Parents Of Such Children Research Articles

Burden of depression and anxiety among caregivers of children having structural epilepsy.

Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological disorders in childhood. Structural malformations of the cerebral cortex are an important cause of developmental disabilities and epilepsy; this leads to a significant amount of psychological burden on parents of such children. Despite being a common and debilitating neurological illness, there is a paucity of data on the burden of stress and depression in parents of such children. The objective was to find out the burden of these illnesses on caregivers of such children. This was a hospital-based cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics (both inpatient and outpatient), PGIMS Rohtak, during the period of June-September 2023. Parents of children with structural epilepsy (age: 2-14 years) were study subjects. A cross-sectional study involving parents of 100 children with structural epilepsy (aged 2-14 years) was conducted using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Data were recorded in Microsoft Office Excel. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences v22. Statistical significance was checked by P value (two-tailed) considering value < 0.05 as significant. Higher levels of anxiety and depression were seen in parents of children having structural epilepsy. Relatively higher levels were seen in parents of such children who were receiving polytherapy (HDRS (P = 0.002); HAM-A (0.001)). This study shows a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression among caregivers of children having structural epilepsy. Parents of such children require extra support as they appear to be a population prone to illnesses that will hinder the proper care of children with structural epilepsy and their quality of life. This circle has to be broken for better upbringing and treatment compliance for such children. Preventive and therapeutic interventions need to be taken to reduce the burden of such psychiatric illness at the community level.

P-772 Assisted reproductive technology and the risk of minor congenital heart defects in the newborn

Abstract Study question Are children conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) at higher risk of minor congenital heart defects (CHD) compared with naturally conceived (NC) children? Summary answer Contrary to previous studies children conceived through ART had similar risk of minor CHDs compared with children conceived naturally. What is known already Congenital heart defects (CHD) may precipitate cardiac arrhythmias, lead to thromboembolic events, culminate in heart failure or even sudden cardiac demise. A systematic review and meta-analysis showed an elevated odds ratio (OR) for diagnosis of any CHD among children conceived through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) compared with NC children. Other studies indicate that ART is associated with an increased arterial blood pressure and vascular dysfunction in the pulmonary and systemic arterial vasculature. This association persists throughout childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood in individuals conceived through ART; this indicates a lasting impact on the cardiovascular circulatory system. Study design, size, duration The present study is a sub-study to the Copenhagen Baby Heart Study (CBHS), a prospective population-based cohort study of &amp;gt; 25 000 children born in the three main maternity wards in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2016–2018. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed on all children within 60 days of delivery and diagnosis of CHD was reviewed by a specialist in paediatric cardiology. Information regarding parental health, pregnancy, delivery, and the newborn was collected through Danish patient registries. Participants/materials, setting, methods This study includes all children conceived by ART in the CBHS (n = 1 784), and a matched group (1:4 by maternal age at birth) of NC children (n = 7 141). Exclusion criteria were genetic or chromosomal syndromes and heart surgery. Minor CHD was defined as an atrial (ASD) or ventricular septum defects (VSD), bicuspid aortic valve, coarctation of the aorta, pulmonary stenosis, or patent ductus arteriosus. We calculated ORs using logistic regression analyses. Main results and the role of chance The mean maternal age at birth was 34.9 (standard deviation [SD] ±4.4) and 35.1 years (SD ± 4.6) and the newborn mean age at TTE was 12.1 (SD ± 9.3) and 12.2 days (SD ± 9.4) in the ART and NC population, respectively. Parental CHD was registered in 40 (2.2 %) children in the ART group and 121 (1.7 %) in the NC group. Overall, 165 (9.2%) children conceived by ART and 611 (8.6%) NC children were diagnosed with a minor CHD. The most prevalent CHDs were VSD and ASD which accounted for 38.8 % and 35.2 % in children with CHD in the ART group, respectively, and 36.8 % and 33.9 % in children with CHD in the NC group. The unadjusted OR for minor CHD was 1.09 (95% CI 0.91–1.30). Adjustments for maternal age and parental CHD did not change the OR. There were no differences in ORs when stratifying by minor CHD type. We stratified by the method of ART: ICSI and IVF and frozen embryo transfer and fresh embryo transfer, and calculated risk of minor CHD comparing the methods and with NC children. We found no difference in any ORs, crude or adjusted. Limitations, reasons for caution Children born preterm, and children with severe minor and major CHDs, were underrepresented in the cohort indicating parents of such children chose not to participate in a research project that would include another hospital visit. Residual confounding is plausible because parental CHD diagnoses were retrieved from patient registries. Wider implications of the findings The number of children conceived through ART is increasing each year and previous research have found an increased risk of CHD in children conceived through ART. Our findings indicate no increased risk of minor CHD, providing comforting and significant information for advising individuals considering or undergoing ART treatment. Trial registration number NCT02753348

