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Developmental Progress (developmental + progress)
Selected AbstractsDevelopment of the corticospinal system and hand motor function: central conduction times and motor performance testsDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2000U M Fietzek Maturation of the corticospinal (CS) tract and hand motor function provide paradigms for central nervous system development. In this study, involving 112 participants (aged from 0.2 to 30 years), we evaluated central motor conduction times (CMCT) obtained with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during preinnervation conditions of facilitation and relaxation. Auditory reaction time, velocity of a ballistic movement of the arm, finger tapping, diadochokinesis, and fine motor visuomanual tracking were also examined. The maturation profiles for every parameter were calculated. CMCTs for the different preinnervation conditions reached adult values at different times and this could be explained by maturation of excitability at the cortical and spinal level. A stable phase for CMCTs and reaction time was reached during childhood. Parameters which measured motor speed and skill indicated that the development of these continued into adulthood. The maturation of the fast CS tract seems to be completed before the acquisition of the related motor performance has been accomplished. In conclusion, we could demonstrate that data from several neurophysiological methods can be combined and used to study the maturation of the function of the nervous system. This approach could allow appraisal of pathological conditions that show parallels with omissions or lack of developmental progress. [source] Performance of young people with Down syndrome on the Leiter-R and British picture vocabulary scalesJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2005S. Glenn Abstract Background The British picture vocabulary scales (BPVS-II) and the Leiter international performance scales (Leiter-R), both restandardised in 1997, are often used in experimental studies to match individuals with intellectual impairment. Both provide a brief measure of mental age, and cover a wide ability range using a simple format. The BPVS-II assesses verbal comprehension and the Leiter nonverbal abilities. The issue is which to choose. People with Down syndrome (DS), for example, have particular problems in language and so the BPVS may provide an underestimation of ability. Method The present study investigated this by comparing the performance of 46 young people with DS (21 females, 25 males, mean age 19 years 10 months) on the BPVS-II (verbal mental age , VMA) and the Leiter-R brief IQ (nonverbal mental age , NVMA). Results Contrary to expectations VMAs were significantly higher than NVMAs (6 years 6 months and 5 years 2 months, respectively). There was a significant correlation of 0.61 between the VMA and NVMA, and both discriminated participants at all levels of ability. However, the Leiter-R brief IQ scores provided poor discrimination at the bottom end of the IQ range (IQ 36). Conclusion Both the BPVS-II and the Leiter-R provide mental age equivalent scores that are useful for plotting developmental progress, although absolute mental ages may differ. [source] A Quasi-Experimental Trial on Individualized, Developmentally Supportive Family-Centered CareJOURNAL OF OBSTETRIC, GYNECOLOGIC & NEONATAL NURSING, Issue 1 2006Jacqueline F. Byers Objective:, To evaluate the impact of individualized, developmentally supportive family-centered care on infant physiological variables, growth, behavioral stress cues, return to sleep state, medical and developmental progress, complications, resource utilization, parental perception of the neonatal intensive-care unit experience, and overall parental satisfaction. Design:, Quasi-experimental, repeated measures design. Setting:, Developmental and a control nursery in a 78-bed, level II/III neonatal intensive-care unit. Participants:, A convenience sample of 114 premature infants and their parents. Interventions:, Control group infants received the routine neonatal intensive-care unit standard of care. Experimental infants received routine care plus the addition of individualized, developmentally supportive family-centered interventions. Main Outcome measures:, Between groups, there were no statistically significant differences in demographic factors, days to medical or developmental milestones, length of stay, or direct cost/case. Repeated measures analysis of variance determined that at every point of data collection, the average number of baseline, activity, and postactivity stress cues were lower in the developmentally supportive group. Infants in the developmental group had 8% less sedatives/narcotics and 15% less vasopressors costs than the control group. There were no differences in complication rates, parental perceptions of the neonatal intensive-care unit experience, or parental satisfaction between groups. Conclusions:, Preterm infants who received developmentally supportive family-centered care demonstrated fewer behavioral stress cues and comparable short-term outcomes and resource utilization than infants who received routine care. JOGNN, 35, 105-115; 2006. DOI: 10.1111/J.1552-6909.2006.00002.x [source] An evaluation of a trial of looking after children in the state of Victoria, AustraliaCHILDREN & SOCIETY, Issue 1 2003Sarah Wise The paper details the experience of implementing Looking After Children (LAC) in the out of home care system in the state of Victoria, Australia. Findings from an evaluation of the pilot project are also reported. These include observed changes in child outcomes and improvements in collaboration between different sectors of the child and family support system after implementation of LAC, as well as carer and child perceptions of the Assessment and Action Records. Findings suggest an improvement in the monitoring of children's developmental progress and developmental gains for some children after implementation. Perceptions of the Records were also generally positive. However, very few people in children's personal networks, including members of a child's family of origin took part in the assessment process. Carer reports also suggested difficulty in intersectoral working. [source] | ||||||||||