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Systematic Screening for Developmental Delay in Early Childhood: Problems and Possible Solutions
Abstract Early identification of children with developmental delay is a longstanding goal in pediatric research and practice, and a large number of screening and assessment tools have been developed to this end. Unfortunately, these measures are problematic: Definitions of “delay” are not consistent, thresholds are somewhat arbitrary, some scoring systems are affected by systematic error, and the natural variability in the timing of development may limit the accuracy they can achieve. Significantly, the ability of early screening to predict longer-term functional problems has proven to be very limited...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - July 6, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

Issues in Screening for Developmental Delay or Disorders
Abstract Screening programs for various medical and psychological difficulties are becoming more prevalent. Their appeal is obvious: problems that are caught early should be easier to treat and do not lead to secondary and tertiary sequelae. However, there are a number of problems that may be associated with mass screening. These include the psychometric properties of the tests themselves, which may not have adequate sensitivity and specificity. Second, even if the tests do meet minimal criteria for validity, the low prevalence of many disorders means that the majority of cases that are identified will ac...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - June 29, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

Physical Literacy Assessment and Its Potential for Identification and Treatment of Children with Neuro-Developmental Behavioral Intellectual Disorders
Abstract The following commentary proposes that the current identification protocols for identifying children with neuro-developmental behavioral intellectual disorders (NDBIDs) are limited. Increasing prevalence of physical inactivity in children and those diagnosed with NDBIDs creating public health concerns, new methods of identification, and treatment may be warranted. We suggest the diagnostic and treatment protocols for all children (not just those with NDBIDs) may be enhanced by using the concept of physical literacy as a philosophical premise for assessment instrument design and strength-based tre...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - June 28, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

The Concept of Atypical Brain Development in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) —a New Look
< h3 class= " a-plus-plus " > Abstract < /h3 > < p class= " a-plus-plus " > The concept of atypical brain development was introduced by Gilger and Kaplan in 2001 to describe developmental variation in brain functions and to account for the high degree of comorbidity among neurodevelopmental disorders. Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting around 5 –6 % of school-aged children. It is phenotypically heterogeneous, with up to 70 % of children meeting criteria for at least one other neurodevelopmental disorder. Recent genetic evidence has found that the same genes are i...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - May 31, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

Interventions for Parents of People with Intellectual Disabilities
Abstract Parents of children with intellectual disabilities (ID) consistently report higher levels of parenting stress than parents of typically developing children, which has psychological and physical consequences for both the parent and child. Further, high levels of parenting stress are often associated with poor outcomes in behavioral interventions for children with ID. Thus, parental stress and mental health concerns in general are critical targets for intervention. Nevertheless, there are few evidence-based treatments aimed at reducing stress in parents of children with ID. Parent-led support group...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - May 22, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

Impact of Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities on Families: Balancing Perspectives
Abstract The study of the impact of children or youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities on their families has grown increasingly complex. This is due, in part, to the multiple perspectives represented in research (e.g., mothers, fathers, siblings) and to the myriad of outcomes examined (e.g., negative vs. positive impact on families). Basic tenets set forth include encompassing theoretical models that can be used to integrate family research on impact, an evaluative discussion of the importance of child problem behaviors, and family socio-economic status as vital to the discussion of family...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - April 21, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

Systematic Review of the Prevalence and Incidence of Intellectual Disabilities: Current Trends and Issues
Abstract The prevalence of intellectual disabilities is often quoted at 1 %. A meta-analysis of articles published between 1980 and 2009 confirmed this prevalence. Changes in diagnostic practices, population characteristics, and exposure to known risk factors in recent years place this estimate in question and make it imperative to examine more recent studies of prevalence and incidence. Twenty relevant articles were obtained from five databases (PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, Cochrane, and MEDLINE), published between 2010 and 2015. Most studies (n = 17) only reported prevalence estimates, while two provi...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - April 14, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