The impact of parental overprotection on the emotions and behaviors of pediatric hematologic cancer patients: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Parental overprotection may have an impact on children's emotional and behavioral problems (EBPs). As pediatric hematologic cancer patients have compromised immune systems, parents of such children often worry excessively, interfering with their daily lives. Therefore, avoiding overprotection is crucial for the overall physical and mental health of pediatric hematologic cancer patients. The aim of this study was to examine the current status of EBPs in pediatric hematologic cancer patients and analyze their associated risk factors. This work was a multicenter cross-sectional observational and correlational study. We collected data anonymously through parental questionnaires from three pediatric hematologic oncology hospitals in China. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Parental Overprotection Measure (POM) scale, and a general information survey designed by the research team were employed to assess children's EBPs, the degree of parental overprotection, as well as basic demographic and disease-related information. Chi-square tests and generalized linear mixed-effects regression analysis were used to analyze the factors influencing EBPs among the pediatric hematologic cancer patients. Using a convenience sampling method, a total of 202 participants' parents were selected. All participants were invited to complete the questionnaire through one-on-one guidance. Emotional symptoms accounted for the highest proportion of abnormal EBPs in children (27.72%), followed by peer problems (26.24%), prosocial behavior (25.74%), behavioral problems (14.36%), and total difficulties (13.86%). A minority of children had abnormal hyperactivity scores (4.95%). The results of a generalized linear mixed regression analysis showed that age, duration of illness, and parental overprotection were significant factors influencing abnormal EBPs in children (p < 0.05). A POM score threshold of 37 exhibited good sensitivity (74%) and specificity (90%) in predicting abnormal EBPs in children. Pediatric hematologic cancer patients under excessive parental protection are more prone to experiencing EBPs. Healthcare professionals should guide parents to reduce this excessive protection, thus mitigating the occurrence of EBPs in children.

ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER IN CHILDREN WHO WERE BORN IN INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES

