Intelligence Quotient Level Research Articles

The Effects of Ketogenic Diet on Seizures, Cognitive Functions, and Other Neurological Disorders in Classical Phenotype of Glucose Transporter 1 Deficiency Syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to characterize patients who were diagnosed with glucose transporter protein 1 deficiency syndrome (Glut1D), and also to assess the efficacy of ketogenic diet (KD) therapy on seizure control, cognitive functions, and other neurological disorders. We studied six unrelated patients with the classical phenotype of Glut1D, focusing on clinical and laboratory features, the KD therapy and outcome over the 25-month follow-up period. Five patients became seizure-free with the onset of ketosis, and anticonvulsants were discontinued. Other neurological features such as ataxia, spasticity, and dystonia showed a less striking improvement than seizure control. There was no significant change in the intelligence quotient (IQ) level or microcephaly. In all patients, alertness, concentration, motivation, and activity resulted in a moderate improvement of variable degree. The early-onset adverse effects of KD were observed in five patients. The KD regimen failed in one patient, therefore, his diet was changed with an alternative to KD. Treatment with KD resulted in a marked improvement in seizures and cognitive functions but its effect appeared to be less striking on the other neurological disorders of the patients. When the classic KD is not tolerated, an alternative to KD may be helpful.

Regular breakfast consumption associated with high intelligence quotient: Myth or Reality?

Objective:To find the frequency of regular breakfast consumption among Pakistani teenagers while the other objective was to find out the association between breakfast consumers (BC) and intelligence quotient (IQ).Methods:This comparative cross sectional study was conducted on 102 students of a Public School Rawalpindi from August 2013 to January 2014. Participants were categorised into two groups i.e. regular breakfast consumers (RBC) and irregular breakfast consumers (IBC) according to their breakfast habits. A standardized questionnaire of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Childrenwas used for IQ assessment. Data was then entered and analysed in SPSS version 20.Result:Out of the 102 individuals with mean age 17.17 ± 0.631, 58(56.9%) were females and 44 (43.1%) were males. There were 63 (61.8%) RBC while 39 (38.2%) were IBC. Among RBC there were 7 (6.9%) in challenged, 5 (4.9%) were below average, 33 (32.4%) in average group, 14(13.7%) in above average and 4 (3.9%) in gifted group. While among IBC, there was 1 (1%) among the severely challenged, 3 (2.9%) in challenged, 8 (7.8%) in below average, 22 (21.6%) in average group, 4 (3.9%) in above average and 1 (1%) in gifted group. There was no significant association found between breakfast intake and IQ level among students (p=0.98).Conclusion:More than half of the students were having regular breakfast. There was no significant association found among breakfast consumers and IQ. However the IQ score was more among RBC as compared to IBC.

Gray and White Matter Volumes and Cognitive Dysfunction in Drug-Naïve Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Epilepsy.

Epilepsy patients often have cognitive dysfunction even at early stages of disease. We investigated the relationship between structural findings and neuropsychological status in drug-naïve newly diagnosed pediatric epilepsy patients. Thirty newly diagnosed pediatric epilepsy patients and 25 healthy control subjects aged 7~16 years were enrolled, who were assessed by the Korean version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (K-WISC-III), the Stroop test, and the trail making test (TMT). Optimized voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was performed for both Gray Matter (GM) and White Matter (WM) volumes. Lower performance levels of verbal intelligence quotient, freedom from distractibility, and executive function were observed in epilepsy group. Interestingly, poor performance in these cognitive subdomains was correlated with regional VBM findings involving both GM and WM volumes, but with different patterns between groups. GM volumes revealed clear differences predominantly in the bilateral frontal regions. These findings indicate that certain cognitive functions may be affected in the early stage of epilepsy, not related to the long-standing epilepsy or medication, but more related to the neurocognitive developmental process in this age. Epilepsy can lead to neuroanatomical alterations in both GM and WM, which may affect cognitive functions, during early stages even before commencement of AED medication.

