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Purpose The aim was to describe the population of children with congenital or early infancy blindness in Sweden, with regard to causes of blindness and prevalence of neurodevelopmental impairments. Methods Medical, psychological and pedagogical records of Swedish children with congenital or early infancy blindness (total blindness or light perception at the most) born in 1988–2008 were analysed regarding year of birth, gender, cause of blindness, gestational age, associated neurological disorders/syndromes, associated neurodevelopmental impairments, cognitive level and type of school placement. Results A total of 150 individuals, 80 girls and 70 boys, were identified, corresponding to a prevalence of 7/100 000. Five causes of blindness dominated, constituting 76% of all represented aetiologies: retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH), Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), optic nerve atrophy (ONA) and microphthalmia/anophthalmia. Nearly three of four children in the study population had at least one additional disability besides blindness; the most common being intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). More than half of the population had more than one additional disability. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was most common in children with ONH, ROP, LCA and microphthalmia/anophthalmia. Conclusion In children born within the last decades, isolated blindness is uncommon and the rate of multidisabilities is high. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) seems to be more strongly associated with specific aetiological subgroups. Further development of the support to families and schools should be based on knowledge about the considerable heterogeneity of the population of children with blindness, and the common occurrence of coexisting neurodevelopmental disorders, especially ID and ASD.

BackgroundNo large-scale studies have specifically evaluated the outcomes of infantile spasms (IS) of unknown cause, previously known as cryptogenic or idiopathic. The Epilepsy Phenome/Genome Project aimed to characterize IS of unknown cause by phenotype and genotype analysis.MethodsWe undertook a retrospective multicenter observational cohort of 133 individuals within the Epilepsy Phenome/Genome Project database met criteria for IS of unknown cause with at least six months of follow-up data. Clinical medical records, imaging, and electroencephalography were examined.ResultsNormal development occurred in only 15% of IS of unknown cause. The majority (85%) had clinically documented developmental delay (15% mild, 20% moderate, and 50% severe) at last assessment (median 2.7 years; interquartile interval 1.71-6.25 years). Predictors of positive developmental outcomes included no delay prior to IS (P < 0.001), older age of IS onset (median six months old), and resolution of IS after initial treatment (P < 0.001). Additional seizures after IS occurred in 67%, with predictors being seizures prior to IS (P = 0.018), earlier age of IS onset (median five months old), and refractory IS (P = 0.008). On a research basis, whole exome sequencing identified 15% with de novo variants in known epilepsy genes. Individuals with a genetic finding were more likely to have poor developmental outcomes (P = 0.035).ConclusionsThe current study highlights the predominately unfavorable developmental outcomes and that subsequent seizures are common in children with IS of unknown cause. Ongoing genetic evaluation of IS of seemingly unknown cause is likely to yield a diagnosis and provide valuable prognostic information.

We characterized developmental outcomes of a large sample of siblings at familial high-risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who themselves did not have ASD (n = 859), and low-risk controls with no family history of ASD (n = 473). We report outcomes at age 3 years using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and adaptive functioning on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Around 11% of high-risk siblings had mild-to-moderate levels of developmental delay, a rate higher than the low-risk controls. The groups did not differ in the proportion of toddlers with mild-to-moderate language delay. Thirty percent of high-risk siblings had elevated scores on the ADOS, double the rate seen in the low-risk controls. High-risk siblings also had higher parent reported levels of ASD symptoms on the ADI-R and lower adaptive functioning on the Vineland. Males were more likely to show higher levels of ASD symptoms and lower levels of developmental ability and adaptive behavior than females across most measures but not mild-to-moderate language delay. Lower maternal education was associated with lower developmental and adaptive behavior outcomes. These findings are evidence for early emerging characteristics related to the "broader autism phenotype" (BAP) previously described in older family members of individuals with ASD. There is a need for ongoing clinical monitoring of high-risk siblings who do not have an ASD by age 3 years, as well as continued follow-up into school age to determine their developmental and behavioral outcomes. Autism Res 2017, 10: 169-178. © 2016 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The self-equilibrium hypothesis underlines the importance of having a strong core self, which is defined as a high and developmentally stable self-concept. This study tested this hypothesis in relation to body image (BI) trajectories in a sample of 1,006 adolescents (Mage = 12.6, including 541 males and 465 females) across a 4-year period. The results supported the self-equilibrium hypothesis among 3 profiles of adolescents, all characterized by matching BI levels and stability: (a) High (48.0%); (b) Increasing (34.1%); and (c) Decreasing (17.9%). Boys presented higher levels of BI, and the quality of relationships with peers and parents predicted initially more desirable trajectories across gender. By the end of the study, more positive academic outcomes were associated with the Decreasing profile, lower internalizing problems with the High profile, and lower externalizing problems with the High and the Increasing profiles.