Introduction. The postulate of integration and social inclusion of people possessing somehow migrational backgrounds remains a fundamental issue for our nowadays society. On one hand, there is a totally favorable background to create multiculturalism and diversity in the particularly European community. On the other hand, once we analyze individual situations, especially ones, which take place in the international families, we will predominantly see a completely opposite tendency i.e. to maximally assimilate the way their child will be raised and educated. Thus, these are exactly parents possessing migrational backgrounds, who do want to “limit” their child from being “international” by claiming that this attitude will help them to protect a necessary identity for future integration and social inclusion. In the reality, however, the tendency of international families to raise/educate monocultural children may lead to disruption of social, societal, economical and educational wellbeing of the offsprings, as well as will rather than not lead to development of the antisocial personality disorder. Materials and methods. Naturalistic observation, case studies, survey/self-report data, analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction. In the frame of our cooperation and voluntary activity at the DAR for peace and equality (non-formal international group, based in Milan, Italy), we have analyzed the results of anonymous survey, which was led by us within the group of 73 people, from 18 to 43 years old, who are representatives of generation of locals “with migrational background” (the third migrational generation). The main characteristic feature of this social group is that they were born in so-called “international families” i.e. families, where one of the parents possesses either direct or indirect migrational background. Primarily, to assess the probability of declining of the appropriate (“desirable”) level of integration and social inclusion in the aforementioned individuals, we have assessed the gender and age balance between analyzed persons. Thus, there were 73 people, namely: 41 women and 32 men with the age range from 18 to 43 years old. The average age of persons in the group reached the index of 30,1 years old. Digital data were processed by using the method of variation statistic with calculating of the arithmetic mean (M), standard deviation (δ), the average error difference (m), the difference probability (p). The last data between two average in small samples was determined according to the Student’s table in compliance of condition (n1+n2-2). In determining of the probability level it was admitted an accuracy of p&lt;0.05. Results. As a result, we have assessed a probability of development of the antisocial personality disorder in this social group, as well as possible reasons for the development of the analyzed condition. The probability of the APD development in the analyzed social group is tightly connected with the way these people (former children, who were born in international families) were grown and educated. Especially, if the multicultural families are forcibly rendered “monocultural” because of the “desire” of one of the parents, or mutual one. Neither of the expected scenarios of “assimilation” appear to be successful to make the process of the child’s integration and social inclusion appropriate, adequate and positive. In over 90% of cases, children who were forcibly rendered “monocultural” despite having international family, experience APD of various types, severe depression, tendency to migrational nomadism and migrational vacuum. Their condition may be however relieved through healing amnesia phenomenon, as it was numerously postulated in our former article within the framework research. Discussion. The tendency to forcibly render multicultural families monocultural is tightly connected with dominating prejudices, biases, fears, expectations and stereotypes regarding the community of migrants, refugees and forcibly displaced persons. They are socially “supposed to be different”, The difference may noticeably aggravate every pattern of their existence. Thus, the parents of such children are tended to refuse to “share their migrational background” with their child and try to make him/her “assimilate” from the very young age. However, it is exactly the forcible assimilation, which may lead to development of the antisocial personality disorder, migrational nomadism and migrational vacuum in case of the representatives of the third generation. Thus, the postulates of “desirable” diversity and multiculturalism, which are accepted and tolerated not exclusively within the legal framework, but also in societal realities will definitely lead to optimizing the general pattern of integration and social inclusion of persons, who possess migrational background; will decrease the index of probability of APD development in the similar cases, as well as will eliminate a typical tendency to “waste human potential” regarding “newcomers”.

Transformation of the learning environment for children with special needs

&lt;span lang="EN-US"&gt;This study is devoted to the consideration of the issue related to the adaptation and adoption of such children in the Russian Federation. The study is based on the questionnaire method. It was attended by 120 parents of children with special needs. The results showed that the majority of respondents are familiar with inclusive education, its principles and goals; 59% of respondents believe that the psychological environment in their school is not good enough for the adaptation of children with special needs. According to 64% of parents, there are also problems with the infrastructure of schools. The minority of parents face the rejection of special needs children by teachers, but the majority face the rejection by their peers. In general, despite all problems and challenges, parents positively assess the idea of their special needs child learning and attending the same classroom side by side with healthy children. According to them, this has a positive effect on the intellectual and mental development of the child. To improve the process, the parents of such children were offered the following recommendations: constant research on the issue, cooperation with other parents of special needs children, attention to children and cooperation with specialists (psychologists and defectologists).&lt;/span&gt;