A cross-sectional study to assess the intelligence quotient (IQ) of school going children aged 10-12 years in villages of Mysore district, India with different fluoride levels.

Besides dental and skeletal fluorosis, excessive fluoride intake can also affect the central nervous system without first causing the physical deformities associated with skeletal fluorosis. With the existence of widespread endemic fluorosis in India, the possible adverse effect of elevated fluoride in drinking water on the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) level of children is a potentially serious public health problem. This study assessed the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of school going children aged 10-12 years in villages of Mysore district with different fluoride levels. In this cross-sectional study, 405 school children aged 10-12 years were selected from three villages in Mysore district with normal fluoride (1.20 mg F/l), low fluoride (0.40 mg F/l) and high fluoride (2.20 mg F/l) in their water supplies. A pre designed questionnaire was used to collect the required data for the survey which included socio demographic details, oral hygiene practices, diet history, body mass index and dental fluorosis. Intelligence Quotient was assessed using Raven's colored Progressive Matrices Test. In bivariate analysis, significant relationships were found between water fluoride levels and Intelligence Quotient of school children (P < 0.05). In the high fluoride village, the proportion of children with IQ below 90, i.e. below average IQ was larger compared to normal and low fluoride village. Age, gender, parent education level and family income had no significant association with IQ. School children residing in area with higher than normal water fluoride level demonstrated more impaired development of intelligence when compared to school children residing in areas with normal and low water fluoride levels. Thus, children's intelligence can be affected by high water fluoride levels.

Abnormal development of sensory-motor, visual temporal and parahippocampal cortex in children with learning disabilities and borderline intellectual functioning.

Borderline intellectual functioning (BIF) is a condition characterized by an intelligence quotient (IQ) between 70 and 85. BIF children present with cognitive, motor, social, and adaptive limitations that result in learning disabilities and are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders later in life. The aim of this study was to investigate brain morphometry and its relation to IQ level in BIF children. Thirteen children with BIF and 14 age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD) children were enrolled. All children underwent a full IQ assessment (WISC-III scale) and a magnetic resonance (MR) examination including conventional sequences to assess brain structural abnormalities and high resolution 3D images for voxel-based morphometry analysis. To investigate to what extent the group influenced gray matter (GM) volumes, both univariate and multivariate generalized linear model analysis of variance were used, and the varimax factor analysis was used to explore variable correlations and clusters among subjects. Results showed that BIF children, compared to controls have increased regional GM volume in bilateral sensorimotor and right posterior temporal cortices and decreased GM volume in the right parahippocampal gyrus. GM volumes were highly correlated with IQ indices. The present work is a case study of a group of BIF children showing that BIF is associated with abnormal cortical development in brain areas that have a pivotal role in motor, learning, and behavioral processes. Our findings, although allowing for little generalization to the general population, contribute to the very limited knowledge in this field. Future longitudinal MR studies will be useful in verifying whether cortical features can be modified over time even in association with rehabilitative intervention.

English

The relationship between mean intelligence quotient (IQ), hand preferences and visual memory (VM) were investigated on (N=612) males and females students trained in different educational programs in viewpoint of laterality. IQ was assessed by cattle&rsquo;s culture Fair intelligence test-A (CCFIT-A). The laterality of the one side of the body was assessed by a questionnaire with 20 items. For VM, word lists with 15 items derived from the root of the Turkish word &ldquo;to run&rdquo; were projected on a screen. Subjects were allowed to see the words for 30 sec., and write down the remembered-words in 40 sec. There was any relationship between the hand preferences and IQ levels in right-and left-hander for first ten items (Q1, p&gt;0.05), and also there was no relationship between the hand preferences and remembered words (RW) in left-hander (p&gt;0.05). There was, however, a negative relationship between the hand preferences and RW in right-handers (p&lt;0.05). For second ten items (Q2), there was no relationship between the hand preferences and IQ of left-handed subjects (P&lt;0.05), but there was a positive relationship between the hand preferences and IQ in right hander (p&lt;0.05). However, there was no relationship between hand preferences and non remembered words (NRW) (p&gt;0.05). It was concluded that there was a relationship between the laterality, NRW and IQ in right hander. Key words:&nbsp;Intelligence, laterality, education, remembering, students.

