Affiliations: [a] Regional Rehabilitation Centre, Queen Silvia’s Children’s Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden | [b] Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Disability and Habilitation, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden | [c] Centre for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden | [d] Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Marie Peny-Dahlstrand, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, P.O Box 455 SE 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. Tel.: +46 703 976928; E-mail: marie.peny-dahlstrand@gu.se.
Abstract: PURPOSE: Spina bifida (SB) often results in a complex disability and can also cause cognitive dysfunction. No previous study has investigated the ability to adapt to time in children with SB. This ability is crucial for an individual’s possibility to develop autonomy in life. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether children aged 10–17 with SB have lower time-processing abilities than typically-developing children, and to describe the profile of time-processing in children with SB. METHOD: Participants comprised a consecutive sample of 21 children (drawn from a geographical cohort of 45) aged 10–17 years (mean: 14 years, SD: 2 years); 13 were boys. The instruments used were KaTid-Y, Time-S, and Time-P. RESULTS: The children with SB had lower time-processing abilities than typically-developing children (52.4% under -2SD), particularly difficulties to orient to and to estimate objective time, to understand time perspectives and with time planning. They also self-rated low use of strategies to adapt to time. The parents rated their children as having extensive difficulties in daily time management. CONCLUSIONS: The low time-processing ability found in children with SB is likely to be an important contributing factor to low autonomy and independence.
Keywords: Myelomeningocele, time perception, time management, time orientation, executive function
