Stability of the communication function classification system among children with cerebral palsy in South Korea

Abstract

Interest in the prognosis of skill levels has been an important issue among children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to verify the stability of the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) in 2-to 18-year-old children with CP. Data collected from 171 children with CP who received rehabilitation therapy in hospitals or attended special elementary schools in South Korea were reviewed. They were divided into two groups, children <4 years and children ≥4 years. Participants were evaluated over 1-year and 2-year intervals from the first rating. Agreement between the three measurements and the weighted kappa were analyzed. At the 1-year interval, results demonstrated a high agreement rate of the CFCS in children ≥4 years old, and during the 2-year interval the study revealed a low agreement rate in children aged 2–4 years. The results indicated the stability of the CFCS in children ≥4 years old but some change of the CFCS in 2-to 4-year-old children. Moreover, the findings suggested that the change of the CFCS varied with time and age. Based on these results, it is recommended that the CFCS assessments be performed periodically, especially among 2-to 4-year-old children with CP.