An evaluation of the sensory integrative development of young children with cystic fibrosis.

Studies have shown that children with chronic illnesses are more prone to 
develop secondary handicaps in the areas of educational achievement, behavior, and 
psychological maladjustment than are 'normal' children. Besides his physical symptoms, the 
child with a chronic illness must endure prolonged hospitalization, psychological stresses, 
decreased activity, and is often denied opportunity for skill practice and 
peer group activities. All these factors result in an overall decrease 
in sensory stimulation which could impair perceptual-motor functioning as well as 
the child's ability to successfully adapt to his disease. Therefore, the 
purpose of this research was to obtain a general idea of 
the perceptual-motor or sensory integrative development of children with CF, to 
determine if there is, in fact, a need for sensory integrative 
treatment in the care of these children. 