Parvo B19 and Anaemia: The Various Profiles – A Mini Review

Introduction: Parvovirus 19 (Parvo B19) is a single stranded DNA virus which predominantly affects school-aged children, parents of such children and adults who are working in day care centres or schools. Individuals with underlying haemoglobinopathies, haemophilia, immunocompromised, malignancy and pregnancy states are at a higher risk of infection. This virus has been associated with multiple clinical manifestations including erythema infectiosum, arthopathy, fetal cardiomyopathy and hydrops fetalis. However, one of the most significant complications is the anaemia caused in the adult population. This includes pure red cell aplasia and transient aplastic crisis (TAC). Review: Pure red cell aplasia occurs predominantly in patients with immunocompromised states. The aplasia characteristically presents with a chronic or recurrent severe normocytic normochromic anaemia with reticulocytopaenia. The bone marrow reveals an absence of red-cell precursors or with the presence of giant pro-normoblasts with intra-nuclear inclusions. The condition is effectively managed using packed red cell transfusions, based on the degree of anaemia, and with intravenous immunoglobulin at 1g/kg over a period of 2 days or, more preferably, 500mg/kg over 5 days. The majority of patients respond after 1-3 doses. Correction of the underlying patient risk factors is vital. TAC occurs more frequently in patients with underlying red-cell abnormalities. This presents with a one to two week severe anaemia with variable smear and cellular findings varying from microcytic hypochromic to normocytic normochromic. Additionally, there is a reduced reticulocyte percentage and index. Packed red cell transfusion and correction of the underlying risk factor are often sufficient for the management of anaemia. The addition of immunoglobulin administration, 500mg/kg over 5 days, may be needed for patients who are immunocompromised. Conclusion: Parvovirus B19 remains a prevalent and prominent virus associated with multiple medical conditions particularly in immunocompromised states such as that of HIV, as well as erythrocyte disorders. Clinically, the virus has a plethora of presentations, two of which are severe anaemias: transient aplastic crisis and pure red cell aplasia. These conditions may be effectively and successfully managed with intravenous packed red-cell transfusions, intravenous immunoglobulins and by addressing of the underlying patient risk factors.

Trouble stress post traumatique, dépression et anxiété chez les parents d’enfant(s) atteint(s) d’épilepsie

IntroductionPost-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric consequences among parents of children with epilepsy. ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the prevalence and predictors of PTSD, depression and anxiety in a sample of parents of children with epilepsy. MethodsA survey of 135 parents of children with epilepsy, treated in the pediatric neurology department at the Sfax Teaching Hospital in Tunisia, was conducted in the last quarter of 2019. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used to assess, respectively, PTSD, depression and anxiety in parents. Associations with clinical and demographic variables with PTSD, depression and anxiety were evaluated in a logistic regression model. ResultsResults revealed PTSD rates of 20.7%, depression rates of 28.9% and anxiety rates of 55.6%. The main factors associated with PTSD on multivariable analysis were female gender (P=0.026, ORa=13.1), insufficient involvement of partner in disease management (P<10−3, ORa=12.1) and duration of epilepsy less than 12 months (P=0.001; ORa=0.1). Female gender (P=0.006, ORa=18.1) and restriction of social life (P=0.006, ORa=4.1) were associated with depression. Factors associated with anxiety were insufficient involvement of partner in disease management (P=0.03, ORa=4.6) and PTSD (P=0.005, ORa=9.1). ConclusionThese findings suggest that clinicians should pay more attention to psychological health of parents of children with epilepsy and help healthcare providers to develop preventive and intervention strategies for parents of such children.

Population Features of Visually Impaired Children and Their Parents Living in Hungary

This exploratory research (2014–2019) was conducted among visually impaired children aged 0–14 years and their parents. The paper focuses on the crucial features of the healthcare and pedagogical services provided for visually impaired children and analyses the situation of parents raising them. In order to explore the population characteristics of visually impaired children in Hungary, we relied on two major data sources: the census data of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office between 1990–2016, and the examination documents of the Corps of Pedagogical Services of Visually Impaired Children between 2009–2013. The research included data of 1,432 visually impaired children. In order to survey the situation of these children’s parents, we conducted semi-structured, individual interviews. We investigated the retrospective narratives of 39 mothers and 29 fathers through narrative categorical content analysis and performed the situation analysis of the parents, using the model of game theory between humans and environment, whilst we also took into consideration the Hungarian and international methodological context for researching parents raising visually impaired children. Results suggest that the population of visually impaired children is under transformation: visually impaired groups based on the classical interpretation of visual performance are being replaced by new groups governed by needs. What the parents of such children seem to lack the most in the Hungarian care system are the opportunities for physical and mental relief. It would be vital to improve the situation of the parents concerned by more flexible special education and social services that could support both single parents and couples to overcome their difficulties.

