Slight Disabilities Research Articles

Virtual reality-based real-time solution for children with learning disabilities and slow learners - an innovative attempt

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a type of developmental disorder generally characterised by slow learning and impairments in communication and social interactions, accompanied by repetitive behaviour and limited interests. This product is an innovative attempt to support and address this issue by providing a means to assist in diagnosing ASD using telemedicine approach and also to provide an interactive and effective means of learning for children diagnosed with ASD or children with slight learning disabilities. The system features games that have been proven to be effective with children diagnosed with ASD. Virtual reality which is being speculated to be a powerful tool in helping children with learning difficulties has been used to enhance the effectiveness of these games. The concept of dynamic difficulty is also integrated into the game in order to increase or decrease the challenge of each level depending on the performance of the child which further increases the effectiveness of the game.

TĖVŲ, AUGINANČIŲ AUTIZMĄ TURINČIUS VAIKUS, POŽIŪRIO Į VAIKO ATEITĮ NARATYVASTĖVŲ, AUGINANČIŲ AUTIZMĄ TURINČIUS VAIKUS, POŽIŪRIO Į VAIKO ATEITĮ NARATYVAS

Young people with disabilities are one of the most sensitive groups of society because they are discriminated against by stereotypes of disability, sewing in the labor market and education. This is acknowledged by organizations operating in the field of international human rights and disability, which are mentioned in documents protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, are reflected in the researches of Lithuanian and foreign scientists. A child’s autism diagnosis affects every member of the family in different ways. Parents / caregivers must now place their primary focus on helping their child with ASD, which may put stress on their marriage, other children, work, finances, and personal relationships and responsibilities. The theoretical part of the article examines disabilities, conceptual basics of a autism. The empirical part is compliant with a provision that a human life can be understood by analysing one’s experience, opinions, worldview, and context. The justification of the research methodology – narrative analysis – is presented. The study involves demographic characteristics of fourth people – parents (male sex), circumstances of research data collection, the role of the researcher is revealed. Data processing is carried out in accordance with the methodological requirements of the dialogical narrative analysis. Conclusions are drawn with regard to the phenomenon – perception of the career of young people with slight intellectual disabilities.

Primate Version of Modified Rankin Scale for Classifying Dysfunction in Rhesus Monkeys.

Background and Purpose- Nonhuman primates are increasingly used in translational studies of ischemic stroke. However, current scoring systems in monkeys (eg, Nonhuman Primate Stroke Scale) do not focus on impairments in activities of daily living, so clinically relevant data are scarce for evaluating functional deficits in this model. Methods- Here, we referenced the modified Rankin Scale to provide a primate version of Rankin Scale (pRS) for ranking neurological dysfunction in monkeys following stroke. We selected hand function and strength, level of activity, and general mobility as the main components of pRS. We also analyzed interobserver variability. Results- pRS is a simple scale with only 6 levels. Functional deficit can be easily classified into none (category 0), slight (categories 1-2), moderate (category 3-4), and severe disabilities (category 5) based on pRS. We validated this scoring system on 11 monkeys, all with varying levels of neurological dysfunction following stroke, assessed by blinded testers. After a short training period, both technicians and neurology residents were able to achieve a high level of consistency using this scoring system. Conclusions- pRS is a simple and reliable functional scale, similar to the widely used modified Rankin Scale, for evaluating long-term neurological dysfunction in nonhuman primates. We recommend further validation studies and analyses.