Assessment of intelligence quotient among schoolchildren of fishermen community of Kutch, Gujarat, India.

The aim of the study was to assess the intelligence quotient of fishermen school children of Kutch, Gujarat, India. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 8 to 10 years old school children living in Kutch District, Gujarat, India, from January to February 2013. Seguin Form Board Test was used to assess the intelligence quotient (IQ) level of children. Means of groups were compared by independent student t-test. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors for IQ. The mean average timing taken by fishermen school children to complete the test was 30.64 ± 4.97. Males had significantly lower mean timing scores than females (p < 0.05). Participants with severe dental fluorosis, low socio-economic status (SES), lower education level of both mother and father and those who were overweight had significantly higher mean timing scores for average category. The present study suggested a low IQ among fishermen school children community of Kutch, Gujarat, India. The major factors which influenced their IQ were dental fluorosis, low SES, low education level of parents and high body mass index.

Functional Communication of Children Who Are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between language levels and communication and social function skills in young children who are deaf/hard-of-hearing. A cross-sectional design was used with participants sampled predominately from a single clinic setting. Children between 3 and 6 years of age with permanent bilateral hearing loss were enrolled in the study. All children received the Preschool Language Scales-Fifth Edition language assessment and a neurocognitive assessment using the Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised at the study visit. Communication and social function skills were measured using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition (VABS-II; mean 100 ± 15) and the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI; mean 50 ± 10). Analysis included 65 children with mild to profound bilateral hearing loss (mean age 56.8 months, SD ± 14.1); 52% had hearing loss in the mild to moderate range. The mean nonverbal intelligence quotient (IQ) was 95.7 (±18.8), the mean receptive language standard score was 83.7 (±18.6), and mean expressive language standard score was 83.0 (±18.5). The mean VABS-II communication standard score was 89.1 (±17.5), and the mean PEDI social function score was 39.6 (±15.3). Both nonverbal IQ and receptive language relative to nonverbal IQ (the ratio of language to IQ) were significantly associated with communication and social functioning, explaining more than 50% of the variance in communication function scores. Children with language commensurate with their IQ had significantly higher communication and social function scores than children with language significantly lower than IQ. This finding was consistent across different levels of IQ and independent of degree of hearing loss. Even with early identification and intervention, hearing loss continues to have a life-long impact on functioning. It is important to identify when language levels are not meeting a child's capabilities in order to intervene most effectively.

Analysis of Cognition Integration in Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ) and Spiritual Quotient (SQ) in Transforming Cameron Highlands Youths through Hermeneutics Pedagogy

Cognition Integration in Intelligence Quotient (IQ), Emotional Quotient (EQ) and Spiritual Quotient (SQ) are essential in soft skills development. It is needed in Malaysian youths in order to transform them in encountering everyday challenges. This study is aimed to analyse the level of IQ, EQ and SQ among youths in Cameron Highlands in order to develop themselves and the country using the interpret ative met hod i.e. through the Method of Hermeneutics Pedagogy. Sample consists of 354 respondents in Cameron Highlands. Results indicates that the level of soft skills development among Indians was higher than the Malays, Aborigines and Chinese. Soft skills development consists of motivation, community programmes, production and education.

