Child Neuropsychology最新文献

The relationship between writing and math achievement is not well understood. Phonological awareness (PA), working memory (WM), and fine motor skills (FMS) have been individually linked to theories of writing and math, yet are rarely considered together. The current study evaluates the shared cognitive factors underlying writing and math performance, both timed (e.g. fluency/automaticity) and untimed (e.g. spelling and math computation). It does so among third- through fifth-graders (n = 677) who vary in academic abilities. Results revealed differential relationships. WM had a stronger effect on writing than math for timed but not untimed outcomes. PA had a stronger effect on writing compared to math for both timed and untimed outcomes. PA also had a stronger effect on untimed math compared to timed math. Further, WM fully mediated the relationship between FMS and untimed writing but only partially mediated the relationship between FMS and other academic outcomes. Additionally, PA partially mediated the relationship between WM and all writing and math skills These findings underscore the relevance of FMS, WM, and PA in both writing and math achievement, separately and together. These findings additionally provide guidance for developing a firmer theoretical and empirical understanding of the interrelations of writing and math.

Demand for telehealth services has increased in many settings as a means of reducing patient burden and increasing access to care. It is therefore critical to understand if clinical tools validated for in-person use are feasible to administer via telehealth and, if so, how results may vary from those obtained in-person. The Revised Physical and Neurological Examination of Subtle Signs (PANESS) is a validated assessment of pediatric neuromotor functioning that is sensitive to detecting motor dysfunction in youth. The Timed Motor section of the PANESS is an ideal candidate for telehealth administration given its strong inter-rater reliability when scored via video review. Here, we preliminarily examined the feasibility of administering the Timed Motor section of PANESS via videoconferencing and its equivalence with in-person administration. We administered the Timed Motor section of the PANESS in-person and via videoconferencing in 25 typically developing youth ages 10-18 (including n = 11 who had clinically recovered from concussion). All were able to complete the assessment via videoconference. We observed moderate to excellent reliability of scores obtained in-person and via videoconference (intraclass correlations ranging from .743 to .971). Results suggest that the Timed Motor Section of the PANESS can be administered remotely in typically developing youth (including those with a history of concussion) and that the scores obtained are stable with in-person scores. Future work is needed to examine the feasibility and equivalence of telehealth-based PANESS administration in clinical settings and patient populations.

Pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors represent one of the most intricate challenges faced by children and their families in the context of cancer illness. In Italy, the psychosocial working group (GDL) of the AIEOP, composed by professionals (psycho-oncologists/neuropsychologists) involved in the care pathways of patients with CNS tumors, has initiated a consensus process regarding the psychological/neuropsychological assessment of CNS patients to improve accessibility to standardized and shared protocols. Standardized psychological and neuropsychological instruments are proposed in the document, which provides for a selection in a tailor-made approach that is simultaneously shared by various centers.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis through data-driven and technology-enhanced methodologies. This scoping review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, systematically analyzed 54 studies published over the past two decades to assess AI's role in ADHD detection and evaluation. The included studies primarily explored AI applications in brain imaging (MRI), brain activity monitoring (EEG and ECG), behavioral assessments, virtual reality-based testing, and motion-tracking sensors. Among the AI technologies examined, machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms demonstrated promising diagnostic accuracy, with performance rates ranging from 70% to 95%. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and support vector machines (SVMs) were particularly effective in image and signal analysis, while natural language processing (NLP) models showed potential in behavioral and cognitive assessments. Despite these advancements, challenges such as algorithmic bias, inconsistent data quality, and the need for extensive, diverse datasets remain barriers to widespread clinical integration. Moreover, while AI models enhance speed and precision in ADHD detection, their applicability in treatment monitoring and personalized intervention remains an area for future research. This review underscores the transformative potential of AI in ADHD diagnosis and advocates for a hybrid approach that integrates AI-driven tools with traditional clinical assessments to enhance diagnostic reliability and patient outcomes.

Executive functions (EF) lay the foundation for healthy development. However, few reliable and valid measures of EF have been developed among children in less developed countries such as Iran. The present study addressed this gap by examining the factor structure, score variation, and psychometric properties of a short EF task, the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders (HTKS), among children from two metropolitan cities (Isfahan and Tehran) in Iran. Participants (N = 693; 58% male; M_age = 5.88 years) were recruited through a convenience sampling approach and tested with the HTKS along with other performance-based EF measures and parent reports of EF difficulties. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that both one-factor and two-factor structures were acceptable and that a one-factor solution was optimal. Results demonstrated significant variability in scores and age-related differences in EF skills, with higher scores observed in older children. The task indicated acceptable internal consistency, interrater agreement, and test-retest stability. For construct validity, the HTKS was significantly related to other performance-based measures of EF, tapping into working memory, cognitive flexibility, and planning skills after controlling for child's age, gender, parental education, and city. Together, these findings underscore the promise of the HTKS task as a brief, economical, and easily administered EF task that reliably and validly captures variation in EF skills among Iranian children.