Microsurgical clipping of paraclinoid aneurysms

Background. Paraclinoid aneurysm is a nonspecific term that includes ophthalmic segment aneurysms and distal cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms. The literature mostly described the frequency to be in the range of 1.3-5%. and a high incidence of being multiple or having a large size.
 Methods. A retrospective review of 18 consecutive patients surgically treated for paraclinoid aneurysm was performed. The data of all our consecutive patients were searched to obtain patient and aneurysm characteristics, treatment details, complications and follow up. Clinical outcome was graded according to the modified Rankin scale. The follow-up period varied widely from 3 to 62 months (mean 26 months).
 Results. Surgical clipping was performed for 15 ruptured paraclinoid aneurysms; only in 3 cases the aneurysm was unruptured. Post-operative control angiography was performed in 10 patients (55.56%), from which we reported a full occlusion of the aneurysm in 9 patients (90%). Best results were obtained in patients who preoperatively were included in 1st and 2nd grade of Hunt & Hess scale. Two months postoperative follow-up was complete for all but one patient who died 12 days after surgery, from cerebral ischemia resulting from severe cerebral vasospasm. There were excellent and good results (mRS 0–2) in 88% of the cases (15 out of 17 patients) at two months follow-up, and 94% (16 out of 17 patients) at six months follow-up. Three patients with slight disabilities, ranked mRS 1-2 at two months follow-up, improved to mRS 0, with no symptoms at all, at 6 months postoperative control. All 3 patients with a surgically treated non-ruptured paraclinoid aneurysm had an excellent outcome (mRS 0).
 Conclusions. Most appropriate treatment is to occlude aneurysms without compromising patency of the parent artery. Anterior clinoidectomy and microsurgical clipping can still be a standard treatment despite of recent development of endovascular coiling procedures.

Economic education – Children with slight intellectual disabilities on the road to adulthood

The article presents the issue of children and adolescents with slight intellectual disabilities acquiring basic economic skills. Their taking on the roles of the participants of socioeconomic reality in adulthood requires training in an area that is neglected in school and home education. In the contemporary world, preparing a conscious consumer and participant of the economy, starting from the earliest age, becomes one of the most important tasks of education. That is why the economic education/socialization of children with slight intellectual disabilities should start early – from gradually introducing them into the world of a small household economy in the family and educational interventions at school. The article provides both a definition and a short description of the economic socialization of children; it also presents study findings regarding the understanding of the monetary system by children with intellectual disabilities and their ability to count money in buy/sell situations as well as findings and educational guidelines on the economic education of children with intellectual disabilities, including parents’ role in teaching children to manage their pocket money in a rational way.

Influence of municipal policy and individual characteristics on the use of informal and formal domestic help in the Netherlands

BackgroundThe responsibility for care and social support in the Netherlands has been decentralized to the municipalities, on the assumption that they are able to organise care and social support more effectively and efficiently. Municipalities are responsible for offering citizens the social support they need. They have policy discretion to decide how and to what extent they encourage and support the use of informal help. This article explored whether the local policy focus on informal or formal help influences the actual take-up of domestic help. MethodsData on 567 physically disabled people who use informal or formal help in the household were linked to local policy data in 167 municipalities. We performed multilevel multinomial regression analyses. Since we expected that local policy will have more influence on people with slight or moderate disabilities, cohabitees and people aged under 75, cross-level interaction terms were included between characteristics of local policy and of individuals. ResultsThe findings reveal differences between municipalities in their policy on support and differences in the use of formal or informal support between municipalities. ConclusionsWe found no relationship between local emphasis on informal help and the use of informal help. Possible explanations: some people have a small social network, people using informal help did not apply for municipality support or even do not know the possibility exists.

The Effects of Demonstration Experiments on Intellectually Disabled Learners’ Understanding the Science of Chemistry

This research examines the effects of demonstration experiment and worksheet practices on slightly intellectually disabled students’ understanding the science of chemistry and the fields of application. The students with slight intellectual disabilities attending job learning schools in Ankara were included in the research. At the implementation stage of the research, a demonstration experiment was done in relation to matter and its properties, and worksheets prepared were administered to the students. For data collection purposes, video and audio recordings of in-class interviews in addition to observations and worksheets were used. Consequently, the data were analysed and evaluated.

A Study on the Effectiveness of Strengths Based on Case Management : Support of Community Living for People with Slight Intellectual Disabilities

A Study on the Effectiveness of Strengths Based on Case Management : Support of Community Living for People with Slight Intellectual Disabilities

Severe Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome in a Neonate

We report on a child with blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) presenting during the first days of life with severe bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract. Medical treatment with methylprednisolone, cyklokapron, interferon 1 alpha and numerous blood transfusions were given to control bleeding during the first 3 years of life. Afterwards repeated endoscopic electrocoagulation were performed over a period of one year resulting in a termination of bleeding episodes. At ten years of age the patient developed spastic diplegia with slight walking disabilities, coordination and fine motor problems. The case is unique because 1) it is the first neonatal case with BRBNS and severe gastrointestinal bleeding; 2) the patient was successfully treated by endoscopic electrocoagulation; and 3) the long-term follow-up. The use of electrocoagulation appears to have been effective and ablation of the stomach could be avoided until now.