History of Birth Complications, Having Chronic Diseases and Children's Intelligence Quotient (IQ) at Age 7-8 Years Old in Baghdad City, Iraq

Abstract - History of birth complications may affect cognitive development of children later in life. The main objective of this study was to determine the level of IQ and to assess its relationship with birth complications history and chronic diseases. A cross-sectional study was done in Baghdad city among 450 primary school children aged 7 to 8 years old. Translated questionnaires were distributed to mothers to answer, also Raven IQ tool was used to obtain children IQ level. A total of 22.2% children have low IQ score. The prevalence of birth complications history was 20.9%. There was a significant association between birth complications history, having chronic diseases and parents working status with child’s IQ status (p=0.001,p=0.041 and p

Vitamin D Levels in Children and Adolescents with Antiepileptic Drug Treatment

PurposeThis study was to evaluate the relationship of 25(OH)D3 levels with anticonvulsant use and other possible factors in epileptic children and adolescents.Materials and MethodsWe studied 143 patients with epilepsy (90 boys, 53 girls; 11.21±4.49 years), who had been treated with anticonvulsants for more than 1 year. Patients who had taken multiple vitamins before the blood test and those who have the limitation of physical activity (wheelchair-bound) were excluded from the study. We evaluated the difference in vitamin D status according to the type and number of anticonvulsants taken and other factors such as gender, age, intelligence and seizure variables.ResultsFor patients with mental retardation or developmental delay, 25(OH)D3 levels were lower than the levels in patients with normal intelligence quotient levels (p=0.03). 25(OH)D3 levels were lower in patients who had taken anticonvulsants for more than 2 years as compared to those who had taken them for less than 2 years (p=0.03). Those taking oxcarbazepine had significantly lower vitamin D levels than patients taking valproic acid (p=0.01). However, no effects of number of anticonvulsants taken were detectable. More than two-thirds of the patients were diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis in patients showing either vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency.ConclusionThe possibility of vitamin D deficiency can be considered in pediatric patients taking anticonvulsants if they have mental retardation or developmental delay or if they have been taking anticonvulsants for more than 2 years or taking hepatic enzyme inducing drugs.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of children with electrical status epilepticus during slow wave sleep.

Background:Electrical status epilepticus in slow wave sleep (ESES) is a rare, age-related, self-limited disorder characterized as epilepsy with different seizure types, neuropsychological impairment in the form of global or selective regression of cognitive functions, motor impairment, and typical electroencephalographic (EEG) findings of continuous epileptic activity occupying 85% of nonrapid eye movement sleep.Aims:The aim is to examine the clinical and electrophysiological findings and treatment modalities of children with ESES and to evaluate the outcome of the disorder.Materials and Methods:Fourteen patients with a diagnosis of electrical status epilepticus during slow wave sleep and followed-up at least 2 years were included.Statistical Analysis:Pearson correlation test was used in the study.Results:Among the 14 patients, eight of them had normal mental development before ESES. Twelve of the patients mentioned cognitive impairment and decline in school performance during ESES. After ESES, seven patients had mental retardation in different severity. One of these patients was diagnosed with benign partial epilepsy of childhood with centrotemporal spikes and had normal intelligence quotient level prior to ESES. The diagnosis of ESES was made after newly occurred different seizure types in four of the patients while two of the previously known epileptic patients presented with only severe psychiatric impairment. Valproic acid and carbamazepine were the mostly frequently used drugs before the onset of ESES. After at least 2 years of follow-up, seven patients were seizure free, but still taking antiepileptic treatment. Five patients were seizure free, while two of them had ongoing seizures despite antiepileptic therapy.Conclusion:ESES should be kept in mind in children with unexplained regression or stagnation of development associated with seizures or not. Sleep EEGs should be performed for timely diagnosis, proper treatment and prevention of permanent cognitive impairment.

Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of High School Students of the University of Bohol - Victoriano D. Tirol Advanced Learning Center

The intelligence Quotient indicates the progress of learning by dividing the achievement age by the mental age. This study identified the IQ of high school students of the UB- VD ALC and its relevance to the teaching-learning process. The researcher used OLSAT designed to measure verbal and non-verbal skills. The study utilized qualitative-quantitative descriptive research involving 177 students drawn by universal sampling. Results showed that the Second Year level has the most number of students whose IQ is Below Average, 5 comprising 10% of the population. In addition, most Second Year students had an Average IQ and had a total frequency of 37 (71%) compared to the rest of the year levels. The Fourth Year level embraced the highest number of Above Average students, 47% with a frequency of 17. In general, 7% or 13 students out of 177 total high school population had Below Average IQ levels while 110 students (62%) were on Average, and finally, 54 of them (31%) were Above Average. The classification of IQ among the students at all levels will be provided to the curriculum developers to enhance the teaching-learning experience of the students.

Relationship between anthropometric indicators and cognitive performance in Southeast Asian school-aged children

Nutrition is an important factor in mental development and, as a consequence, in cognitive performance. Malnutrition is reflected in children's weight, height and BMI curves. The present cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between anthropometric indices and cognitive performance in 6746 school-aged children (aged 6-12 years) of four Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia; Malaysia; Thailand; Vietnam. Cognitive performance (non-verbal intelligence quotient (IQ)) was measured using Raven's Progressive Matrices test or Test of Non-Verbal Intelligence, third edition (TONI-3). Height-for-age z-scores (HAZ), weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ) and BMI-for-age z-scores (BAZ) were used as anthropometric nutritional status indices. Data were weighted using age, sex and urban/rural weight factors to resemble the total primary school-aged population per country. Overall, 21% of the children in the four countries were underweight and 19% were stunted. Children with low WAZ were 3·5 times more likely to have a non-verbal IQ < 89 (OR 3·53 and 95% CI 3·52, 3·54). The chance of having a non-verbal IQ < 89 was also doubled with low BAZ and HAZ. In contrast, except for severe obesity, the relationship between high BAZ and IQ was less clear and differed per country. The odds of having non-verbal IQ levels < 89 also increased with severe obesity. In conclusion, undernourishment and non-verbal IQ are significantly associated in 6-12-year-old children. Effective strategies to improve nutrition in preschoolers and school-aged children can have a pronounced effect on cognition and, in the longer term, help in positively contributing to individual and national development.

Speech intonation in children with autism spectrum disorder

Objective: The prosody of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has several abnormal features. We assessed the speech tone of children with ASD and of children with typical development (TD) by using a new quantitative acoustic analysis. Methods: Our study participants consisted of 63 children (26 with ASD and 37 with TD). The participants were divided into 4 groups based on their developmental features and age. We assessed the variety of the fundamental frequency (F0) pattern quantitatively, using pitch coefficient of variation (CV), considering the different F0 mean for each word. Results: (1) No significant difference was observed between the ASD and TD group at pre-school age. However, the TD group exhibited significantly greater pitch CV than the ASD group at school age. (2) In pitch CV, range and standard deviation of the whole speech of each participant, no significant differences were observed between the type of participants and age. (3) No significant correlation was found between the pitch CV of each word and the Japanese Autism Screening Questionnaire total score, or between the pitch CV of each word and the intelligence quotient levels in the ASD group. A significant correlation was observed between the pitch CV of each word and social reciprocal interaction score. Conclusions: We assessed the speech tone of children with ASD by using a new quantitative method. Monotonous speech in school-aged children with ASD was detected. The extent of monotonous speech was related to the extent of social reciprocal interaction in children with ASD.

