Verbal Expression and Mother’s Desperation about Their Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Parents who have children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are challenging because these children are special and need special treatment. Because they are challenging, parents need support from their inner or outer circle. One of the strategies to get a support is by expressing what they feel. Feelings can be expressed in various ways, verbal and non-verbal. It can be in a non-formal situation like having a conversation in a community or a home environment. Thus, this research aims to describe the verbal expressions and desperation of the mothers to raise their children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This research uses phenomenological method called Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) because this study focuses on interpretive processes in understanding participants’ experiences ideographically. 25 participants are observed and interviewed in-depth regarding their experiences in raising their children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The participants’ verbal expression of desperation are classified into seven themes: Repeating the same instruction or warning over and over, Being different and isolated, Mess things up in the house, Could not stay still and unpredictable, Aggressiveness, irritation and tantrums, Extra effort for visual learner, Child lacks of motivation. The results show that the feeling of desperation persistently happened because it is difficult to understand the characteristics of a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The also admit that it is difficult to make normal children and mothers to accept their circumstances. Meanwhile, other participants state that they seek more information and knowledge about ADHD by joining a community to get help or support psychologically and medically, practice and more practice at home in order to help their children grow better.

Acoustic characteristics of voice and speech in Arabic-speaking stuttering children

Background Using different methodologies, several researchers have reported certain acoustical and physiological differences between fluent utterances of stutterers and normally fluent speakers. The aim of this study was to determine acoustic characteristics of voice and speech in Arabic-speaking stuttering children in comparison to normal children and correlate these characteristics with stuttering severity. A sample of 80 Arabic-speaking Egyptian children (including 40 typically developing children and 40 stuttering children) in the age range 5–8 years were subjected to acoustic analysis of voice and speech using the Praat software. Results The stuttering children showed significantly higher values of jitter and shimmer in prolonged /a/ vowel sample, as compared to the normal group. This may reflect the subtle differences in laryngeal functioning or in the complex interaction among the laryngeal, respiratory, and the vocal tract systems in stuttering children. Both jitter and shimmer of prolonged /a/ vowel demonstrated significant positive moderate correlation with stuttering severity as assessed by SSI3. F0 was significantly higher in females than in males, both in normal and stuttering children. Conclusions The present study revealed significant differences in the acoustic parameters of voice and speech between Arabic-speaking stuttering children and normal children. Some of these acoustic parameters were significantly correlated with stuttering severity. Acoustic analysis can be used as simple, quick, and cheap tool for assessment of stuttering in children and might be a valuable addition to the diagnostic set for assessment of stuttering severity.

Questionnaire for Children with Autism Syndrome Disorder

Children with autism syndrome disorder (ASD) have developmental like normal children in general. However, in Indonesia there is no instrument to measure of achievement the development of children with autism syndrome disorder. The purpose of this research resulted in a questionnaire used to measure institutional and family support, parental stimulation abilities, and the ability of children with autism syndrome disorder. The design used exploratory for developing of instruments. Experts involved in the development of instruments are psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, paediatricians, autistic child behavioral therapy practitioners, and the institution of Autism Center of Blitar City. Instrument development begins with focus group discussion, instrument preparation, instrument trials, and analysis. The questionnaire trial was conducted on 40 parents and children with ASD at the Autism Center of Blitar City. The analysis was conducted namely the validity of the content and construct by experts, while the test of validity and reliability of the questionnaire used Lisrel 8.50. Valid and reliable questionnaires items on the institutional and family support as many as 21 questions, parents' ability to stimulate as many as 17 questions, and the ability of children with autism syndrome disorder as many as 17 questions. The resulting questionnaire has a minimum GFI score of 0.75 and a CR of 0.78, so that the questionnaire can be used as a instrument on autism services.

