Research in Developmental Disabilities最新文献

Background

Developmental dyslexia (DD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disease that poses challenges in both early intervention and long-term development for children with DD. However, there is a lack of a standardized and comprehensive tool for the diagnosis of DD in Mainland China.

Aim

To develop a standardized tool (i.e., Developmental Dyslexia Scale for Standard Mandarin [DDSSM]) for the diagnosis of DD in Mainland China and evaluate its reliability and validity.

Methods and procedures

DDSSM consists of 10 subtests. The initial draft was created after Delphi expert consultation, and the final version was revised to improve discriminability with a pilot study involving 450 children from grades 1–3. The reliability and validity were then confirmed with 53 children from grades 1–2.

Outcomes and results

The Delphi expert consultation demonstrated that the expert panel had good authority, and that all agreed on the subtest setup. The DDSSM exhibited great internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the model aligns with the theoretical structure (P > 0.05, χ²/df < 2.00, root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) < 0.08, comparative fit index (CFI) > 0.90, TLI > 0.90). The Dyslexia Checklist for Chinese Children and children’s academic performance agreed well with the DDSSM.

Conclusions and implications

The DDSAM is reliable and valid for assessing and diagnosing DD in Standard Mandarin-speaking primary school children from grades 1–2.

What this paper adds?

Although a number of scales and tools have been proposed for assessing developmental dyslexia (DD) in Chinese, there is still a lack of diagnostic tools for Mandarin Chinese in Mainland China. In this study, we developed one of the most comprehensive diagnostic tools for DD in Mandarin Chinese for lower graders. We included visual-spatial attention (VA) and compounding awareness (CA), two tests that have been recently suggested as reliable measures for identifying DD in the Chinese language. This assessment tool has been verified for robust reliability and validity.

This study also provided confirmation of the core deficits of DD in Chinese, which were orthographic awareness (OA). In addition, VA, rapid automatized naming (RAN) and morphological awareness (MA) were found to be the most important cognitive abilities for word reading in Chinese lower graders in this study.

Background

In 2016, global records documented around 1 billion child abuse cases, with higher rates among children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), and most recorded offenses not proceeding to court. Accurate eyewitness testimony is vital for the justice system. Yet, while children with IDD are known to be influenced by verbal misinformation, the effect of gestures on their testimony is still unknown.

Aims

The present study assessed the extent to which gesture can mislead children with IDD, alongside comparisons to prior research in typically developing (TD) children.

Method

A sample of children with moderate IDD aged 11–16 years (n = 21, M=12.95 years) were recruited from a UK school, and compared to TD 5–6-year-olds (n = 31, M=5.77 years) and 7–8-year-olds (n = 32, M=7.66 years) from previous published research. After watching a video participants underwent an interview containing 12 questions, some of which contained suggestive gestures.

Outcomes and Implications

Results demonstrated that in children with IDD, gesture observation significantly influenced responses given, with 18 of 21 children being misled at least once. Comparisons to TD children indicated no difference in suggestibility. This study is the first to examine how leading gestural information affects children with IDD, broadening previous research to a more representative sample for the justice system. Discussion centres on implications for police interview guidelines.

Background

Previous research has characterised EEG changes associated with resting activation in primary school children and adults, while task-related activation has only been considered in adults. The current study characterises physiological activation in preschool children and examines the potential value of activation indices for predicting mental health status at two time points.

Aims

To investigate how resting activation and task-related activation are represented in 4- to 5-year-old preschool children and examine if these activation indices can predict current and future mental health status.

Methods and procedures

Frontal EEG was recorded from 81 preschool children during eyes-closed resting, eyes-open resting, and an inhibitory control task to allow calculation of activation indices. The Child Behaviour Checklist was completed by the child’s parent at this time, and again 6–8 months later after the child’s transition to kindergarten.

