Motor function domains in alternating hemiplegia of childhood

Aim To characterize motor function profiles in alternating hemiplegia of childhood, and to investigate interrelationships between these domains and with age. Method We studied a cohort of 23 patients (9 males, 14 females; mean age 9y 4mo, range 4mo–43y) who underwent standardized tests to assess gross motor, upper extremity motor control, motor speech, and dysphagia functions. Results Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Gross Motor Function Measure‐88 (GMFM‐88), Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and Revised Melbourne Assessment (MA2) scales manifested predominantly mild impairments; motor speech, moderate to severe; Modified Dysphagia Outcome and Severity Scale (M‐DOSS), mild‐to moderate deficits. GMFCS correlated with GMFM‐88 scores (Pearson's correlation, p=0.002), MACS (p=0.038), and MA2 fluency (p=0.005) and accuracy (p=0.038) scores. GMFCS did not correlate with motor speech (p=0.399), MA2 dexterity (p=0.247), range of motion (p=0.063), or M‐DOSS (p=0.856). Motor speech was more severely impaired than the GMFCS (p