This Policy Statement was retired December 2022.
This statement reviews patterning as a treatment for children with neurologic impairments. This treatment is based on an outmoded and oversimplified theory of brain development. Current information does not support the claims of proponents that this treatment is efficacious, and its use continues to be unwarranted.
Copyright © 1999 American Academy of Pediatrics
1999
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Comments
Is the evidence strong enough?
Dear members of COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, 1999-2000
The program for the Institute for The Achievement of Human Potential is not solely on patterning. It consists of other aspect. Calling the program “ patterning” is very misleading.
Going through your evidence, many were more than 20 years old. The so called “ well-controlled investigation” by Sparrow S, Zigler E Evaluation of a patterning treatment for retarded children. Pediatrics. 1978; 62:137- 150 is not a head on comparison between children on the program and children with conventional treatment. The treatment group received a modification of the sensorimotor patterning treatment developed at the Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP). The treatment group received a program modeled after the IAHP methods for approximately two hours per day, five days per week, for one year. The treatment is far less than those prescribed by the IAHP done by a dedicated committed parent. Obviously it is inadequate to conclude that the IAHP program is of no benefit.
I urge all of you to take up the challenge to conduct a head on comparison between children on the intensive program from IAHP and matched control children of conventional treatment. It will benefit many desperate parents from all over the world. The institute is ever willing to take the challenge.
Li Yuan, Lee
Conflict of Interest:
I am trying my daughter on the program as conventional program did not help her.I am looking for evidence