Outcomes and results

Resting activation was represented by reductions in frontal delta, theta, and alpha power in the eyes-open compared to eyes-closed condition, and an increase in frontal beta power. Task-related activation was represented by increases in frontal delta, theta, and alpha power and a decrease in beta power. Frontal delta and theta task-related activation significantly predicted externalising behaviours in both preschool and kindergarten, with stronger prediction in kindergarten.

Conclusions and implications

This study characterised resting and task-related activation in preschool children, and reported similar effects to those found in older children and adults for resting activation, with novel effects for task-related activation. As task-related activation indices were predictive of externalising behaviours in both preschool and kindergarten, these results have implications for early identification of children who experience externalising behavioural problems across the transition to school period.

What does this study add?

This study provides new data on how the fundamental physiological processes of resting and task-related activation, both of which are theorised to contribute to “upstream” processes such as executive functions and broader behaviour, are represented in the frontal EEG of preschool aged children. We also learn that the top-down task-related activation indices for delta and theta activity were predictive of current mental health status and future status after the transition to kindergarten, while the bottom-up resting activation indices were not.

Background

The dual task training (DTT) has been shown to improve postural and cognitive performances in many populations. Therefore, it seems of interest to explore the effect of such training modality in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) presenting both cognitive and postural deficits.

Aims

This study explored the effect of a DTT compared to a single task training (STT) on postural and cognitive performances in adolescents with DS.

Methods and procedures

The center of pressure velocity (CoP_Vm) and the cognitive performance in the selective word recall test were recorded under single task (ST) and DT conditions before and after 8 weeks in the STT group (STTG), the DTTG and the control group (CG).

Outcomes and results

Before training, CoP_Vm values increased and cognitive performances decreased (p < 0.001) during the DT compared to ST conditions in all groups. After training, CoP_Vm decreased (p < 0.001) in the DTTG and the STTG under the ST conditions. However, under DT conditions, these values decreased (p < 0.001) only in the DTTG. The cognitive performance increased (p < 0.001) only in the DTTG in both ST and DT conditions.

Conclusion

The DTT is strongly recommended to improve both postural and cognitive performances in individuals with DS notably in DT conditions.

Background

Prescribing of psychotropic drugs (PDs) and applying restrictive measures are both frequently used in managing challenging behaviour of people with intellectual disabilities (ID), which is not always according to guidelines or good clinical practice.

Aims

This study aimed to investigate the potential triangular relationship between challenging behaviour, the application of restrictive measures and PD prescription.

Methods and procedures

In this cross-sectional study, data on challenging behaviour, PD prescription and restrictive measures were collected. We defined and compared four mutually exclusive groups of participants.

Outcomes and results

Challenging behaviour in the group in whom one or more PD were prescribed as a restrictive measures (PDRM) was more severe than in the other three groups. More severe challenging behaviour, a higher number of antipsychotics, antidepressants and anxiolytics/hypnotics prescriptions, a lower dosage, and more application of domotics as restrictive measure was shown in the PDRM compared to the group in whom PDs were prescribed according to guidelines (PDNRM).

Conclusions and implications

We did not find indications for a triangular relationship of challenging behaviour, the application of restrictive measures and PD prescriptions. Future longitudinal research is needed to better understand this complex relationship and should investigate the indication and the effect of treatment.

What this paper adds?

This study is a first exploration of the potential triangular relationship between symptoms of challenging behaviour, psychotropic drug (PD) prescription, and the application of restrictive measures. Prescribing PDs and applying restrictive measures are two interventions which are commonly used to manage challenging behaviour in people with intellectual disabilities. Both have been subject of research separately in recent years. However, it is conceivable that the PD prescription in treatments for challenging behaviour could be a substitute for another form of a restrictive measure, for example a physical or mechanical restraint. For this purpose, we defined and compared four mutually exclusive groups of participants. We found no indication for this triangular relationship. On the other hand, we found the highest severity of challenging behaviour in the group who used PDs as restrictive measure next to other restrictive measures. Our results may suggest that both prescribing PDs and applying non-pharmacological restrictive measures are used simultaneously in managing challenging behaviour, are not sufficiently implemented or effective.

