Development of children born with central nervous system impairment by using the Pető-method.
The conductive educational system, the so-called Pető-method, that is known and recognised at international level, was worked out by Dr. András Pető, physician and specialist in the treatment of backward children.
The idea in the special conductive educational method related to his name is that motor impairments originating from a damage to the central nervous system may be efficiently improved – independently of age – in the frames of complex personality development based on active learning, because despite the damage, our nervous system still possesses reserves and has the capacity to form new neural connections, and this ability can be mobilised with the help of a properly guided learning and teaching process. The method improves movement, talking, intelligence, senses, perception, will and emotions all at the same time, i.e. it treats both body and soul, as well as emotions and intelligence, learning and teaching, health and cure, so the whole person, therefore the personality development of holistic approach is realised, and learning based on the development of abilities is in the focus. In the course of the training sessions, special attention is paid to the motive of the action, making the child motivated to perform the task, so that he/she should strive for becoming independent. This complex activity can be learned only with external help, through the conductive educational programme, with the help of special development experts, the so-called conductors.
The Pető-method is primarily recommended to patients with central nervous system impairment (CP), who suffered the damage before, during, or after birth or in their childhood.
The primarily condition of being eligible for the conductive therapy is the ability to communicate and learn.
The method can be started any time, independently of age. In the case of babies and infants, the objective is the proper formulation of functions still in development, therefore a conductive therapy started in infancy offers better results. Development can already start at the age of 6 months. However, the training sessions are successful for young adults, too.
The development, or so-called interval conductive education of children, adolescents and young people of various nationality, representing special education needs and central nervous system problems takes place in the coordinated work of highly trained and experienced conductors. In the institute, children usually attend group sessions, several times (2-3 occasions) per year, and each occasion contains a programme of 2-4 weeks, where highly trained experts help them learn the skills required for the performance of every-day tasks. The composition of the groups is determined by the age of the children and the nature and the level of their symptoms. An important feature of the method is that great emphasis is laid on the involvement and education of parents, too.
Prior to the first personal consultation, send in the child’s medical and educational documents. These include the medical documentation on the birth, test results, orthopaedic results, psychologist’s opinion, and if available, a short video recording on the child’s movements. Based on the documents received, the specialists decide whether the method is suitable and advantageous for the child. It is a key criterion that the child is able to establish contacts and is able to learn.
The next step is the personal consultation, where the current status of the child is assessed, and the most suitable conductive education form is determined.
In certain cases, there may be a need for individual development, too, but owing to the nature of the method, it is more advantageous and successful in group form. Owing to the international recognition of the Pető method, children come from all over the world to use this unique education method to learn how to make their everyday life easier, how to fit into society, and as a result of the active learning process, they will be able to utilise what they learned independently – according to their condition.
In the practical application of the method, no special advanced technical equipment is required, as the basic principle is that it is not the environment that is adjusted to the special needs and reduced abilities, but the patient has to be made capable of adjusting and integrating.
An important advantage of the interval conductive education is that children are removed from their home environment for short periods of time only, therefore the best conditions of healthy personal development are given. In the course of the development, the education and continuous briefing of parents is another top priority.
The repetition of the 2-4-week programmes several times in a year may bring significant changes and improvement in the child’s life.