Definition
The Doman-Delacato method, commonly known as patterning, is designed to improve a child’s “neurological organization” through a series of specific prescribed sensory and motor experiences conducted on a rigorous daily schedule. These methods were presumed to improve functioning of the central nervous system in children with severe brain injuries (Doman et al. 1960).
Historical Background
The Doman-Delacato method is an approach to address neurological functioning by a series of motor activities thought to alter the structure and function of specific areas of the brain. The method was developed by Glen Doman, a physical therapist, and Carl Delacato, a doctor of education. Doman and Delacato focused on maximizing the development of typical children. Spurring what Doman coined as the “Gentle Revolution,” he began to publish books aimed at teaching parents how to make their babies mentally and physically superior. Titles of their published books include “How to Teach Your Baby...
References and Reading
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Children With Disabilities. (1982). The Doman-Delacato treatment of neurologically handicapped children. Pediatrics, 70, 810–812.
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Children With Disabilities. (1999). The treatment of neurologically impaired children using patterning. Pediatrics, 104(5), 1149–1151.
Cohen, H. J., Birch, H. G., & Taft, L. T. (1970). Some considerations for evaluating the Doman-Delacato “patterning” method. Pediatrics, 45(2), 302–314.
Doman, G. J. (1964a). The five principles of human development through organization of the brain. Retrieved 28 June 2012 from http://www.iahp.org/fileadmin/PDFs/Five_Principles.pdf.
Doman, G. J. (1964b). How to teach your baby to read. New York: Random House.
Doman, G. (1974). What to do about your brain-injured child: Or your brain-damaged, mentally retarded, mentally deficient, cerebral-palsied, spastic, flaccid, rigid, autistic, athetoid, hyperactive, Down’s child. New York: Doubleday.
Doman, G. J., & Doman, J. (2006). How smart is your baby?: Develop and nurture your newborn’s full potential. New York: Square One.
Doman, R. J., Spitz, E. B., Zucman, E., Delacato, C. H., & Doman, G. (1960). Children with severe brain injuries. Journal of the American Medical Association, 174, 257–262.
Doman, G. J., Doman, J., Aisen, S., & Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential. (1979). How to teach your baby math. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Fay, T. (1955). The origin of human movement. American Journal of Psychiatry, 111(9), 644–652.
Freeman, R. D. (1967). Controversy over “patterning” as a treatment for brain damage in children. Journal of the American Medical Association, 202(5), 83–86.
Holm, V. A. (1983). A western version of the Doman-Delacato treatment of patterning for developmental disabilities. The Western Journal of Medicine, 139(4), 553–556.
Howlin, P. (1997). Prognosis in autism: Do specialist treatments affect long-term outcome? European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 6(2), 55–72.
Hyatt, K. J. (2007). Brain gym: Building stronger brains or wishful thinking? Remedial and Special Education, 28(2), 117–124.
MacKay, D. N., Gollogly, J., & McDonald, G. (1986). The Doman-Delacato treatment methods. British Journal of Mental Subnormality, 32, 3–19.
Novella, S. (1996). Psychomotor patterning. The Connecticut Skeptic, 1(4). Retrieved 28 June 2012 from http://www.srmhp.org/archives/patterning.html.
Sparrow, S., & Zigler, E. (1978). Evaluation of a patterning treatment for retarded children. Pediatrics, 62(2), 137–150.
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LaRue, R. (2017). Patterning (Doman-Delacato Method). In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_1306-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_1306-3
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