Processing Problems In Children Research Articles

Sensory Processing in Children and Adolescents with Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Despite the evidence of elevated autistic behaviors and co-occurring neurodevelopmental difficulties in many children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), we have a limited understanding of the sensory processing challenges that may occur with the condition. This study examined the sensory profile of children and adolescents with NF1 and investigated the relationships between the sensory profiles and patient characteristics and neuropsychological functioning. The parent/caregivers of 152 children with NF1 and 96 typically developing children completed the Sensory Profile 2 (SP2), along with standardized questionnaires assessing autistic behaviors, ADHD symptoms, internalizing symptoms, adaptive functioning, and social skills. Intellectual functioning was also assessed. The SP2 data indicated elevated sensory processing problems in children with NF1 compared to typically developing children. Over 40% of children with NF1 displayed differences in sensory registration (missing sensory input) and were unusually sensitive to and unusually avoidant of sensory stimuli. Sixty percent of children with NF1 displayed difficulties in one or more sensory modalities. Elevated autistic behaviors and ADHD symptoms were associated with more severe sensory processing difficulties. This first detailed assessment of sensory processing, alongside other clinical features, in a relatively large cohort of children and adolescents with NF1 demonstrates the relationships between sensory processing differences and adaptive skills and behavior, as well as psychological well-being. Our characterization of the sensory profile within a genetic syndrome may help facilitate more targeted interventions to support overall functioning.

Attentional modulation of interhemispheric (a)symmetry in children with developmental language disorder

The nature of auditory processing problems in children with developmental language disorder (DLD) is still poorly understood. Much research has been devoted to determining the extent to which DLD is associated with general auditory versus language-specific dysfunction. However, less emphasis has been given to the role of different task conditions in these dysfunctions. We explored whether children with DLD demonstrate atypical interhemispheric asymmetry during the auditory processing of speech and non-speech sounds and whether this interhemispheric balance is modulated by attention. Magnetoencephalography was used to record auditory evoked fields in 18 children (9 to 10 years old), 9 with DLD and 9 with language typical development, during active or passive listening to speech and non-speech sounds. A linear mixed model analysis revealed a bilateral effect of attention in both groups. Participants with DLD demonstrated atypical interhemispheric asymmetry, specifically in the later (185–600 ms) time window but only during the passive listening condition. During the active task, the DLD group did not differ from the typically developed children in terms of hemispheric balance of activation. Our results support the idea of an altered interhemispheric balance in passive auditory response properties in DLD. We further suggest that an active task condition, or top–down attention, can help to regain leftward lateralization, particularly in a later stage of activation. Our study highlights the highly dynamic and interhemispheric nature of auditory processing, which may contribute to the variability in reports of auditory language processing deficits in DLD.

Children with developmental language disorder: a frequency following response in the noise study

IntroductionChildren with developmental language disorder have been reported to have poor temporal auditory processing. This study aimed to examine the frequency following response. ObjectiveThis work aimed to investigate speech processing in quiet and in noise. MethodsTwo groups of children were included in this work: the control group (15 children with normal language development) and the study group (25 children diagnosed with developmental language disorder). All children were submitted to intelligence scale, language assessment, full audiological evaluation, and frequency following response in quiet and noise (+5QNR and +10QNR). ResultsResults showed no statically significant difference between both groups as regards IQ or PTA. In the study group, the advanced analysis of frequency following response showed reduced F0 and F2 amplitudes. Results also showed that noise has an impact on both the transient and sustained components of the frequency following response in the same group. ConclusionChildren with developmental language disorder have difficulty in speech processing especially in the presence of background noise. Frequency following response is an efficient procedure that can be used to address speech processing problems in children with developmental language disorder.

Caregivers’ Perspective About the Levels of Sensory Processing Problems in Children With Autism

Caregivers’ Perspective About the Levels of Sensory Processing Problems in Children With Autism

Longitudinal assessment of stability of sensory features in children with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities.

Prior research on the stability of sensory processing problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental disabilities (DD) has produced inconsistent results. We employed a longitudinal study design to assess the stability of three clinical sensory response patterns: hyporesponsiveness; hyperresponsiveness; and sensory interests, repetitions, and seeking behaviors (SIRS). Parents of children with ASD (n = 55) or DD (n = 35) responded to sensory questionnaires at two time points (T1 and T2) separated by 3.3 years on average, with the children aged 2-12 years (M = 5.69 ± 2.46) at the first assessment. For each sensory response pattern, regression analysis revealed that, for both ASD and DD groups, scores at T1 were strong predictors of scores at T2. Over the longitudinal assessment interval, there was a significant mean decline in severity for SIRS in both groups and for hyporesponsiveness in the ASD group. Parental estimates of the amount of therapy services received were positively associated with the severity of sensory features at T2, an outcome that may result from increased intervention dosages being administered to children who fail to improve over time. The results are discussed in terms of person-centered and environmental considerations, which, in combination, have the capacity to affect stability outcomes for sensory features. Autism Research 2019, 12: 100-111. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD) may process sensory information differently from those who do not have ASD. For example, some children may be over-responsive or under-responsive to sound or touch. In this study, we showed that sensory features in preschool/school-aged children with ASD and DD tend to decrease on average over a several year period. However, individual children tend to retain their ranking (low or high in sensory features) in comparison to other children over time.

