Impacts of COVID-19 on Neuropsychomotor Development From the Perspective of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in a Case Series of Children Aged 4 to 24 Months Assessed in Land and Aquatic Settings

Abstract

Mitigation measures the pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can change neuropsychomotor development (NPMD), diminishing adaptation, learning, and physical and cognitive development skills. Biopsychosocial screening in this scenario requires specific physical therapy assessment for each intervention setting, with validated scales. Hence, the objective of this study was to analyze the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on NPMD based on a case series in 4-to-24-month-old children assessed on land and in water. Case series descriptive study, based on physical therapy assessments with the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS), Developmental Screening Test (Denver II), and Adaptation of the Aquatic Functional Assessment Scale for Babies (AFAS-BABY © ). AIMS classified 8 children as typical NPMD and 5 as suspect NPMD, while Denver II classified 10 children as typical NPMD, 3 as questionable NPMD, and 2 as delayed NPMD. AFAS-BABY © created a qualitative profile, relating it to the land assessments. Thus, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on NPMD were analyzed based on a case series in 4-to-24-month-old children assessed on land and in water.