Background

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent impairments in communication, social interaction and learning (Hodges et al., 2020). Because of its heterogeneous nature, ASD presents complex challenges, including social exclusion, school abandonment and limited access to health care. Technologies offer a pragmatic solution to overcome these limitations and to deliver therapeutic interventions in both physical and online environments. Studies have demonstrated that technology-mediated interventions (TMIs) have a positive impact on the development of capabilities of individuals with ASD. However, according to the European Parliament’s Research Service technologies for ASDs are less mature (European Parliament. Directorate General for Parliamentary Research Services., 2018) and the causes and effects of TMIs in ASD should be better understood.

Aims

Present study aimed to investigate the psychological variables related to TMIs in ASD.

Methods and procedures

The study employed a survey research method with a between-subjects design involving 61 adult participants comprising therapists, teachers and parents of children with ASD and it examined psychological variables related to children with ASD, factors of technology usage, and parental and educators’ experiences.

Outcomes and results

The analysis of the data obtained from the questionnaire focused on correlations and differences between groups, and was carried out using nonparametric tests. Kendall’s Tau B test was used to explore the relationships between variables. The Mann-Whitney nonparametric test was employed to identify differences between groups.

Conclusions and implications

The findings revealed numerous relationships between variables and meaningful differences between the groups investigated in terms of how technologies are perceived by stakeholders involved in ASD interventions.

Background

Parents of children with neurodevelopmental disorders often experience heightened levels of parenting stress and diminished well-being. However, less is known about the well-being of parents whose children exhibit symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders without yet having a formal diagnosis.

Aim

This study aims to deepen our understanding of the need for support among families with young children with neurodevelopmental difficulties. Specifically, it explores parents’ perspectives concerning their children, life circumstances, and emotional experiences in parenting.

Methods and procedures

Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten parents of children aged 2.5–5 years, referred to a child psychologist due to reported neurodevelopmental difficulties. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Outcomes and results

Two themes, each containing four and three categories, respectively, emerged in the analysis: Parenting our child with neurodevelopmental difficulties is tough in so many ways and Prevent, manage and make up like a Pro.

Conclusion and implications

The parents express very similar challenges, difficulties and problems as parents of children with diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders. The main difference lies in the lack of accessible support or help for these parents.

What this paper adds

This study provides insights into how parents of children with suspected neurodevelopmental difficulties perceive their child and their overall life circumstances. The narratives show the challenges these parents face due to their children's multifaceted difficulties, leading to a need for multi-disciplinary support from professionals. The narratives also illustrate the strong emotions that arise in parenting, which in itself indicates a need for support. The study also provides further support for the importance of parents connecting with others facing similar life circumstances. The families often feel isolated despite the need for increased informal support in terms of more adults being involved with the children.

Developmental dyslexia is characterized by difficulties in learning to read, affecting cognition and causing failure at school. Interventions for children with developmental dyslexia have focused on improving linguistic capabilities (phonics, orthographic and morphological instructions), but developmental dyslexia is accompanied by a wide variety of sensorimotor impairments. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of a proprioceptive intervention on reading performance and eye movement in children with developmental dyslexia. Nineteen children diagnosed with developmental dyslexia were randomly assigned to a regular Speech Therapy (ST) or to a Proprioceptive and Speech Intervention (PSI), in which they received both the usual speech therapy and a proprioceptive intervention aimed to correct their sensorimotor impairments (prism glasses, oral neurostimulation, insoles and breathing instructions). Silent reading performance and eye movements were measured pre- and post-intervention (after nine months). In the PSI group, reading performance improved and eye movements were smoother and faster, reaching values similar to those of children with typical reading performance. The recognition of written words also improved, indicating better lexical access. These results show that PSI might constitute a valuable tool for reading improvement children with developmental dyslexia.