The early preterm and SGA children show lower scores then term infants: high and medium scores were seen 84,8% in I Group; 47,1% in II group; and 48,1% in III group and 79,6% in Control group accordingly. Elementary school readiness scores was in

BackgroundExposure to parental chronic illness is associated with several adverse developmental outcomes.ObjectivesWe examined the association between parental multiple sclerosis (MS) and childhood developmental outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study in Manitoba, Canada, using linked databases. The outcome was childhood development at 5 years of age, expressed as vulnerability (absent vs. present) on the Early Development Instrument (EDI). Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsChildren with an MS parent (n=153) were similar to children of unaffected parents (n=876) on all EDI domains. However, mental health morbidity was more common among MS parents compared with non-MS parents 49.5% vs. 35.3%. Among MS parents, mental health morbidity was associated with children's vulnerability on the social competence (OR, 5.73 [95% CI:1.11-29.58]) and emotional maturity (OR, 3.03 [95% CI:1.03-8.94]) domains. The duration of child's exposure to parental MS was associated with vulnerability on the physical health domain (OR, 1.49 [95%CI:1.03-2.15]).ConclusionParental MS was not associated with adverse early childhood developmental outcomes. However, children of parents with mental health morbidity, and those with longer duration of exposure to parental MS, were at higher risk for early childhood developmental vulnerability.

In early childhood research, one of the most debated topics is that of early child care. This thesis draws upon data from Growing Up In Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children to explore the role of early child care in Australia. It examines the quality of early child care accessed by infants, the patterns of child care use across the early years and the impact of early child care experiences on academic, social-emotional and health outcomes at 6 to 7 years of age. Results indicate child care experiences vary considerably and suggest early child care experiences may have both positive and negative impacts upon later developmental outcomes.

BackgroundResuscitation following birth asphyxia reduces mortality, but may be argued to increase risk for neurodevelopmental disability in survivors.AimsTo test the hypothesis that development of infants who received resuscitation following birth asphyxia is not significantly different through 36months of age from infants who had healthy births.Study designProspective observational cohort design comparing infants exposed to birth asphyxia with resuscitation or healthy birth.SubjectsA random sample of infants with birth asphyxia who received bag-and-mask resuscitation was selected from birth records in selected communities in 3 countries.Exclusion criteriabirth weight<1500g, severely abnormal neurological examination at 7days, mother<15years, unable to participate, or not expected to remain in the target area. A random sample of healthy-birth infants (no resuscitation, normal neurological exam) was also selected. Eligible=438, consented=407, and ≥1 valid developmental assessment during the first 36months=376.Outcome measure(s)Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II Mental (MDI) and Psychomotor (PDI) Development Index.ResultsTrajectories of MDI (p=.069) and PDI (p=.143) over 3 yearly assessments did not differ between children with birth asphyxia and healthy-birth children. Rather there was a trend for birth asphyxia children to improve more than healthy-birth children.ConclusionsThe large majority of infants who are treated with resuscitation and survived birth asphyxia can be expected to evidence normal development at least until age 3. The risk for neurodevelopmental disability should not justify the restriction of effective therapies for birth asphyxia.

Children born in the moderate to late preterm (MLPT) period (32 to 36+6 weeks gestational age) represent an epidemiologically significant group of preterm children and there have been increasing concerns about their neurodevelopmental outcomes in recent years. Although numerous studies have documented the presence of communication and social functioning impairments in preterm children born at <32 weeks gestational age, comparatively very little is known about these outcomes in MLPT children. Therefore the primary aim of this study was to comprehensively examine the communication and social functioning outcomes in a group of MLPT children in comparison with a group of full term (FT) control children at two years corrected age. The relationships between specific environmental factors including social risk, primary caregiver mental health, and primary caregiver sensitivity with early communication and social functioning outcomes in MLPT and FT children were also assessed. The sample included 130 MLPT children and 34 FT children. Language and communication skills were evaluated directly using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Child Development-3rd Edition (Bayley-III) and by parental report using the social communication, speech, and symbolic composites on the Infant Toddler Checklist of the Communication and Symbolic Behaviour Scales-Developmental Profile (CSBS-DP ITC). Measures of social functioning were collected using the Social Emotional Questionnaire (SEQ) and Adaptive Behaviour Scale (ABS) of the Bayley-III as well as the Infant Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment (ITSEA), completed by the primary caregivers. Social risk was obtained via parental questionnaire at term- corrected age and at two years corrected age. Symptoms of parental anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scales (HADS), a parental questionnaire. Additionally, at the time of the two-year follow-up assessment, children and their primary caregiver participa

The European Union Nitric Oxide trial was designed to assess the potential benefits of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) compared with placebo in infants with respiratory failure. This follow-up study evaluated respiratory, neurodevelopmental, and other outcomes for infants entered into the European Union Nitric Oxide trial to age 2 years.

