Biomedical subjects

R C Schaaf

Publications and source records attributed to R C Schaaf.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Play behavior and occupational therapy.

The effectiveness of treatment methods on a person's ability to carry out occupational roles competently is of interest to occupational therapists. This case study demonstrated how play, as an occupational role of childhood and as a measure of competence, can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy that uses a sensory integrative approach. The positive changes in C.C.'s play behavior support the basic philosophy of sensory integration, which states that an increase in sensory integrative functions will improve competence (in this study, competence is defined as play), that is, that a person will have the ability to carry out occupational roles in an adaptive and competent manner. In addition, improvements in other areas, such as the organization and execution of self-care skills and improvements in gross and fine motor skills, provide further support to sensory integrative philosophy. Further exploration of these concepts would add to a growing body of knowledge aimed at the documentation of the effectiveness and efficacy of occupational therapy interventions.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1989

Occupational therapy in early intervention: a family-centered approach.

This article describes a framework for occupational therapy service provision in early intervention settings and presents pilot data aimed at examining the framework's effectiveness. The Family-Centered Framework for Early Intervention is a synthesis of concepts from the Model of Human Occupation (Kielhofner & Burke, 1980) and from the literature on play. It encompasses a systematic, holistic approach that considers the child and the family within the context of their life environments. In this framework, play is used both as an evaluative tool and as an intervention modality that addresses the volition, habituation, and performance of the child and family as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the environment. Play is also used as a primary measure of competence and change. This framework may be useful in defining occupational therapy roles for the early intervention population.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed1985

The frequency of vestibular disorders in developmentally delayed preschoolers with otitis media.

This study investigated the frequency of vestibular disorders in developmentally disabled preschoolers who did and who did not have a history of otitis media. Fifteen children with a history of otitis media and fifteen children with no history of otitis media were given two tests for vestibular functioning: the Southern California Postrotary Nystagmus Test (SCPNT) and the Lateral Labyrinthine Righting Reaction (LLRR), acting on the head. The scores on these tests were dichotomized, and a correlation between these two tests as measures of vestibular function was obtained. Because this correlation did not reach a satisfactory level, two a satisfactory level, two separate chi-square analyses were performed to examine the frequency of vestibular disorders with otitis media. Both tests showed a statistically significant difference in the incidence of vestibular disorders between the two groups of children; the group having otitis media demonstrated more vestibular disorders. The SCPNT demonstrated more striking results than did LLRR. This finding is related to the two tests measuring different aspects of vestibular functioning; the separate chi-square analyses were performed to examine the frequency of vestibular disorders with otitis media. Both tests showed a statistically significant difference in the incidence of vestibular disorders between the two groups of children; the group having otitis media demonstrated more vestibular disorders. The SCPNT demonstrated more striking results than did LLRR. This finding is related to the two tests measuring different aspects of vestibular functioning; the SCPNT reflects semicircular canal functioning, and the LLRR reflects utricular and saccular functioning. The criteria used for LLRR (four seconds) also may have influenced the results obtained using this test.

Child, Preschool↗