Relationship Between Sleep Problems and Quality of Life in Children With ADHD

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the sleep behaviors, sleep problems and frequency, and relationship with psychiatric comorbidities in ADHD Combined type and to evaluate the effect of sleep problems on quality of life. Method: Forty-six boys, aged 7 to 13 years, with ADHD-combined type and 31 healthy boys were included. ADHD children were never treated for sleep or psychiatric disorders. Intelligence quotient (IQ) test scores were minimum 80, body mass index were normal and did not have medical disorders. Parents completed Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire, Conners’ Parent Rating Scale and The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and participants were asked about sleep behaviors and were administered PedsQL and Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia. Results: The frequency of sleep problems in ADHD is 84.8%, higher than the control group (p = .002). Evaluating PedsQL scores, the quality of life is worse in physical, psychosocial health, and total life quality (p < .05). ADHD group with sleep problems have more night wakings than control group with sleep problems (p = .02). The comorbidity do not increase sleep problems. The frequency of parasomnias is increased in group with learning disorders (p = .05). Conclusion: The results of this study, which controls for a number of possible confounders found in previous examinations of ADHD and sleep, support the results of a number of other studies that have found an increased overall prevalence of parent-reported sleep disturbances in children with ADHD compared with healthy control participants. As the ADHD group have more night wakings than the control group through the night, it is thought that night wakings that cause a partitioned sleep may be important signs seen in ADHD. That could be suggested by two hypotheses. First one is that, daytime sleepiness is more common in ADHD and those children present excessive hyperactivity during the day to stay awake and the second one is the improvement of ADHD signs when the drugs for sleepiness are used. Usage of standardized and valid diagnostic criteria, exclusion of adolescence, gender, socioeconomic level, primary sleep problems, medical disorders and low IQ level, making allowances for effect of comorbidities and having compared with the control group are the important methodological features of this study. The most important limitation of this study is small sample size that makes the findings less generalizable to other groups of children with ADHD, and another one is not having used objective measurements together with subjective measurements. In conclusion, these results underscore the importance of screening all children who have a symptom constellation suggestive of ADHD for sleep problems that may either play a causative role or exacerbate the clinical appearance of ADHD in a given child. Correct evaluation and treatment of sleep problems increase the life quality of family and child and also decrease the severity of ADHD symptoms.

A Comparative Study of Intelligence Quotient and Emotional Intelligence: Effect on Employees? Performance

The study aims to explore the cognitive and emotional aspects of intelligence and its related behavioral and psychological outcomes on employees' performance. Intelligence is considered as an important predictor for analyzing the employees' capabilities and their behaviors to perform the particular task. This is a quantitative cross- sectional study based on 300 employees selected from different organizations of telecom industry, Lahore. The study reveals interesting findings about the nature of the relationship between individuals' intelligence quotient level and their respective performance. Indicating a new line of research that Intelligence Quotient is found to be insignificantly related with employees' performance revealing that IQ alone is not sufficient for the success of employees. Whereas, emotional Intelligence is found to have significant relationship with employees' performance signifying that emotional intelligence is more important than Intelligence quotient at workplace. Study in the end offers practical implication for organizations that emotional intelligence measures can be used in conjunction with other sources of information and psychometric tests like Intelligence Quotient, to support the human resource for the purpose of improving the overall effectiveness of an organization.

Thyroid status in Egyptian primary school children with iron deficiency anemia: Relationship to intellectual function

Background: Only few studies concerning thyroid status and intellectual evaluation in iron deficiency anemia, which is frequently seen in primary school children in Egypt. Aim: The present study was planned to investigate the effect of iron deficiency anemia on the thyroid functions and intellectual activity of young children in a primary school. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional controlled study. Patients and Methods: This study was carried out on 60 primary school children aged 6-12 year with iron deficiency anemia (Group 1) and 20 children as control (Group 2). Complete blood count, iron, total iron binding capacityferritin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroid hormones (FT4 and FT3), and intelligence quotient (IQ) were determined in all the children included in the study. Results: TT3 and TT4 values were statistically lower while TSH is significantly higher in the study group as compared to control (P 7 g/dl had significantly lower levels of serum FT3 and FT4 (P < 0.01 for both) and significantly higher levels of serum TSH (P < 0.05) as compared to patients with HB level <7 g/dl. Serum ferritin was correlated negatively with TSH levels (r = −0.76, P < 0.001) while positively with TT4 (r = 0.69, P < 0.001) and TT3 (r = 0.84, P < 0.001) levels. A significant positive correlation was found between serum level of TT3 and transferrin saturation% (r = 0.78, P < 0.001). Total, as well as performance IQ were significantly lower in patients than controls with P <0.05 for each. Significant positive correlations were observed between both total and performance IQ and thyroid hormone levels and iron status parameters. Conclusion: Egyptian primary school children with iron deficiency anemia especially severe type are liable to develop subclinical hypothyroidism and intellectual dysfunction. A randomized, double-blind, controlled study is needed to address the question of whether subclinical hypothyroidism associated with iron deficiency anemia should be treated with oral iron only or iron and levothyroxine combination aiming to prevent the combined effects of both conditions on cognitive function of the brain. Moreover, more comprehensive studies are needed to elucidate if the effect of iron deficiency anemia on thyroid status is reversible or not.

