The Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) was the first test specifically developed for use with children and adolescents (18 months – 18 years of age) with a unilateral impairment such as unilateral cerebral palsy (hemiplegia) or birth related brachial plexus palsy (BBP). The AHA was further developed for younger children with unilateral CP aged 8-18 month, called the Mini-AHA, as well as a version for even younger infants (3-12 months) at risk of cerebral palsy, the Hand Assessment for Infants (HAI).
For children with bilateral cerebral palsy with a manual ability corresponding to MACS levels I-III, the Both Hands Assessment (BoHA) was developed for the age range 18 months – 12 years.
For adults with an acquired hemiparesis after stroke the Ad-AHA Stroke was developed and adjusted to suit adult or young adult stroke victims.
The most recent AHA-family assessment is the Assisting Hand Assessment for people with Upper-limb difference with or without a Prosthesis (AHA-UP). In this test both children and adults with a unilateral below elbow deformity, amputation, or users of different types of prostheses can be assessed (not yet released, manuscript in progress).
The table below shows a summary of the different AHA-family assessments.