Clinical outcome after surgery of intracranial unruptured aneurysms: results of a series between 1991 and 2001.

The clinical results of surgery for unruptured aneurysms in the Neurosurgical Department of Kiel were analyzed to further discuss whether an operative treatment can be advised. Between 1991 and 2001, 54 unruptured aneurysms in 45 patients were operated in our department. No complications occurred in 38 patients; transient complications (slight aphasia, hemiparesis, psychiatric disorders) in 4 patients; postoperative seizures in one, epidural haematoma with the need of re-operation in one, and infection in another patient. At the time of discharge, GOS was 5 in 33 patients, 4 in 12 patients. But the slight disabilities were due to the aneurysm operation only in two patients, in the other 10 patients they were caused by pre-existing concomitant diseases. The Rankin-Scale after at least 6 months was 1 (no disability) in 31 patients (37 patients investigated); 2 (slight disability) in 5, and 3 (moderate disability) in one patient. In only one of these patients, the slight disability was caused by the aneurysm operation. During a telephone interview performed between 6 months and 7 years after the operation, all patients except two (31 patients investigated) gave a positive answer to the question, whether, in case of diagnosis of an aneurysm, they would undergo an operation again. Regarding our results, we still advocate treatment of unruptured aneurysms in patients who are in stable clinical conditions, especially in young patients and in patients with unique aneurysm configurations and aneurysm sizes approaching 10 mm.

96 DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF HYPERPHENYLALANI N-AEMIA (HPA) AND FOLLOW UP OF SEVEN PATIENTS WITH TETRAHYDROBIOPTERIN (BH4) DEFICIENCY

HPA is either due to phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency or to BH4 deficiency. The latter should be excluded in all newborns with HPA using three methods: (1) oral BH4 loading test; (2) measurement of dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) activity in erythrocytes; (3) investigation of the urinary pterin pattern. From 1979 until 1987 seven patients with BH4 deficiency have been detected in Munich. One of two girls with severe 6-pyruvoyl tetrahydropterin synthase (PTS) deficiency has been treated since the age of 7 weeks. Her psychomotor development is now, at the age of 11 years, normal whereas the other girl, 13 years of age, who has been treated since the age of 7 years, shows marked developmental delay. Three out of four patients with partial PTS deficiency (now 6-9 years of age) developed normally, the 4th patient (6 years old), however, presents with slight psychomotor disabilities. Early treatment of a patient with DHPR deficiency was highly unsatisfactory. This boy died at the age of 23 months.

Spontaneous intracerebral haematomas. Clinical and computertomographic findings and long-term outcome after surgical treatment.

Fifty-four patients, aged 15 to 81 years had a spontaneous intracerebral haematoma surgically removed (51 patients) or had ventricular drainage. One-third had arterial hypertension. Two thirds were alert or drowsy preoperatively and two thirds presented with hemiparesis or decerebrate rigidity. Lobar haematomas constituted 72%, deep supratentorial constituted 21% and cerebellar haematomas 7%. Volume of the haematomas ranged from 10 to 205 ml. 10 patients died in the early postoperative phase and 8 patients died later. Among 36 survivors, 35 were evaluated 15-115 months postoperatively. 10 had resumed part of their earlier occupation. Another 12 were incapacitated and the remaining 13 patients needed nursing care. No patient was neurologically or neuropsychologically intact, but 19 had only slight disabilities. CT-changes at follow-up ranged from no abnormalities at all to low-density lesions, possibly associated with dilatation of a lateral ventricle or porencephaly depending on the size of the haematoma and possible ventricular penetration. Surgical evacuation of ICH is recommended in lobar or deep supratentorial haematomas exceeding 20 ml except in patients older than 60 already unconscious. Smaller haematomas with intraventricular extension may benefit from ventricular drainage or, in the fossa posterior, even from evacuation in case of increasing brain stem compression.