Post-concussion symptoms (PCS) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are common after mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) in children. Psychological factors, especially pre-injury trait anxiety, are associated with the development of PCS and PTSS. However, the underlying mechanisms are understudied. The current study aimed to explore whether alexithymia (difficulty in identifying and describing emotions) moderates the associations between children's pre-injury trait anxiety and PCS, as well as PTSS in bothchildren and parents following mTBI. Participants were 53 children aged 8-16 with mTBI and their parents, recruited from the Emergency Department. Immediate mTBI symptoms were assessed by the Emergency Department physician within 24 hours post-injury. One-week post-injury, acute PTSS (children and parents), children's pre-injury trait anxiety, and alexithymia were measured using self-reported questionnaires. PCS were measured by symptom reports (including a baseline; reported by parents) and neuropsychological tests assessing cognitive functioning, including performance validity tests. PCS and cognitive functioning were assessed one-week and four-month post-injury. We found that alexithymia significantly moderated the associations between children's pre-injury trait anxiety and both PCS and PTSS in children and parents at one-week post-injury. Higher levels of alexithymia strengthened these associations. Alexithymia was found significantly associated with PCS at four-month post-injury. However, alexithymia did not moderate the association between pre-injury trait anxiety and PCS at four-month post-injury or cognitive functioning at one-week or four months. In conclusion, pre-injury trait anxiety and alexithymia are crucial in mTBI outcomes, being associated with PCS and PTSS development. Therefore, addressing emotional factors is important in TBI recovery.

Objective: Report results of a single-arm pilot trial examining the efficacy of I-InTERACT Preterm (I2P), an accessible, eHealth parenting skills intervention adapted for the special needs of parents of children born very preterm (VPT).

Methods: We recruited caregivers of children ages 3-8 who were born at <32 weeks gestational age and exhibited behavioral challenges (e.g. noncompliance, emotion dysregulation). Measures of parent-child interaction (Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System) and child behavior problems (Child Behavior Checklist; Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory) were assessed pre- and post-intervention. I2P includes seven online modules providing parent-skills training and psychoeducation paired with live coaching with a therapist. Exploratory brain MRI scans collected volumetric and graph theoretical data.

Results: Fourteen children and 11 parents completed the intervention. Findings indicated significant increases in positive parenting behavior and significant decreases in negative parenting behavior. Improvements in child outcomes were more evident in children who displayed at least modestly elevated behavior problems at baseline. Neuroimaging showed a slight decrease in white matter hyperintensity volume, although this was not significant.

Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest potential efficacy in strengthening parenting behaviors and reducing child behavior problems for families of VPT children. I2P can be adaptable to different populations with neuropsychological needs, pointing to the necessity for larger-scale trials. Further research is needed on the neural underpinnings of behavioral change in this population.

Considering the high percentage of children and adolescents with developmental disorders, there is a clear need to build screening instruments that allow a quick and accurate assessment of the main processes that are affected in this population. So, the aim was to develop and obtain psychometric properties of a child neuropsychological scale for the evaluation of cognitive problems in Mexican children and adolescents. Primary caregivers of 728 children and adolescents with typical development, suspected developmental disorder or epilepsy, answered an online battery. Thirty items were developed and their content validity was evaluated by expert judgment. In Exploratory Factor Analysis, a 28 items-model with three factors explained 65.9% of the variance. Three factors were confirmed in Confirmatory Factor Analysis with 16 items: attentional, memory and executive problems; obtaining excellent fit indices (χ2[101] = 223.009; CMIN/DF = 2.208; NFI = .938; CFI = .965; SRMR = .0328; RMSEA = .058[.057-.068], p < .001). Reliability was high (α = .936, ω = .957), and construct/convergent validity were obtained with BRIEF-2 and PedsQL scales (.889 and .721). Significant differences were identified between subgroups with and without epilepsy (p < .001). Neuroescalita proved to be highly reliable and has multiple evidences of validity for adequate assessment of cognitive problems in Mexican children and adolescents.

Continuous Performance Tests are commonly part of neuropsychological evaluations. This study investigates the feasibility and applicability of the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) in a clinical paediatric mental health sample, focusing on children with Borderline Intellectual Functioning (BIF; Full-Scale IQ [FSIQ] of 70-84). A total of 128 children and adolescents aged 6-15 years were assessed using the TOVA and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V), alongside parent and teacher ratings of ADHD symptoms and evaluations of TOVA performance validity. 45% of the total sample met the criteria for BIF. The TOVA demonstrated high feasibility, evidenced by a 94% completion rate with no significant differences in test completion across groups. Children with BIF exhibited significantly more Commission Errors (CE), indicative of reduced inhibitory control, while sustained attention measures showed no significant differences. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that FSIQ accounted for a small but significant proportion of variance in CE scores, and minimal variance in sustained attention measures. These findings support the TOVA's applicability in clinical paediatric settings, including populations with BIF, yet underscore the necessity of considering intellectual functioning when interpreting inhibitory control metrics. The results emphasize the importance of developing normative data for the TOVA across a broad IQ range to enhance clinical decision-making in cognitively diverse populations.

Cognition in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is often affected. How cognition differs by functional level and subtype is not clear, and the effects of adapted response modes need investigation. In this study, the aims were to investigate how many psychologists reported that interpreters and/or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) were used, how many assessments were adapted, if there were clinical characteristics associated with whom had been assessed, and to delineate scores from the Wechsler scales with CP by sex, subtype, gross motor function (GMFCS), manual abilities (MACS), and communication level (CFCS). This was a Swedish register study that included two cohorts of children with CP. Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III/IV) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV/V) served as dependent variables. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and multiple regressions were performed. Interpreters and AAC were used in 5% and 13% of the assessments, respectively. Adapted assessments were associated with lower verbal intelligence (VIQ), performance intelligence (PIQ), and full-scale intelligence (FSIQ) mean scores. Assessment practices were associated with GMFCS, MACS, and subtype. Age was negatively associated with PIQ and FSIQ. Children with spastic unilateral CP scored higher than children with ataxic CP on VIQ, PIQ, and FSIQ. Mean scores were significantly different across MACS levels. Children with less affected gross motor, manual, and communication functioning and those with spastic CP were more likely to be assessed. Irrespective of subtype, GMFCS, MACS, and CFCS levels, the ranges of scores were wide, highlighting the great heterogeneity of cognition in this population.