International classification of functioning, disability and health: Children and Youth: ICF-CY

The first two decades of life are characterized by rapid growth and significant changes in the physical, social and psychological development of children and youth. Parallel changes defice the nature and complexity of children's environments across infancy, early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence. Each of these changes is associated with their growing competence, societal participation and independence. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY) is derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICDF) (WHO, 2001) and is designed to record the characteristics of the developing child and the influence of its surrounding environment. The ICF-CY can be used by providers, consumers and all those concerned with the health, education, and well-being of children and youth. It provides a common and universal language for clinical, public health and research applications to facilitate the documentation and measurement of health and disability in children and youth. The classification builds on the ICF conceptual framework and uses a common language and terminology for recording problems involving functions and structures of the body, activity limitations and participation restrictions manifested in infancy, childhood and adolescence and relevant environmental factors. The ICF-CY belongs to the "family" of international classifications developed by WHO for application to various aspects of health. The WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) provides a framework to code a wide range of information about health (e.g. diagnosis, functioning and disability, and reasons for contact with health services), and uses a standardized language permitting communication about health and health care across the world in various disciplines and sciences. In WHO's international classifications, health conditions, such as diseases, disorders and injuries are classified primarily in ICD-10, which provides an etiological framework. Functioning and disability associated with health conditions are classified in ICF. These two classifications are complementary and should ne policy-makers and parents to document the characteristics of children and youth that are of importance in promoting their growth, health and development. The ICF-CY was developed in response to a need for a version of the ICF that could e used universally for children and youth in the health, education and social sectors. The manifestations of disability and health conditions in children and adolescents are different in nature, intensity and impact from those of adults. These differences need to be taken into account so that classification content is sensitive to the changes associated with development and encompasses the characteristics of different age groups and environments.