic for special education, physiotherapy and rehabilitation between the years April 2000 and April 2012 were included in this study. All their records were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The 52.8% (n=209) of the children were boys and 47.2% (n=187) were girls. Number of children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) were in the first raw and children with Mental Retardation (MR) were the second in children with neurodevelopment disabilities. Quadriparetic type of CP was the most both in spontaneous cervicovaginal and caesarian deliveries. There were no statistical difference between the gestational age and types of CP (p<.05). Types of CP were different according to the type of delivery (z=-3.021, p=0.003). The 32.8% of mothers and 73.5% of the fathers were working. The 92.2% of mothers underwent regular doctor control during pregnancy, 97% of them delivered in an hospital, 51% did normal cervicovaginal delivery and 49% caesarian section. Conclusions: This is the first and only study which defines the profile of the children with neurodevelopment disorders who are referred to pediatric rehabilitation clinics. The results of this study will contribute to define the needs of the children and their families who apply to a pediatric rehabilitation clinic and will help to identify the framework and concept of the special education, physiotherapy and rehabilitation according to their status and needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]