Effects of Diet, Nutrition, and Exercise in Children With Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review.

Diet and nutrition play an important and essential role in everyone's life. It helps build a healthy body and a strong mind. We know that food rich in nutrients can remove toxins from the body, make an excellent immune system, curb hunger, and prevent obesity. Obesity is one of the most concerning, alarming, and fastest-growing pandemics. It affects not only adults but also adolescents and children. The disease's early-onset calls for prompt attention to control the physical, psychological, financial, and social burden it creates. Children with autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are commonly affected by eating disorders. Their preference for energy-dense food with low nutrition can alter their metabolism, leading to the accumulation of oxidative radicals, causing them to deteriorate mentally and physically. Although dieting and losing weight are now commonly seen in the general population, it has become hard to bring awareness to children with special needs about diet, nutrition, and obesity. Despite efforts, parents of such children usually cannot help control the eating because tantrums and behavioral problems are common. It is now imperative for doctors and parents to work alongside nutritionists and dieticians to help these children eat healthy to be fit and improve the quality of life.

Parenting Styles, Parental Stress, and Quality of Life Among Caregivers of Thai Children with Autism

ABSTRACT Parenting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is challenging. Parents of such children reportedly experience high levels of stress and poor mental health. This study aimed to assess the parenting styles, parental stress, and caregivers’ quality of life of children with ASD and compare them to those of children without ASD. Sixty-one and 63 caregivers of children with and without ASD, respectively, were recruited into the study and asked to complete parenting style, parental stress, and quality of life questionnaires. Of 124 caregivers, those of children with ASD reported lower authoritative scores, but higher permissive parenting style scores than those of children without ASD (p = .01 and p = .02, respectively). Significantly greater parental stress scores (p < .001) and poorer parental quality of life were reported by caregivers in ASD group. Furthermore, higher parental stress correlated moderately with following parenting styles: lower authoritative, higher authoritarian, and higher permissive. A negative correlation was found between the children with ASD’s quality of life and some parenting styles, including authoritarian and permissive types. Our results suggest that promoting appropriate parenting styles and helping caregivers manage their parenting stress could be beneficial for caregivers of children with autism.

Bialleleic PKD1 mutations underlie early-onset autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in Saudi Arabian families.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is one of the most common genetic renal diseases and may be inherited in an autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive pattern. Pathogenic variants in two major genes, PKD1 and PKD2, and two rarer genes, GANAB and DNAJB11, cause autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD). Early onset and severe PKD can occur with PKD1 and PKD2 pathogenic variants and such phenotypes may be modified by second alleles inherited in trans. Homozygous or compound heterozygous hypomorphic PKD1 variants may also cause a moderate to severe disease PKD phenotype. Targeted renal gene panel followed by Sanger sequencing of PKD1 gene were employed to investigate molecular causes in early onset PKD patients. In this study, we report four consanguineous Saudi Arabian families with early onset PKD which were associated with biallelic variants in PKD1 gene. Our findings confirm that PKD1 alleles may combine to produce severe paediatric onset PKD mimicking the more severe autosomal recessive ciliopathy syndromes associated with PKD. Screening of parents of such children may also reveal subclinical PKD phenotypes.

Is post-traumatic growth possible in the parents of former patients of neonatal intensive care units?

