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. 2020 Dec 22;13(4):525–534. doi: 10.3233/PRM-200719

Table 2, continued

Age group Guidelines Evidence
6–12 years, 11 months
  • 8.
    Assess the family’s relationship with their child’s school and encourage parents to be advocates for their children in the school setting.
  • 9.
    Promote the child’s independence and choice in social activities. Promote self-care so that the child is able to be independent in social settings.
  • 10.
    Promote appropriate after-school sports and club activities.
  • 11.
    Provide additional age-appropriate information/knowledge about Spina Bifida as the child grows. Begin to include child in clinical decision-making.
  • 12.
    Promote and encourage participation in community and SBA and SBA Chapter-related activities.
13–17 years, 11 months
  • 1.
    Assess peer relationships and friendship.
  • 2.
    Assess for at-risk behaviors (alcohol, drug, or tobacco use and unsafe or unprotected sex), and identify areas of strength and build on resources that encourage resilience.
  • 3.
    Screen for depression or anxiety and initiate individual and family interventions when appropriate.
  • 4.
    Provide counseling and/or behavioral support as needed.
  • 5.
    Promote transfer of medical responsibility from parent to child in those who have the requisite abilities and cognitive capacity.
  • 6.
    Refer for social skills training as needed.
  • 7.
    Encourage activities and hobbies that improve face-to-face social contact.
  • 8.
    Provide counseling regarding sexuality, sexual functioning, fertility, and contraception. Focus on sexual safety issues.
  • 9.
    Discuss the safe use of and choices around drugs and alcohol and conduct risk assessment in this domain.
  • 10.
    Discuss the importance of initiating and organizing opportunities for social activities.
  • 11.
    Discuss the relationship between independence and interdependence and mental health.
  • 12.
    Facilitate the child’s involvement with a peer role model, such as a teen with Spina Bifida who is of a similar age.
  • 13.
    Provide or refer to opportunities for formal or informal mentoring.
  • 14.
    Encourage the teen to participate in the school’s IEP transition team meeting.
  • 15.
    Develop a plan for the teen’s transition to independent living, post-secondary education, vocational training, and career interests.
  • 16.
    Develop a plan for transition from pediatric to adult health care.
 See Self-Management and Independence, Sexual Health and Education, and Transition Guidelines Clinical consensus as well as [11, 12, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 45, 49, 57, 59]
18+ years
  • 1.
    Screen for depression or anxiety and initiate interventions when appropriate.
  • 2.
    Continue the transfer of medical responsibilities in young adults with Spina Bifida who have the requisite abilities and cognitive capacity.
  • 3.
    Encourage activities and hobbies that improve face-to-face social contact.
  • 4.
    Encourage ongoing efforts to promote friendship and social intimacy.
  • 5.
    Encourage and promote vocational or occupational goals and pursuits.
  • 6.
    Maintain efforts for good general health promotion and exercise, as well as specialized Spina Bifida care. Optimize health to reduce the risk of obesity and maximize social opportunities and mental health.
  • 7.
    Recommend SBA resources.
  • 8.
    Continue to refine the plan to ease transition from pediatric to adult health care.
 Physical Activity and Transition Guidelines Clinical consensus as well as [16, 17, 27, 57, 60, 61, 62]

http://spinabifidaassociation.org/learn-about-sb/adults/