British Journal of Occupational Therapy

Communication is a vital human need. This article outlines the development of language and prelinguistic skills and offers suggestions to help children with a profound handicap to develop their communication and related abilities.

The report of a questionnaire study carried out on behalf of the Education and Research Board of the College of Occupational Therapists, supported by a generous grant from the Farrer-Brown Professional Development Fund.

The effects of environmental change on the dependency levels of a group of psychogeriatric patients were determined by a simple, brief activities of daily living (BADL) measure. The patients were relocated from old wards with very cramped facilities to refurbished wards with a purpose-built day room. The dependency levels were measured by the BADL assessment on five separate occasions to coincide with the ward relocation. Results showed little change overall during the study period, although specific activities were found to vary according to the ward relocation. The BADL measure demonstrated some evidence for validity and good reliability and, from experience gained from its use in this study, may be suitable for repeated administration to assess changes in ward environment, clinical management and the general progress of elderly patients.

The focus of this article is the application of three commonly used approaches — neurodevelopmental treatment, sensory integrative therapy and conductive education — in occupational therapy for children with cerebral palsy. The three approaches are compared to give an overview of the differences and similarities.

Occupational therapists know that practical problems demand practical solutions which are a combination of the intuitive personal approach and planned observation. Observation must be systematic, consistent and deliberate if it is to be accurate and effective. This article recommends that all occupational therapists should have ready access to a university department or local occupational therapy school and that they should concentrate upon concise, appropriate and consistent measures of outcome. The author suggests that therapists start by looking at their own patients, and that, although researchers have traditionally sought large patient samples in the past, this approach may no longer be the most suitable, since newer and innovative approaches to research are now increasingly using single case analysis as an alternative method. Funding has always been difficult and one solution developed by St Loye's School of Occupational Therapy is put forward, that is, the establishment of a Foundation in order to promote research. With a little self-help, occupational therapists can become involved in planned observation and development of new methods. The Health Service review entitled ‘Working for Patients’ highlights the fact that the professional must withstand critical analysis from many sources, and that occupational therapists must clearly identify their product and define their focus. Occupational therapists now have the opportunity to present their observations and prove that they are not merely ‘a dying institution’ but ‘a living and influential force’.

The articles in this short series for associate members sketch the major features of some long-term diseases commonly encountered by health and social service workers helping people in their own homes. They provide a starting point for understanding the problems of sufferers and their carers in adjusting their lives to these disabling conditions, particularly as they affect family life. Health and social service workers will develop their own sensitivity to life issues raised by these illnesses through further reading and experience.

Congratulations to the following who, having fulfilled all the requirements, have been awarded their Diplomas by the College of Occupational Therapists. The journal wishes them every success in the future and hopes their careers will be both interesting and rewarding.

This list contains the names of successful candidates from occupational therapy schools in all parts of the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland. The school's location is shown in brackets after each name.