The birth of a sick child, as well as the infant's subsequent hospitalization in an neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), is undoubtedly stressful for the parents of the infant. Most studies conducted in groups of parents of such children focus on the assessment of the negative changes in their functioning due to such stress. The authors were interested in positive changes in the psychological functioning of parents that may occur after traumatic experiences. These changes are referred to as post-traumatic growth (PTG). The aim of this study was to examine whether parents experience post-traumatic growth and to determine the predictors of PTG in fathers and mothers, depending on the coping strategy adopted. The study involved 82 parents, whose children were previously hospitalized in neonatal intensive care unit. The methods used included the following standardized psychological tests: the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and the COPE Inventory. Socio-demographic and medical data were also collected. Analysis of the data proved that the illness and hospitalization of a child are significantly associated with the occurrence of post-traumatic growth in parents. PTG in mothers is higher than in fathers. Predictors of PTG in fathers include the use of strategies aimed at seeking emotional support and positive reinterpretation and growth, while in the group of mothers, seeking emotional support, religious coping and planning were the coping strategies used. Research on post-traumatic growth should be expanded. Knowledge of the predictors of positive growth in a difficult situation can contribute to the widespread implementation of primary and secondary prevention of post-traumatic stress symptoms as well as increase positive changes in individuals who have experienced traumatic events.

Когда ребёнку нравится школа.

The publication contains answers of the doctor of pedagogical sciences, professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, Honored Scientist N.F. Vinogradova on readers’ questions related to the peculiarities of education and training of a hyperactive first-grader. Parents of such children are given specific pedagogical advice designed to help in the formation of a growing personality, organically combining the energy of cognitive initiative, the desire for self-realization with the ability to control and restrain oneself, to reckon with others, adequately assess their own behavior and the consequences of their actions. Teachers who have difficulties in working with hyperactive children are encouraged to follow a methodical approach that allows them to correct carefully their excessive emotional reactions, excessive self-esteem, inability to concentrate, fulfill the requirements of adults, follow disciplinary norms, while helping to keep the cognitive interest, desire to learn, positive attitude towards school.

Smart Enough to Talk With Us? Foundations and Challenges for Dialogue Capable AI Systems

Smart Enough to Talk With Us? Foundations and Challenges for Dialogue Capable AI Systems

Health-related quality of life of mothers of children with congenital heart disease in a sub-Saharan setting: cross-sectional comparative study

BackgroundWhile the Health Related Quality of Life of the children with congenital heart defects is primarily affected, caring for a child with birth defect has an impact on the family’s quality of life as well. Understanding the level of quality of life of the parents, which is likely to vary in different cultural settings, beliefs and parental educational status may help to implement educational programs and other interventional measures that may improve the HRQOL of parents of such children. This cross-sectional comparative study reports the health-related quality of life of mothers of children with congenital heart diseases in a sub-Saharan setting.ResultsMean age of the mothers in the study group was 32.2 ± 7.1 years where as that of the control group was 30.5 ± 6.5 years (p = .054). One hundred-four children had congenital cardiac lesions classified as mild to moderate while 31 patients had severe lesions. On average, mothers in the study group showed poor performance on the Short Form-36 (SF-36) with statistically significant differences on all sub-scales including general health perception, physical functioning, role physical, role emotional, social functioning, bodily pain, vitality and mental health. Severity of the congenital heart defect was not associated with statistically significant difference in the health-related quality of life of the mothers.ConclusionsMothers of children with congenital heart disease in our study have significantly lower quality of life in all domains of SF-36 compared to the control group. Planning and devising a strategy to support these mothers may need to be part of management and clinical care of children with congenital heart diseases.

