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Introduction: Individuals with developmental coordination disorder frequently report emotional and functional difficulties. A stressful era as COVID-19 pandemic may enhance emotional load. The present study aimed to (1) examine the emotional distress and quality of life among adults with developmental coordination disorder during COVID-19 as compared to typical controls, and (2) examine the relationships between these factors in adults with developmental coordination disorder. Method: Participants were 317 adults, aged 18–66, recruited during the first year of COVID-19: 227 were included in the developmental coordination disorder group, and 90 in the control group (normal motor performance) based on the Adult Developmental Co-ordination Disorders/Dyspraxia Checklist cutoff score. Participants completed a sociodemographic health status/daily life under COVID-19 questionnaire and self-reports about their emotional status (depression, anxiety, stress) and a quality of life. Results: The developmental coordination disorder group had significantly greater depression, anxiety, stress, and lower quality of life. Participants with developmental coordination disorder who were infected by COVID-19 or reported reduction of working hours due to COVID-19 had the lowest social and environmental quality of life. Depression significantly predicted reduced quality of life and mediated between developmental coordination disorder severity and quality of life. Conclusions: Prevention and intervention programs for adults with developmental coordination disorder should be elaborated, with reference to emotional load and to implications on daily life, especially in times of crisis, like COVID-19.

Introduction The present study aimed to identify signs of frequent fall-related body dysfunction (depression/cognition) as exhibited in daily activities among older adults. The role of fall risk in mediating body dysfunction and daily activities was also explored. Method Participants included 123 non-institutionalised older adults. Depression and cognitive status were measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Fall risk was determined by a questionnaire, supported by the Time Up and Go test (TUG). Executive functions (EF) were assessed by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A) and the Alternate Executive Function Performance Test medication management performance-based assessment. Daily life measures included the Barthel and Instrumental scale of activities of daily living, and World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire. Results Based on a falls risk score, 39 out of 123 participants (32%) were high-risk fallers. High-risk fallers showed greater body dysfunction, as recognised in daily activities. Structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that fall risk mediated the associations among depression, executive dysfunction and daily activities. Conclusion Emotional and cognitive dysfunctions that affect people with high fall risk may manifest while older people perform daily activities. Community fall prevention programmes should screen for such fall-related dysfunction and provide strategies to minimise falls and enhance daily function.

COVID-19 affects emotional status and quality of life (QOL) as reported in various countries. Less is known about the relations between gender, emotional status, and QOL in vulnerable groups. The objectives of this study are to compare emotional status and QOL between women with and without ADHD, during COVID-19, to correlate between emotional status, daily life, and QOL of women with ADHD, and to predict their QOL by COVID-19 constraints and emotional status. This cross-sectional online survey included 46 with ADHD and 183 typically functioning women, aged 19 to 60, who completed the sociodemographic health and daily life during COVID-19 questionnaires; the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale – 21, and the WHOQOL-BREF. Women with ADHD had significantly higher stress and anxiety and lower physical and psychological QOL. Emotional status and daily constraints predicted their QOL. COVID-19 emotional impacts should receive greater attention in vulnerable groups, as women with ADHD, to enhance resilience, participation, and QOL.

To identify variables that contribute to fall risk in older adults, this study examined the relationship between fall risk, sensory processing, participation in daily activities, and quality of life (QoL). Of the 123 participants, those at high-risk were significantly less able to register sensory input and had increased sensory sensitivity, restricted participation and overall lower QoL. Altered sensory processing was related with risk of falling. Additionally, both sensory process and fall risk were subsequently related with lower daily participation and, together, were related with lower QoL. Thus, sensory processing, participation and QoL assessments need to be included in occupational therapy evaluations and interventions for fall risk among older adults.

Background Sleep difficulties have been reported in up to 85% of children with Attention Deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with ADHD exhibit commonly sensory modulation difficulties (SMD) and experience more significant functional difficulties. Sleep difficulties have also been associated with SMD. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether SMD are associated with sleep difficulties in children with ADHD. Methods We assessed sleep difficulties using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, and SMD using the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) questionnaire. A total of 25 children with ADHD and atypical sensory profiles, 13 children with ADHD and typical sensory profiles and 38 children used as controls (all children aged 8–11 years) were included. Results Sleep difficulties were detected in 86.4% of children with ADHD and atypical SSPs, as compared to 30.8% of children with ADHD and typical SSPs, and 16.7% of controls. A multivariate logistic regression revealed that children with ADHD and atypical SSPs had significantly increased odds for sleep difficulties as compared to controls (OR = 32.4; 95% CI 4.0–260.1, p = 0.001), while children with ADHD and typical SSPs were indistinguishable from controls. Suspected confounders (gender, age, mother's education, and stimulant therapy) did not contribute to sleep difficulties. Conclusion In this pilot study, SMD were associated with sleep difficulties in children with ADHD.