Integrating New Technologies into the Treatment of CP and DCD
We describe the evolution of particular design innovations in virtual rehabilitation including recent advances using tangible interfaces, as well as other methods targeting cognitive function more specifically. Benefits of these various treatments will be viewed through the lens of current theory and evaluated at the level of child and family outcomes. Finally, we consider the broader aspects of the potential for technological innovation in rehabilitation and its impact on brain function, activity competence, and longer-term participation. (Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports)
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - April 10, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

Developmental Coordination Disorder from a Dynamic Systems Perspective: What is on offer?
Abstract In this commentary, we note the lack of using a dynamic systems perspective on the study of developmental coordination disorder even though the former has been used for the study of motor development. We suggest re-considering this approach partly because it addresses both development and coordination under a unified framework. Specifically, we describe concepts that highlight the importance of (a) longitudinal studies, (b) a need to better define specific tasks at different levels of analysis, and (c) the need to identify relevant constraints that may contribute to the emergence of developmental...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - April 5, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

What Do We Really Know About Motor Learning in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder?
Abstract There is a general consensus that developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is characterized by impaired motor learning skills. However, actual studies of motor learning in DCD are scarce and, above all, inconsistent. The aims of the present study were therefore to explore the presumed presence of a motor learning deficit among individuals with DCD and to provide a synopsis of the current literature on motor learning in DCD. We begin by defining DCD (etiology, neuropsychology, and brain bases), motor learning (measurement of learning, methods for promoting skill acquisition, scheduling, practice,...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - April 3, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

Physical Activity of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities: Challenges and Future Directions
Abstract Regular engagement in physical activity is one of the most powerful predictors of health. Individuals with intellectual disabilities engage in significantly less physical activity than the general population and experience significant health disparities. More research is required to quantify the appropriate amount of physical activity that is necessary for health, as well as how to accurately collect, analyze, and interpret physical activity data on people with intellectual disabilities. Physical activity promotion efforts are especially important in this sub-group of the population due to the fa...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - April 3, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

The Concept of Atypical Brain Development in Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)—a New Look
Abstract The concept of atypical brain development was introduced by Gilger and Kaplan in 2001 to describe developmental variation in brain functions and to account for the high degree of comorbidity among neurodevelopmental disorders. Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder affecting around 5–6 % of school-aged children. It is phenotypically heterogeneous, with up to 70 % of children meeting criteria for at least one other neurodevelopmental disorder. Recent genetic evidence has found that the same genes are implicated in various neurodevelopmental disorders,...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - March 31, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

Health and Health Service Use of Youth and Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Abstract In this paper, we explore the health and health service use of youth and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), with a focus on two specific subgroups: youth and young adults with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. Young people with IDD are more likely to develop health problems (e.g., chronic disease and mental illness) than their peers without IDD as they age and require access to complex, coordinated care. The literature indicates that their patterns of health service use tend to shift from community and outpatient care in childhood toward more hospital-...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - March 30, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

Reflections on Using a Community-Based and Multisystem Approach to Transforming School-Based Intervention for Children with Developmental Motor Disorders
Abstract Evidence-based management of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in school-age children requires putting into practice the best and most current research findings, including evidence that early identification, self-management, prevention of secondary disability, and enhanced participation are the most appropriate foci of school-based occupational therapy. Partnering for Change (P4C) is a new school-based intervention based upon these principles that has been developed and evaluated in Ontario, Canada, over an 8-year period. Our experience to date indicates that its implementation in schools...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - March 28, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research

The Brain-Gut-Microbiome Axis: What Role Does it Play in Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Abstract The brain-gut-microbiome axis refers to the interactions between the central nervous system, gastrointestinal (GI) system, and microorganisms that live in the gastrointestinal tract. Exploring these interactions provides a rationale for why gastrointestinal disorders commonly occur in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Signs of altered brain-gut interactions that are closely associated with functional GI disorders (FGIDs) commonly occur in children with ASD. Studies of microbiome in ASD suggest that changes in the gut microbiome may be associated with ASD and with GI disorders in chil...
Source: Current Developmental Disorders Reports - February 26, 2016 Category: Child Development Source Type: research