Effectiveness and safety of Nintendo Wii Fit PlusTM training in children with migraine without aura: a preliminary study

BackgroundMigraine without aura (MoA) is a painful syndrome, particularly in childhood; it is often accompanied by severe impairments, including emotional dysfunction, absenteeism from school, and poor academic performance, as well as issues relating to poor cognitive function, sleep habits, and motor coordination.Materials and methodsThe study population consisted of 71 patients affected by MoA (32 females, 39 males) (mean age: 9.13±1.94 years); the control group consisted of 93 normally developing children (44 females, 49 males) (mean age: 8.97±2.03 years) recruited in the Campania school region. The entire population underwent a clinical evaluation to assess total intelligence quotient level, visual-motor integration (VMI) skills, and motor coordination performance, the later using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC). Children underwent training using the Wii-balance board and Nintendo Wii Fit Plus™ software (Nintendo Co, Ltd, Kyoto, Japan); training lasted for 12 weeks and consisted of three 30-minute sessions per week at their home.ResultsThe two starting populations (MoA and controls) were not significantly different for age (P=0.899) and sex (P=0.611). M-ABC and VMI performances at baseline (T0) were significantly different in dexterity, balance, and total score for M-ABC (P<0.001) and visual (P=0.003) and motor (P<0.001) tasks for VMI. After 3 months of Wii training (T1), MoA children showed a significant improvement in M-ABC global performance (P<0.001), M-ABC dexterity (P<0.001), M-ABC balance (P<0.001), and VMI motor task (P<0.001).ConclusionOur study reported the positive effects of the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus™ system as a rehabilitative device for the visuomotor and balance skills impairments among children affected by MoA, even if further research and longer follow-up are needed.

Visuomotor competencies and primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis in prepubertal aged children.

BackgroundPrimary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) is a common problem in the developmental ages; it is the involuntary loss of urine during the night in children older than 5 years of age. Several clinical observations have suggested an association between bedwetting and developmental delays in motricity, language development, learning disability, physical growth, and skeletal maturation. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the prevalence of fine motor coordination and visuomotor integration abnormalities in prepubertal children with PMNE.MethodsThe study population included 31 children (16 males, 15 females; mean age 8.14 years ± 1.36 years), and the control group comprised 61 typical developing children (32 males, 29 females; mean age 8.03 years ± 1.44 years). The whole population underwent a clinical evaluation to assess total intelligence quotient level, visuomotor integration (VMI) skills, and motor coordination performance (using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, or M-ABC).ResultsNo significant differences between the two study groups were found for age (P = 0.725), gender (P = 0.886), z-body mass index (P = 0.149), or intellectual abilities (total intelligence quotient) (P = 0.163). The PMNE group showed a higher prevalence of borderline performance on M-ABC evaluation and in pathologic performance on VMI Total Task compared to controls (P < 0.001). No significant differences between the two study groups were found for pathologic performances on the M-ABC (P = 0.07), VMI Visual Task (P = 0.793), and VMI Motor Task (P = 0.213).ConclusionOur findings pinpointed that PMNE should not be considered as a voiding disorder alone and, consequently, the children affected should be referred to specific rehabilitative programs that aim to improve motor coordination and visuomotor integration.