Olfactory functioning in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Introduction: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by a persistent pattern of behavior, present in two or more settings that can negatively impact on social, academic or occupational functioning. Children with ADHD tend to have one or more sensory processing problems. Very few studies have investigated olfactory impairment in children with ADHD and results are not consistent. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the olfactory functioning in group of children with ADHD compared with healthy children matched for age, gender and school achievement. Method: We have analyzed a group of 24 children with diagnosis of ADHD according to DSM-V, aged 7-14 years, as well as 26 healthy control subjects with no data of any behavioral or psychological problem. Assessment of the olfactory identification and discrimination was performed using the Sniffin' Stick test of nasal chemosensory performance. Results: There were no significant differences among two groups of participants in terms of age, gender and school achievement. The mean (SD) age of patients and healthy children was 11, 57 (2, 32) and 11, 95 (1, 77) respectively. Significant differences between the two groups were evident in the both domains of olfactory function. According to odor discrimination we found statistically significant difference between the ADHD and control group (p<0.05) and according to odor identification we found high statistical significant difference (p<0.001). Conclusion: Olfactory function in children with ADHD has been a topic of increasing interest. The results of our study suggest olfactory impairment in two different domains of olfactory functioning. We believe that dopaminergic dysregulation is one of underlying mechanism of this phenomenon. Future studies with large sample size could include all three domain of olfactory functions as well as other sensory processing problems in children with ADHD.

Postural control and sensory information integration abilities of boys with two subtypes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a case-control study

Background Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder in childhood. ADHD children with overlapping symptoms and signs of motor problems have more serious prognosis than that of children with ADHD only. However, the motor and sensory processing problems in children with ADHD have not been studied well. Few people adopt the technique of computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) in the study of ADHD, which is applied widely in clinical and laboratory research to objectively evaluate human's balance performance. This study aimed to assess the characteristics of postural control and sensory information processing of boys with two subtypes of ADHD by using CDP, so as to provide the proof for non-drug therapy of ADHD. Method From June 2003 to September 2004, a total of 73 boys (7–15 years of age) with ADHD and 73 normal developing boys matched by age and intelligence quotient from Peking University Institute of Mental Health were recruited in the study. The Sensory Organization Test was adopted to test the static balance performance under six sensory input conditions by SMART EquiTest 8.0 (NeuroCom) instrument. The sensory information from three sensory systems were available under condition 1, the visual inputs were removed or distorted under condition 2 or 3, the somatosensory inputs were in conflict with or without the visual inputs removed under condition 4 or 5, and both the visual and somatosensory inputs were in conflict under condition 6. The indexes of equilibrium score, somatosensory, vestibular, and visual ratios, and strategy scores were analyzed to indicate the subjects’ postural control ability. Results ADHD boys had significantly lower composite equilibrium score (CES) than the normal group (P &lt;0.05). Under condition 1 and conditions 3–6, the equilibrium scores (ES) of the ADHD group were significantly lower (all P &lt;0.05) than those of the control. Significantly lower visual and vestibular ratios and strategy scores under conditions 4–6 were found in boys with ADHD compared with the control group (P &lt;0.05). Boys of ADHD-predominantly inattentive (ADHD-I) type had a significantly lower CES and ES under conditions 4–6 than the controls (all P &lt;0.05) while the ESs of ADHD-combined type (ADHD-C) boys under each condition were similar with that of boys with ADHD-I and no significant difference was found between boys with ADHD-C and the control group (all P &gt;0.05). Compared with the control group, the ADHD-I boys showed significantly lower visual and vestibular ratios and strategy scores under conditions 4–6 whereas the ADHD-C boys showed a trend of lower visual ratio (all P &lt;0.05). Conclusions ADHD boys had a poorer static postural control ability and impaired function of processing visual and vestibular information compared with the normal control. Boys with ADHD-I showed particularly severe defect of static postural control and vestibular function integrating conflict information than normal boys. These deficits may be an important contributor to the clinical presentation of ADHD children and their cognitive deficits. Assessment and training of postural control function would be suggested during the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD children.