The effect of motion games on improving the psychomotor and intellectual performance of children with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities

Introduction. Depressive states and anxiety are common symptoms of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The persons with intellectual disabilities show problems related to the development of basic motor skills, having learning problems compared to normal ones, imbalances between the processes of arousal and inhibition, limited motor ability, difficult understanding of language and motor tasks, difficult concentration, mechanical assimilation etc. Objectives. The study analyzes the effectiveness of structures and motion games, applied in specific activities for children with intellectual disabilities (ID) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Material and Methods. The research involved an experimental group of 5 children with one of these disabilities or their combination (age 10-11 years), included in a training process at the Ion Teodorescu Special Vocational School in Slobozia / Ialomița / Romania and comparing their results with a control group (6 normal children, with an average age of 10 years), between 20.09.2020-10.03.2021. The assessment of the level of psychomotor and intellectual development was made by the Cutout Test, the Cohs Cube Test (light task configurations) and an Attention Flexibility Test (movement to the corners of the room/field depending on the assigned color, counting successful attempts and mistakes). Results and discussion. The obtained results confirm the working hypothesis, so the use of the structures and games proposed in the program contributes to a significant improvement of the psychomotor and intellectual performances of students with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum. Conclusion. espite all these improvements, they cannot approach or equal the reference values of children without problems, falling into the same age category. Keywords: psychomotor skills, adapted physical activities, recovery, children, learning disabilities,

The development of musical taste and judgement : an investigation of the standard of musical taste and judgement in an unselected group of New Zealand school children

The purpose of this investigation is clearly expressed in its title; it is an attempt to trace the development (whether positive or negative) of the degree or standard of musical taste or judgement throughout the school life of an unselected group of normal children.

The development of musical taste and judgement : an investigation of the standard of musical taste and judgement in an unselected group of New Zealand school children

The purpose of this investigation is clearly expressed in its title; it is an attempt to trace the development (whether positive or negative) of the degree or standard of musical taste or judgement throughout the school life of an unselected group of normal children.

PROGRAM PENDAMPINGAN BAHASA INGGRIS UNTUK ANAK AUTIS MENGGUNAKAN BUKU APLIKASI

ABSTRAKBerkembangnya teknologi pada pembelajaran anak, mengakibatkan orang tua serta guru harus ikut serta dalam perkembangan tersebut demi kemanjuan anak salah satu aplikasi pembelajaran yang bisa digunakan merupakan Our story application yang memungkinkan interaksi orang tua dan anak untuk pembelajaran bahasa inggris. Namun, pendampingan kadang hanya berfokus pada anak-anak normal belum banyak yang melakukan pendampingan bersama dengan anak-anak Autism. Oleh sebab itu, pendampingan ini dilakukan pada anaka-anak Autism Spectrum Disoreder dan orang tua aplikasi pembelajaran bahasa Inggris. terutama dalam pembelajaran reading sebagai bagian terpenting dari keterampilan berbahasa Inggris. Pendampingan ini dilakukan dengan cara berkeliling kerumah setiap peserta yang bersedia setiap minggunya yang mehasilkan adanya faktor pendukung serta faktor penghambat dalam pelaksanaan pendampingan, Kata kunci: membaca; storybook application; ASD; interaksi ABSTRACTThe development of technology in children's learning has resulted in parents and teachers having to participate in these developments for the sake of children's progress. One of the learning applications that can be used is Our story application which allows interaction between parents and children for learning English. However, sometimes mentoring only focuses on normal children, not many have assisted with Autism children. Therefore, this assistance is carried out for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and parents with English learning applications. especially in learning reading as the most important part of English language skills. This assistance is carried out by going around the house of each willing participant every week which results in supporting factors and inhibiting factors in the implementation of mentoring. Keywords: reading; storybook application; ASD; interaction.

