Power mobility training for a 7-month-old infant with spina bifida.

PURPOSE: Power mobility is a critical assistive technology for many children with special needs. Our previous work suggests that certain infants younger than the age 1 year of age can participate in formal power mobility training.

KEY POINTS: This case report describes the feasibility of providing a power mobility training program with a young infant with spina bifida. Specifically, we longitudinally quantified the infant's driving ability with a joystick-controlled device (UD1), using UD1's onboard computer and video camera from an infant's age of 7 to 12 months. During the training period, the infant improved in all driving variables. The infant's Bayley III cognition and language scores also increased at a rate greater than his chronological age.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: These results suggest that power mobility training within the first year of life may be appropriate for certain populations at risk of immobility.