Mise à l’épreuve de la Grille Alternative Psychomotricité Prématurité Environnement Affectivité (GAPPEA) via la clinique de la prématurité

Objectives

This article presents an implementation of the GAPPEA grid (Grille Alternative Psychomotricité Environnement Affectivité–Alternative Psychomotor Environment Affectivity Grid), based on the needs encountered in clinical practice in CAMSP with regards to babies born prematurely and their families.

Patients and method

The grid was tested on a cohort of 81 8-month-old babies (8 months of age, real or corrected, including premature babies) involving the networking of several dozen psychomotor therapists around its use.

Results

In addition to the feedback received from the psychomotricians who took part in the study and who emphasised the points of interest, the use of the grid made it possible to specify certain particularities and weaknesses in the psychomotor development of premature babies (sensory irritability, prevalence of hyper-extension patterns, undesirable effects of sitting, etc.) as well as their impact on the psychomotor development of premature babies. It also defined their impact on interactions with parents (which were measured here via their effects on carrying, feeding, play and communication).

Discussion

In light of this experiment, the use of the grid enabled an in-depth clinical reading of the potential and difficulties of the babies concerned, facilitating better identification of certain clinical signs and their issues. It also defined precise indications for thinking about their care and guiding parents on very concrete aspects.

Conclusions

The use of the grid in this context underlines the relevance of its handling, thus opens the possibility of diversifying its use and improving it in the future through other research by using it as a support. It offers a practical and useful tool for psychomotricians in their assessment and care activities in the field of therapeutic support for babies and their parents.