On-Demand: The Head Control Scale: A Novel Method for Assessing Head Control

Head control is a key developmental milestone that affects future motor skills such as sitting, walking, vision, and oral motor function. In current clinical practice and reseach, head control is assessed in one of three ways: 1) non-objective and informal (e.g. present/not present); 2) developmental assessments (e.g. Alberta Infant Motor Scale, Peabody Developmental Motor Scales, etc.) or 3) technologically sophisticated means such as computerized kinematic analysis. The Head Control Scale (HCS) was developed in 2017 by a physical therapist and occupational therapist to address the gap in available assesment tools specific to head control. The HCS is designed to be easy to access and use so that physical therapists can accurately document patient performance with head control. The HCS will be useful clinically to track changes over time and for research with head control-related outcomes. This presentation will provide participants the background on how the HCS was developed, current reseach to date, and participants will have an opportunity to practice use of the scale with videos.