Comparison of Mental Health, Stress and Coping Methods in Mothers of Children with/without Autism in Ahvaz

Background: The existence of an autistic child causes much mental burden and concern for parents and disrupts their normal functioning in both home and society. Objectives: The present study seeks to compare mental health, stress, and coping styles in mothers of children with/without autism in Ahvaz. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 120 samples of all mothers of children with/without autism in Ahvaz. Actually, from the statistical population of the study, 120 (60 mothers with autistic children and 60 mothers with normal children) were selected using the convenience sampling method. After explaining the objectives of the research to the participants and obtaining a consent form, the questionnaire was answered by them. Stress Questionnaire, Mental Health Questionnaire, and Coping Strategies Questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analyzed both descriptively and inferentially (MANOVA and ANOVA) using the SPSS version 21. Results: The results indicate a significant difference between mental health (F = 342.14, P < 0.001), stress (F = 10.71, P < 0.001), and coping styles (F = 156, P < 0.001) regarding the mothers of autistic/non-autistic children. There is also a significant difference between the avoidance coping strategies (F = 143.12, P < 0.001) used by mothers of children with/without autism in Ahvaz. Conclusions: As the results showed, mothers of normal children were significantly different from mothers of autistic children in using avoidance-oriented coping styles. We can use the findings of this study in clinical situations in order to help mothers with autistic children to reduce their stress, so they can control their lives better with less stress, and this way, the quality of their lives will be higher.

Corneal ectasia in mothers of Down syndrome children

In this study, corneal findings regarding keratoconus (KC) and early KC among mothers with Down syndrome children (MDS) and a group of age-at-delivery-matched mothers with normal children (MNC) were compared. KC was diagnosed based on the presence of a clinical sign and at least one abnormal tomographic or biomechanical criterion. Early KC was defined as having no clinical sign in the presence of at least one abnormal tomographic or biomechanical criterion. The normal subgroups in each group were compared in terms tomographic and biomechanical parameters. In MDS and MNC, the prevalence rates were 6.5% and 1.6% for KC (P = 0.047), and 30.9% and 14.3% for early KC (P = 0.014), respectively. Comparison between the two normal subgroups showed significant differences in mean index of height asymmetry, irregularity index, anterior asphericity, pentacam random forest index, corneal stiffness parameters at first applanation, deformation amplitude ratios, integrated radius-1 mm, highest concavity deflection amplitude, biomechanical corrected IOP, peak distance, and radius (all P < 0.05). This study showed that MDS are more likely to have KC and also to have thinner, steeper and softer corneas compared to MNC. This results support the need for further work for determining the risk of delivering a child with DS.

Stereoacuity after Successful Occlusion Therapy in Children with Anisometropic Amblyopia

Purpose: To compare the stereoacuity between patients with anisometropic amblyopia who were treated and achieved normal visual acuity (VA) and normal children and evaluate the factors associated with stereoacuity.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 37 pediatric patients with anisometropic amblyopia who recovered to normal VA with glasses and occlusion treatment (amblyopia group) and 34 normal children (control group). The Worth 4-dot test, Lang II test, Titmus test, and TNO test were performed to measure stereoacuity. Clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups, and factors affecting stereoacuity outcomes were also analyzed in the amblyopic group.Results: The mean age at diagnosis of amblyopia was 5.3 ± 1.4 years, and the mean VAs at diagnosis were 0.41 ± 0.24 and 0.06 ± 0.07 in amblyopic and fellow eyes, respectively. The mean duration of occlusion was 19.00 ± 9.44 months, and VA of amblyopic eyes improved to 0.04 ± 0.04 after occlusion treatment. The patient characteristics did not differ significantly between the two groups, except for the final VA of the amblyopic eye. The final mean logarithm of minimal angle of resolution VA of the amblyopic eye in the amblyopia group was significantly worse than that in the control group. The number of patients with normal stereoacuity was significantly lower in the amblyopia group than in the control group on Lang II, Titmus, and TNO tests. Factors associated with poor stereoacuity were severe amblyopia in the Lang II test and poor post-treatment VA of the amblyopic eye in the Titmus test.Conclusions: Stereoacuity was worse in the amblyopia group than in the control group, despite normal visual development. The depth of amblyopia and post-treatment VA were associated with stereoacuity outcomes. Thus, VA improvement should be closely monitored in the amblyopic eye to obtain good stereoacuity.