Pollack et al developed the Functional Status Scale as an outcome measure for pediatric care. It can be used over time to monitor how a pediatric patient responds to therapy. The authors are from multiple children’s hospitals in the United States.
Parameters:
(1) mental status
(2) sensory function
(3) ability to communicate
(4) motor function
(5) feeding
(6) respiratory function
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
mental status |
normal and responsive |
1 |
|
|
sleepy but rousable |
2 |
|
|
lethargic and/or irritable |
3 |
|
|
minimal response to stimuli |
4 |
|
|
unresponsive, coma or vegetative |
5 |
|
sensory function |
intact and responsive to touch |
1 |
|
|
suspected hearing or vision loss |
2 |
|
|
does not respond to hearing OR visual stimuli |
3 |
|
|
does not respond to hearing AND visual stimuli |
4 |
|
|
abnormal responses to pain or touch |
5 |
|
communication |
normal and appropriate |
1 |
|
|
diminished vocalization, facial expression, social responsiveness |
2 |
|
|
absence of attention-getting behavior |
3 |
|
|
no demonstration of discomfort |
4 |
|
|
absent |
5 |
|
motor function |
coordinated with normal control |
1 |
|
|
1 limb impaired |
2 |
|
|
2 or more limbs functionally impaired |
3 |
|
|
poor head control |
4 |
|
|
diffuse spasticity, paralysis, or decerebrate/decorticate posturing |
5 |
|
feeding |
normal for age |
1 |
|
|
nothing by mouth or need for age inappropriate help with feeding |
2 |
|
|
oral and tube feedings |
3 |
|
|
parenteral plus oral/tube feedings |
4 |
|
|
parenteral feeding only |
5 |
|
respiratory function |
normal |
1 |
|
|
oxygen treatment and/or suctioning |
2 |
|
|
tracheostomy |
3 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
continuous mechanical ventilation |
5 |
where:
• 1 indicates no dysfunction and 5 indictes very severe dysfunction.
total score =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 6 = normal
• maximum score: 30
• The higher the score the more impaired the patient’s functional status.
• The number of severe and very severe dysfunctions can also provide insight.
ICD-10: ,
