[Early treatment of cerebral movement disorders: findings among 50 school children].

It is difficult to assess objectively the effectiveness of treating children with cerebral palsy during the first year of life. 50 pupils with cerebral palsy were selected for handicap and intelligence and carefully examined. All children were treated with the neurodevelopmental technique of BOBATH, 22 of them within the first year of life, 28 thereafter. The examination in school age showed differences between the two groups. When treatment is commenced before nine months of age, children with spastic diplegia resulting from premature birth are unlikely to require special schooling for reasons of their physical handicap. After early treatment, patients with severe neuromuscular dysfunction in early life frequently display disturbances of a predominantly ataxic nature when reaching school age. Spasticity appears to respond well and athetosis less favorably to early treatment. More severe brain damage in the early treated children is possibly indicated by the higher incidence of epilepsy. Pupils who were treated early show significantly fewer behavioural disturbances, with the exception of cases where symbiotic neurosis in the mother is present. This is important for the development of the personality and the individual capacity of integration.