Body Knowledge in Children with Congenital Upper Limb Deficiency.

BACKGROUND

It is advantageous to effectively develop motor functions and a deep understanding of one's body (for example, relative positions, relationships, names, and functions of body parts). It has been reported that lexical-semantic knowledge of the defective body part is diminished in children with congenital lower limb deficiencies, and the features of body knowledge in children with congenital upper limb deficiencies (ULDs) have not been clarified. This study aimed to explore how children with ULDs perceive their bodies.

METHODS

Participants included six children with congenital ULDs and 14 control children, aged 5-11 years. They drew self-portraits and answered questions about the names of body parts.

RESULTS

Children with ULDs were significantly more likely to omit hands in their self-portraits than the control children. In the verbal tests, children with ULDs had a lower rate of correct responses concerning upper limbs, arms, hands, legs, and feet than the control children.

CONCLUSION

Children with ULDs have diminished visuospatial body knowledge of the hands, as well as diminished lexical-semantic body knowledge of both the upper and lower limbs.