Fine motor development in children with cerebral palsy

  Overview The dysfunction of cerebral palsy is the result of brain injury, which causes disorders in the afferent and efferent nervous systems, resulting in children with the disease lagging behind in fine motor function and reduced learning and adaptive abilities compared to children of the same age. Occupational therapy is to improve the learning and adaptive abilities of the affected child, which in turn improves functional abnormalities.  The developmental progression of hand function by age is briefly described as follows: 1 month: both hands squeeze fist and grip tighter after stimulation.  2 months: Both hands are still in a clenched fist, but the tension is gradually reduced.  3-4 months: able to put both hands in front of them to watch and play with their own hands, appearing to attempt to grasp things.  4 months: Can grasp objects with the involvement of the thumbs.  5 months: Can grasp objects within one hand distance.  6-7 months: Can pass objects between hands with conscious accuracy.  8 months: Can grasp objects with the thumb and the remaining four fingers.  9-10 months: Can pick up objects with the thumb and index finger.  10 months: Can voluntarily let go of an object in the hand.  10-12 months: Can hold a pencil and scribble, and can turn pages and pages of books.  2 years: Can stack 6-7 squares and turn the book page by page.  2-3 years old: can stack 8 squares and copy and draw straight lines.  Age 3: Can stack 9-10 squares and copy and draw “O” and “+”.  Age 4: Can dress themselves, draw squares and simple people.  Age 5: Can write simple words and draw more parts of a person.  6 years old: Can draw triangles, houses, cars, flowers, etc.