Most children function extremely well with a prosthesis, usually better than an adult with similar loss. Their enthusiasm, energy levels and flexibility are all very positive characteristics favoring use of a prosthesis. Simple, rugged designs often resist the dirt and impacts inherent in healthy childhood better than more complex options. The teen years are turbulent for many young people in our culture, with increasing maturity and sexual pressures as major life events to master. Loss of a limb adds another level of complexity to an already chaotic period.
Adolescence is a time when opinions and preferences change radically, often overnight.
Increasing concern with one's physical appearance is typical and most teens become more interested in the aesthetic values of a prosthesis at this time. Those who saw no need for an artificial arm in childhood may suddenly desire a fitting with the most lifelike prosthesis available. The savvy prosthetist will invite the interested teen to have a large say in the specific features of the prosthesis since this fosters independence and encourages cooperation. From a design standpoint, the adolescent will have a broad variety of needs and may use more than one prosthesis as a result. Some teens will have the need for specific sports prostheses.