Motor Development and Self-Stimulatory Movement in Institutionalized Romanian Children

Abstract

Two hundred sixty-seven children without neurological impairment were studied to determine the effect of orphanage placement on motor performance and occurrence of self-stimulatory movement. The children were identified from nine institutions in six cities across Romania. Two hundred thirty-six children had failure-to-thrive (FTT) syndrome and a comparison group of 31 children were not failing-to-thrive (NFTT). Children in both groups performed under the sixth total percentile rank in fine motor skills and under the fourth total percentile rank in gross motor skills on the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales. Considered “normal” by orphanage staff, the NFTT children showed profound motor delay despite higher scores in gross and fine motor subtests than the FTT group. Higher frequency of self-stimulatory movement found in FTT subjects included body body rocking (FTT 50%; NFTT 35%), wrist flapping (FTT 10%; NFTT 6%), and face guarding (FTT 16%; NFTT 10%). The occurrence of finger shadowing was similar between the two groups (FTT 18%; NFTT 19%). These results suggest that motor delay and self-stimulatory movement appeared related to orphanage placement, rather than to the presence of FTT. Physical therapists assessing adopted Romanian orphans can expect global motor delay and self-stimulatory movement, particularly rocking.