Assessment of Quality of Life Needs of Children With Mild Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy

This study sought to assess the quality of life and psychosocial needs of children with mild hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP) as part of improving overall clinical management. Children aged 5 to 17 years old (N = 20), with mild hemiplegic CP, completed the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL™) inventory short form; a subsample of children and their parents also completed a brief interview. Results demonstrated that PedsQL psychosocial subscale scores were similar to those of unaffected children. Interview data revealed children did not focus on having CP on a daily basis, and that they did not feel it influenced their quality of life. Assumptions about the quality of life of this population, and how those assumptions impact clinical management, may need to be reconsidered and warrant additional research.