Effects of Powered Mobility Device Interventions on Social Skills for Children with Disabilities: A Systematic Review

Researchers have established a link between motor and social development. Power mobility devices (PMDs) can impact the social skills of children who are unable to move independently. The purpose of this systematic review was to explore the evidence on PMD interventions on social skills outcomes of young children with disabilities (CWD) and to provide guidance for future research on PMD interventions. A systematic search was conducted using three electronic databases: PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature to identify relevant studies. Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria and were included for analyses. Seven studies reported a significant impact of the PMD interventions on social skills. Although theories are supporting the relation between early mobility and social skills, in this review research shows variable results about the impact of PMDs on the social skills of young CWD. The research on this topic appears to be at an early stage, suggestions for further exploration are offered.