Background: The ability to process sensory information is an essential adaptive function, and hyper- or hypo-sensitive maladaptive profiles of repones to environmental stimuli generate sensory processing disorders linked to cognitive, affective, and behavioural alterations. The research on neuroradiological correlates of the sensory processing profiles is still in its infancy and is mainly limited to the young-age population or neurodevelopmental disorders. So, the knowledge concerning the impact of the different sensory profiles on the structural and functional characteristics of the typically developed adult brain remains largely obscure. In this framework, this study aims to examine the structural and functional MRI correlates of sensory profiles in a sample of healthy adults. Method: We investigated structural T1, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) correlates of Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) questionnaire subscales in 57 typical developing subjects (34 females; mean age: 32.7±9.3). Results: Only the AASP sensation seeking subscale provided significant results. Positive and negative correlations emerged with FA and RD in arcuate fasciculus (AF), anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), optic radiation (OR), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), corpus callosum (CC), and the dorsal part of the cingulum bundle (dCB). In addition, we found a positive correlation between sensation seeking and grey matter volume in the parahippocampal cortex (PHC), precentral gyrus (PG), inferior temporal gyrus (IFG) and cuneus regions, and with cortical thickness in the IFG and postcentral gyrus (PCG). We did not find any correlation between rs-fMRI parameters and AASP subscales. Conclusion: Overall, our results suggest a positive correlation between sensation seeking and higher structural integrity in critical regions mainly involved in visuospatial and decision-making processing. We speculate that the better structural integrity associated with sensation seeking might at least partially reflect a possible neurobiological substrate of this sensory profile, characterized by active research of sensory stimuli and impulsive decision-making tendency. Further studies are needed to investigate the neuroradiological correlates of sensory profiles and their impact on behaviour, cognition, and affectivity in different developmental stages and psychiatric disorders.

Importance: Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often referred to occupational therapy practitioners so their sensory features and their repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests (RRBIs) can be addressed. RRBIs include an insistence on sameness, narrow interests, rigid routines, and rituals. However, there is a paucity of knowledge concerning the association between sensory features—across patterns, modalities, and contexts—and high-order RRBIs among children with ASD who are cognitively able. Objective: To examine the association between sensory features across sensory patterns, modalities, and contexts and high-order RRBIs in children with ASD. Design: Correlational clinical study based on parent questionnaire responses. Setting: General education system in Israel. Participants: Parents of 39 cognitively able school-age children with ASD (ages 6–10 yr; 34 boys and 5 girls), recruited by means of convenience sampling. Outcomes: High-order RRBIs were assessed with relevant subscales from the Repetitive Behavior Scale–Revised (RBS–R), and sensory features across patterns, modalities, and contexts were examined with the Sensory Experiences Questionnaire, Version 2.1. The study hypotheses were formulated before data were collected. Results: Significant correlations were observed between the high-order RRBIs of children with ASD and their sensory features across patterns, sensory modalities, and contexts. Fifty-one percent of the total RBS–R scores were predicted by sensory hyperresponsiveness, and an additional 11% were predicted by sensory-seeking behaviors. Conclusions and Relevance: The hypotheses concerning the association between sensory features and high-order RRBIs were confirmed. The findings enhance occupational therapy practitioners’ understanding of this association and may assist in the planning of more efficient interventions. What This Article Adds: The findings enhance clinical knowledge concerning the association between sensory features and high-order RRBIs and may lay a better foundation for occupational therapy interventions for children with ASD and their families.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between pain catastrophizing level, sensory processing patterns, and headache severity among adolescents with episodic migraine. Background Catastrophizing about pain is a critical variable in how we understand adjustment to pain and has a unique contribution in predicting pain intensity. Recent reports found that migraine is also related to enhanced sensory sensitivity. However, the relationship between pain severity, pain catastrophizing level and sensory sensitivity requires greater study especially among adolescents. Methods Participants were 92 adolescents aged 13–18 years, 40 with episodic migraine and 52 healthy controls. The migraine patients were prospectively recruited from outpatient pediatric neurology clinics. All participants completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale for children (PCS-ch). The migraine groups also completed the PedMIDAS, which measures Headache related disability. Results Adolescents with migraine had significantly lower tendency to seek sensory input than healthy controls. Elevated rumination and helplessness correlated with higher migraine pain severity. Tendency to avoid sensory input predicted the migraine related disability level. They also significantly higher pain catastrophizing level than healthy controls, as seen in enhanced rumination (p ≤ 0.001) and helplessness (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions Sensory processing difficulties are common among adolescents with episodic migraine. Sensory avoidance may be related to pain experience, and pain catastrophizing and disability level.