Assessing Sensory Processing Problems in Children With and Without Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ABSTRACTAims: This exploratory study investigated whether children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk than children without ADHD for problems with sensory processing and if certain sensory systems are more closely associated with the core symptoms of ADHD, specifically inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. Methods: The sample included 20 children with ADHD and 27 children without ADHD, ages 5 to 10 years. Assessments included the Sensory Processing Measure-Home Form and the Conners 3rd edition-Parent Short Form. Results: After controlling for age, children with ADHD exhibited more sensory processing problems on all scales of the Sensory Processing Measure with small to medium effect sizes observed (η2 = .27 to .61). For children with ADHD, the Social Participation (r = .50) and Planning and Ideas (r = .73) subtests of the Sensory Processing Measure were significantly associated with hyperactivity/impulsivity, but not with inattention on the subtests of the Conners Parent Short Form. Conclusion: The results suggest the importance of assessing sensory processing issues in children with ADHD to guide in the intervention process.

Sensory Processing Problems in Children with ADHD, a Systematic Review

One of the most common psychiatric disorders in children is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Its course and outcome are heterogeneous. Sensory processing problems impact the nature of response to daily events. ADHD and sensory problems may occur together and interact. No published review article about sensory processing problems in children with ADHD were found. A systematic search, conducted on Pub-Med (up to January 2010), and Google Scholar, yielded 255 abstracts on sensory processing problems in children including 11 studies about sensory problems in children with ADHD. Sensory processing problems in children with ADHD is not a well studied area. Sensory processing problems in children with ADHD are more common than in typically developing children. Findings do not support that ADHD subtypes are distinct disorders with regard to sensory processing problems. However, co-morbidity with oppositional defiant disorder and anxiety are predictors of more severe sensory processing problems in children with ADHD.

Associations Between Key Language-Related Measures in Typically Developing School-Age Children

Associations Between Key Language-Related Measures in Typically Developing School-Age Children

Different origin of auditory and phonological processing problems in children with language impairment: evidence from a twin study.

This study investigated the heritability of auditory processing impairment, as assessed by Tallal's Auditory Repetition Test (ART). The sample consisted of 37 same-sex twin pairs who had previously been selected because one or both twins met criteria for language impairment (LI) and 104 same-sex twin pairs in the same age range (7 to 13 years) from the general population. These samples yielded 55 children who met criteria for LI, who were compared with 76 children whose language was normal for their age (LN group). We replicated earlier work showing that group LI is impaired relative to group LN on ART. However, there was no evidence of a heritable influence on ART scores: Correlations between twins and their co-twins were reasonably high for both MZ and DZ twins, suggesting that performance is more influenced by shared environment than genetic factors. Analyses of extreme scores gave a similar picture of nonsignificant group heritability. In contrast, a test of phonological short-term memory, the Children's Nonword Repetition Test (CNRep), gave high estimates of group heritability. In general, CNRep was a better predictor of low language test scores than ART, but ART did make a significant independent contribution in accounting for variance in a test of grammatical understanding.

Language, Achievement, and Cognitive Processing in Psychiatrically Disturbed Children with Previously Identified and Unsuspected Language Impairments

This study examined the language, achievement, and cognitive characteristics of 380 children, aged 7 to 14 years, consecutively referred to child psychiatric services. Among those children referred solely for psychiatric problems, 40% had a language impairment that had never been suspected. Children with previously identified and unsuspected language impairments were similar with respect to receptive and expressive language and on measures of cognitive processing. Although both groups of children with language impairments exhibited poorer academic achievement than children with normal language, children with previously identified language impairments had the lowest achievement. The milder achievement problems of children with unsuspected language impairment may explain why their problems had not been suspected. Both the clinical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed. Heightened awareness concerning the high frequency of language impairment and other cognitive processing problems in children referred for psychiatric assessment and treatment should lead to more systematic examination of language functioning and evaluation of the impact of language and communication functioning on therapeutic outcomes.

Language, Achievement, and Cognitive Processing in Psychiatrically Disturbed Children with Previously Identified and Unsuspected Language Impairments

This study examined the language, achievement, and cognitive characteristics of 380 children, aged 7 to 14 years, consecutively referred to child psychiatric services. Among those children referred solely for psychiatric problems, 40% had a language impairment that had never been suspected. Children with previously identified and unsuspected language impairments were similar with respect to receptive and expressive language and on measures of cognitive processing. Although both groups of children with language impairments exhibited poorer academic achievement than children with normal language, children with previously identified language impairments had the lowest achievement. The milder achievement problems of children with unsuspected language impairment may explain why their problems had not been suspected. Both the clinical and theoretical implications of the findings are discussed. Heightened awareness concerning the high frequency of language impairment and other cognitive processing problems in children referred for psychiatric assessment and treatment should lead to more systematic examination of language functioning and evaluation of the impact of language and communication functioning on therapeutic outcomes.

Myelination of the Corpus Callosum and Auditory Processing Problems in Children: Theoretical and Clinical Correlates

Myelination of the Corpus Callosum and Auditory Processing Problems in Children: Theoretical and Clinical Correlates