Stigma in the Social Life among Mothers Having Children with Intellectual Disabilities: Challenges and Suggestions

This study examined the role of severity of children’s intellectual disability and perceived stigma in restriction in social life among the parents of such children .The correlational research design was used for this purpose. The sample for the study consisted of fifty one mother having intellectually disabled children of varying degree, aged between 3 to 15 years. The participants were sampled from different rehabilitation centers and special schools at Varanasi. They were administered Personal Care Assessment Form, Perceived Stigma Scale and Restriction of Social Life Scale. Correlation analysis was applied to see the relationship which revealed that the child’s activity limitation is significantly positively associated with stigma and restriction in social life. Stigma was also significantly positively associated with restricted social life. This paper highlights the growing need for interventions that include both behavioral and psychosocial components to better address needs of families of children with intellectual disability. It is concluded that there exists a need for future research on culturally sensitive parent training as well as on potentially efficient group-based parent education programs for families of children with moderate to profound intellectual disability.

Lived experiences in individual music therapy for mothers of children with special needs: a phenomenological study

Background: Raising a child with special needs can be challenging in many ways, and social and psychological support for the parents of such children is much needed especially when they are going through tough phases in their lives.Objective: This study looks at the meaning of individual music therapy for the mothers of children with special needs.Methods: Experiences in music therapy for five mothers of children with various special needs were investigated through in-depth interviews using the phenomenological approach developed by Giorgi.Results: For the five mothers, the experiences of individual music therapy provided time and opportunity to reflect on themselves and their relationships with others in the past and present. Various music therapy methods including song-discussion, song-biography, and improvisation were helpful in this process by letting the mothers feel and express their emotions.Discussion: Clinical implication will be presented and discussed further.

Validation of a new Lucknow Intelligence Screening Test for Indian children aged 9 to 15 yr

Identification of cognitive impairment in the community is vital for need based planning of rehabilitative services. There is a need for a screening questionnaire to detect subnormal intelligence in older children in the community. The aim of this study was to validate an indigenously developed screening tool for detecting intellectual disability in the community amongst children aged 9 to 15 yr. This study was conducted in Pediatric Outpatient Department of Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University Lucknow, India. A screening questionnaire was developed with learning, language, cognition and social domains. This was pretested and checked for reliability. It was then validated on 144 children aged 9 to 15 yr attending the hospital who were not acutely ill and whose parents consented for the study. A literate layperson with some training administered the screening questionnaire to parents of such children. Validation was done by a Child Psychologist using the Binet Kamat Test (Indian version of Stanford Binet test) and Seguin Form Board for intelligence quotient and Vineland Social Maturity Scale (Malin's-Indian version) for social quotient (SQ). Validation was considered positive if both intelligence quotient and SQ were less than 85 or if used alone SQ was less than 85. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 86.2% and 81.7% respectively. This study concludes that the Lucknow Intelligence Screening Test is a valid parent-administered intellectual disability-screening instrument for easy and effective use in the community.

Evaluation of Proper Parenting of Difficult Children and its Counseling Implication

A difficult child is a source of constant concern to the parent, teachers, relations and peers. There is an observable increase in the number of socially maladjusted children of primary school age in our society today. In some cases, parents and even teachers neither understand why these children exhibit certain difficult behaviours nor do they know how to manage such behaviours. This paper examines some “difficult” behaviours in primary school-aged children and discusses the modalities for the effective management of such difficult behaviours by parents of such children.

Stress-buffering effects of benefit finding on the psychological stress' response in mothers of children with developmental disorders

This study describes the development and evaluation of the Benefit Finding Scale in Developmental Disorder Parenting (BFS-DDP). Using this scale, we examined the stress-buffering effects of identifying positive implications and benefits of having a child with developmental disorders in parents of such children. The BFS- DDP was developed from a questionnaire survey of mothers (N = 265) of children with developmental disorders. Exploratory and confirmatory analysis identified four factors: (a) "deepened relationships," (b) "changed life," (c) "changed life philosophy," and (d) "personal strength." These factors had high degrees of internal consistency. Furthermore, BFS-DDP scores significantly correlated with measuring optimism and meaningfulness, indicating good convergent validity. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that benefit finding significantly decreased stress response in the presence of high stressors. These results suggest that benefit finding may have a stress-buffering effect.