This thesis investigated the effect of early-life exposure to stress or corticosterone on fear retention and extinction across two generations of infant rats. In the first series of experiments rats were exposed to maternal-separation (MS) or standard-rearing (SR) from postnatal day (P) 2-14 before being assessed for fear retention (Chapter 2) and extinction (Chapter 3). In all experiments fear conditioning took place on P17. While SR rats exhibited typical infant memory, showing nearly complete forgetting of a fear association within a week, MS rats behaved more like adults and remembered a fear association for 30 days post-training. Infant SR rats also exhibited a form of extinction learning which was resistant to relapse and the extinguished fear memory was not recovered by a pre-test injection of FG7142 in those rats. On the other hand, MS rats showed relapse after extinction and a pre-test injection of FG7142 recovered the extinguished fear response in these rats. Taken together, these experiments provide strong evidence that MS led to an early transition between infant and adult-like fear retention and extinction systems. The second series of experiments (Chapter 4) examined whether the stress hormone corticosterone, administered either to the mother or directly to the pups, could mimic the effects of MS on infant fear retention and extinction. Corticosterone administered through either method led to an early transition between the infant and adult-like fear retention and extinction systems. The third and final series of experiments (Chapter 5) examined whether the early transition in fear retention and extinction systems was also apparent in the first generation offspring of male rats that had been exposed to MS (MS-F1) or SR (SR-F1). While SR-F1 rats exhibited typical infant fear retention and extinction behaviour (i.e., rapid forgetting and no relapse after extinction), MS-F1 rats exhibited better fear retention and showed some relapse after extinction, sug

The paper offers a review of literature on resilience, the term which refers to successful adaptation of the individual despite life hardships. Different approaches to conceptualizing and studying this phenomenon are critically analyzed: the approach according to which resilience is described, the approach which relates resilience to developmental outcomes, and the approach which equates resilience with the processes of neutralization of negative influences and reaching positive outcomes. Special attention is paid to the so-called integrative approach to studying resilience which reflects the efforts of the contemporary authors to encompass the achievements of different approaches. To illustrate, presented is a suggestion of transactional framework for the study of resilience which stresses its multidimensionality and includes an elaborated set of relevant constructs. The author‘s intention was to indicate to the importance of studying resilience and to conceptual and methodological obstacles for enhancing knowledge in this area., U radu je dat pregled literature o rezilijentnosti, pod kojom se generalno podrazumeva uspešna adaptacija pojedinca uprkos životnim nedaćama. Kritički su razmotreni različiti pristupi u konceptualizaciji i istraživanju ovog fenomena: pristup prema kome se rezilijentnost opisuje i meri kao kvalitet, odnosno karakteristika pojedinca i njegovog okruženja, pristup koji povezuje rezilijentnost sa razvojnim ishodima i pristup koji rezilijentnost izjednačava sa procesima neutralizacije negativnih uticaja i ostvarivanja pozitivnih ishoda. Posebna pažnja je posvećena tzv. integrativnom pristupu u proučavanju rezilijentnosti koji predstavlja odraz nastojanja savremenih autora da objedine dostignuća različitih pristupa. Ilustracije radi, prikazan je predlog transakcionog okvira za proučavanje rezilijentnosti koji naglašava njenu višedimenzionalnost i obuhvata čitav niz relevantnih konstrukata. Namera autora bila je da ukažu na značaj proučavanja fenomena rezilijentnosti, ali i na konceptualne i metodološke zapreke koje stoje na putu unapređivanja znanja u ovoj oblasti.

Background Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a common complication of prematurity, with those being discharged on home oxygen at particularly high risk of adverse developmental outcomes. Aims To compare the developmental patterns, from 1 to 4 years, of extremely preterm infants with BPD discharged from hospital on home oxygen, extremely preterm infants with BPD discharged breathing room air, and extremely preterm infants without BPD. Subjects Two hundred and seventy-six infants with a gestational age of < 28 weeks or birthweight < 1000 g, free from sensory and motor disabilities who were followed up longitudinally to 4 years corrected age. Outcome measures Children were assessed on the Griffiths Mental Development Scales at 1 and 2 years corrected age, and the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities at 4 years corrected age. Results The developmental trajectories of the three groups did not differ significantly, however at 1 year corrected age the non-BPD group had significantly higher developmental scores than both BPD groups. At 2 years corrected age the non-BPD group had significantly higher developmental scores than the BPD-home oxygen group, and at 4 years corrected age no differences between the groups were evident. Conclusions Extremely preterm children with BPD exhibited an initial developmental lag compared to preterm peers. Children with BPD discharged breathing room air had developmental scores at 2 years corrected age that were comparable to the non-BPD group, but those discharged on home oxygen still had lower developmental scores. At 4 years, no differences between the groups were evident.

Many opportunities for service participation are emerging in educational institutions. While research has found effects of service in multiple developmental domains, variations associated with the context of service, and the students' gender, have not been examined. The current study examines 612 undergraduates participating in service activities in one of three contexts: service-learning course, co-curricular service, or America Reads America Counts (ARAC). Service-learning students were classified into low and high reflection groups. Self-report questionnaires measured perceived citizenship, leadership, and diversity outcomes. ARAC students reported higher scores on most items, with ARAC and high reflection curricular scores often significantly higher than low reflection curricular and co-curricular students. ARAC students likely reported more positive outcomes because of the time commitment required for their employment, and high reflection curricular students presumably reported more positive outcomes because of the integration of the service experience with their coursework. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.