Pain in Children with Neurological Impairment
Learning Objectives
- Learn an approach to assessing pain in children who have severe neurological impairment and communication impairments (intellectual and/or motor disabilities)
- Understand when and how to use a few reliable and individualized pain assessment tools for nonverbal children
Alvin Loh, MD, FRCPC Medical Chief of Staff at Surrey Place
Dr. Alvin Loh is the co-lead of the Behaviour Medical Assessment Clinic where he often sees youth with severe communication impairments and behaviours that challenge, and assesses them for physical health issues and pain. He is involved in the Developmental Disabilities Primary Care Program for Adults at Surrey Place. He is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Developmental Pediatrics at the University of Toronto, and teaches medical students, residents and practicing physicians, about communicating with and caring for people with IDD.
Resources Mentioned in Session
- Pain – Special Considerations in Children & Youth with Severe Neurological Impairment by Dr. Alvin Loh
- Didactic Presentation References
- Tone and spasticity in paediatrics by Dr. Darcy Fehlings
- Case Presentation by Susan Miranda
- Case Recommendations
- Non-communicating Children’s Pain Checklist – Revised (NCCPC-R)
- ‘Total Pain’ in Children with Severe Neurological Impairment
- The FLACC
- The revised FLACC observational pain tool
- Pain assessment and treatment in children with significant impairment of the central nervous System
- The incidence of pain in children with severe cognitive impairments
- Surrey Place – Living Your Potential All Your Life
- Holland Bloorview – Writing aids sservice
Session Materials
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