Disabilities caused by road traffic accidents and their relation to severity scores

The disabilities incurred by 2502 road accident patients admitted in three separate years to an Accident Hospital have been analysed. There were about equal numbers of disabled among pedestrians, motorcyclists and vehicle occupants. This corresponds to the high relative frequency and severity of injuries among motorcyclists. Most of the serious disabilities were caused by head or lower limb injuries. Different severities of disability were not closely correlated with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), (ISS) or (PI) scores or with treatment periods but useful threshold values are described which separate groups with high and low rates of disability. For given severities of injury, disabilities were less severe among young casualties. Comparisons with other studies show rather wide variations in estimates of the incidence of slight disabilities. There is fair agreement with the present findings that serious disabilities occur in about 3% of inpatient hospital cases or in about 1% of total casualties.

Disabilities caused by road traffic accidents and their relation to severity scores

The disabilities incurred by 2502 road accident patients admitted in three separate years to an Accident Hospital have been analysed. There were about equal numbers of disabled among pedestrians, motorcyclists and vehicle occupants. This corresponds to the high relative frequency and severity of injuries among motorcyclists. Most of the serious disabilities were caused by head or lower limb injuries. Different severities of disability were not closely correlated with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), (ISS) or (PI) scores or with treatment periods but useful threshold values are described which separate groups with high and low rates of disability, For given severities of injury, disabilities were less severe among young casualties, Comparisons with other studies show rather wide variations in estimates of the incidence of slight disabilities. There is fair agreement with the present findings that serious disabilities occur in about 3% of inpatient hospital cases or in about 1% of total casualties.

Studies of the liver function test in various diseases of the thyroid gland.

By the use of various liver function tests, it was found that slight or moderate hepatic disabilities which seemed to be due to chronic lesions such as circhosis and chronic hepatitis was noticeable. In patients of hyperthyroidism hepatic disabilities were found 75 per cent and in patients of primary myxedema they were found in all of them and cured after successful treatment.Hepatomegary is the most striking sign of liver damage and shows a tendency to be related to the grade of basal metabolic rate in hyperthyroidism.Half quantitative estimation of urobilinogen in the urine is the most convenient and simple screening test for hepatic disabilities in hyperthyroidism and myxedema.There is some relation between the grade of basal metabolic rates and the number of abnormal liver function tests;all the patients whose basal metabolic rates are below 30 per cent have no sign of liver damage and then as the basal metabolic rates increases the number of abnormal liver function tests increases the number of abnormal liver function tests increase gradually.Hyperbilirubinemia is usually mild and rare as it has been said so.Excretory function examined by utilization of bromsulphalein test is rather hard to be injured in hyperthyroidism.In simple goiter, it seems to be the rule that there is no liver damage unless there are any complications.

The significance of individual differences in relation to reading

be referred to medical care as early as they are discovered or as it is possible for them to do it. However, there is another kind of remedial work to which I want to direct your special attention. It offers a real opportunity for effective measures with very little effort and does not require highly specialized assistance. It has been pointed out in these remarks that two very definite conditions exist. Namely, that the preponderance of hearing impairments among the pupils of the public schools is of the mild type, averaging only less than twenty-five per cent loss, and that a great factor in the handicaps of this type is adverse acoustic conditions. Many of the cases of hearing impairment-about one-third of the total cases-are seriously impaired in only one ear. This means that about all that is needed to meet the conditions of the majority of cases is careful seating so that they are placed in the most favorable location with reference to the principal sources of sound, supervision, and direction. In cases of unilateral deafness the best ear should be put forward, for it is possible to put the best ear forward just as it is to put the best foot forward. The fact that the component parts of speech sounds vary greatly in intensity or loudness raises the slight disabilities described to a point of major importance. The vowels contribute to the loudness of speech; but its intelligibility depends upon the initial and final consonants of the syllables. These consonants are extremely weak by comparison with the vowels and may be easily obliterated by slight losses.