Motor-Mental Retardation Rehabilitation

Overview

Motor-mental retardation is the condition in which both the movement (motor) and cognitive development of a child lag behind that of their peers. This picture usually arises due to various neurological causes and, alongside motor skills such as sitting, walking and grasping, may also affect the child's learning and communication development.

Every child's potential is unique to them. The aim of rehabilitation is not to bring the child up to a standard, but to bring out the potential they have in the best possible way and to raise their independence in daily life to the highest possible level.

When Is It Applied?

• Motor developmental delay — marked delay in head control, sitting, crawling and walking.
• Muscle tone disorders — excessive floppiness or excessive tension.
• Balance and postural problems — difficulty standing and moving.
• Difficulty with daily living skills — need for support in feeding, dressing and self-care.
• Coordination and hand skill difficulties — difficulty with fine motor movements.

Rehabilitation Approach

Success in this field comes through patience and continuity. Our aim is to preserve the child's current skills, to help them gradually acquire new skills and to minimize possible musculoskeletal complications (such as muscle shortening and joint restrictions).

Through neurodevelopmental approaches, postural and balance work, correct positioning and play-based movement exercises, we support the child's movement capacity. Each goal is directed toward a concrete gain that will make the child's daily life easier. Even a skill that seems small can make a great difference in the life of the child and the family.

What We Do

First, our physician and physiotherapist evaluate the child holistically; examining their motor and developmental level, muscle tone and daily living skills, we set realistic goals together with the family. In this process we also listen to the family's expectations and clarify our goals together.

We carry out our sessions in a pressure-free and enjoyable environment that attracts the child's interest. We rely on progressing with small but steady steps; because on this path every gain is valuable.

We never leave the family out of the process. We teach parents exercises that can be applied at home, correct positioning and suggestions that will make daily care easier. Throughout the process we build warm and supportive communication with the family and follow the child's development together, with patience. What matters to us is that the child can live a little more independently each day.