Milestones and Support for Communication Development in Children with SMA type1

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24650341
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: Kumamoto Health Science University
• Principal Investigator: SASAKI CHIHO 熊本保健科学大学, 保健科学部, 准教授 (30569603)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAKAI Shinya 北海道大学, 保健科学研究院, 准教授 (30299804)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: SMAⅠ型(Werding-Hofmann病)児 / 発達里程標 / コミュニケーション支援 / 文字学習 / AAC / 意思伝達装置 / 遠隔支援 / SNS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

First questionnaires regarding communication skills were sent, in cooperation with the Network for Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Japan, to 58 parents who had　children aged 15 years or younger with SMA typeⅠ．Responses were received from a total of 36 parents(Response rate;62%).From these responses, developmental milestones consisting of 3 items and 19 sub-items were constructed. That milestones for communication that enable supporters of children with spinal muscular atrophy(SMA) type1 to more easily set appropriate developmental goals.
Then we started the systematic intervention based on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) approach for about 20 children, and also use the remote approach with Social Networking Service(SNS). Some children were able to communicate by words with electronic communication devices before school age, and we also create “The Communication Support Handbook for children with SMA type1 ”.

Free Research Field

言語聴覚学