Background. Stroke may alter sensory modulation and restrict participation in daily occupations. Although studies highlight the relationship between altered sensory modulation and reduced participation, this relationship in stroke survivors has not been studied enough. Purpose. To examine the prevalence of altered sensory modulation among stroke survivors; to compare sensory modulation and participation between stroke survivors and healthy controls; to estimate the relationship between sensory modulation and participation among stroke survivors. Method. Thirty stroke survivors and 30 healthy controls, aged 18–70, completed the MoCA, the Adolescent-Adult Sensory Profile and the Activity Card Sort. Findings. Altered sensory modulation was more prevalent among stroke survivors. Their participation was significantly restricted as compared to healthy controls. Lower tendency to seek sensory input predicted lower participation in social activities. Implications. Occupational therapists should screen for altered sensory modulation in stroke survivors and understand their impacts on participation, in order to improve intervention outcomes.

Neurological conditions are frequently described and treated with emphasis on primarily body dysfunctions that appear in the diagnostic criteria. This perspective paper aims to provide knowledge about the involvement of secondary body dysfunctions - altered sensory modulation - in neurological conditions and their relevance to neuro-rehabilitation. This paper refers to children and adults, to provide a life span view. Health models and approaches are discussed to bring ideas for optimizing rehabilitation.Perspective based on narrative literature review.Altered sensory modulation is prevalent in neurological conditions. It is related to clinical symptoms, comorbidities and severity level. Many studies focus on specific modalities and on laboratory/clinical measurements. However, information gathered from subjective measures reflects the alterations in various sensory modalities and their negative impacts on the individuals' daily activity performance, participation and quality of life (QOL).Neuro-rehabilitation should consider altered sensory modulation in neurological conditions, apply health models with broad perspective, as the ICF, with multi-disciplinary team, objective and subjective measures to understand how pathogenic mechanisms in primary and secondary body dysfunctions impact the performance and participation in daily life. This approach may optimize the individuals' involvement in therapy, enhance daily function and QOL and elevate intervention success.Implications for rehabilitationSensory modulation should be evaluated in children and adults with neurologic conditions.The evaluation and intervention should refer to the involvement of altered sensory modulation in the conditions' clinical characteristics, severity and comorbidities.In case altered sensory modulation is found, the evaluation and intervention should incorporate a multi-disciplinary collaboration and health models such as the ICF model, to optimize neuro-rehabilitation efficiency.Objective measures should be applied to profile altered sensory modulation and its role in pathogenic mechanisms.Subjective measures should also be used to reflect the expressions of altered sensory modulation as experienced by the individual (and family members), in daily life scenarios.By bridging between the clinic and the individuals' real-life context, rehabilitation process and outcomes may be optimized, in terms of the individual's greater involvement in therapy, better function and quality of life.

Background: Falling is a major problem in older adults that may significantly reduce health and quality of life (QOL). Body dysfunctions that include depression, cognitive decline and executive dysfunctions may elevate fall risk and impair daily activities and QOL. Yet, most studies evaluate these body dysfunctions using laboratory measures in clinical settings. The present study aimed to: (1) compare these body dysfunctions between high/low risk fallers (2) examine the relationship between these body dysfunctions among the high risk fallers (3) explore the specific contribution of fall risk as a mediator between depression, executive dysfunctions and daily life. Methods: Participants were 123 older adults who live in the community. Depression and cognitive status were measured by the GDS-15 and the MoCA. Fall risk was determined by a questionnaire supported by the Time Up and Go test (TUG). Executive functions (EF) were assessed by the BRIEF-A and the aEFPT medication management assessment. Daily activity performance was measured by the Barthel Index of ADL and the Instrumental ADL Scale. QOL was measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Questionnaire. Results: High fall risk was prevalent among 32% of the sample. High risk fallers had significantly lower cognitive level, higher depression, lower EF, lower daily activity performance and lower QOL. Among the high risk group, lower EF as measured in BRIEF-A scales correlated with lower performance of daily activities and lower QOL. SEM model revealed that fall risk mediated between depression, executive dysfunctions and daily life. Conclusions: Depression and executive dysfunctions are more prevalent in older adults with high fall risk and are significantly related to their daily activity performance and to their QOL. Community fall-prevention and rehabilitation programs should screen for fall risk and related body dysfunctions as expressed during daily activity performance and understand their impacts on people’s QOL.

Background: This study aimed to compare the neurophysiological responses to sound in adults with hypersensitivity compared to adults without hypersensitivity, and correlate the daily-life experiences to the neurophysiological manifestations. Material and Methods: The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) was administered to 27 adults, separated by their cut-off scores. Differences in neurophysiological responses were measured by N1-P2 Event-Related Potentials (ERP) in response to auditory changes in frequency and intensity. Reactions to daily sounds were measured by the hyperacusis questionnaire. Correlations between AASP, hyperacusis questionnaire, and ERP were measured. Results: The basic ability to detect a change in stimuli manifested in N1 waveform was not significantly different. However, participants with hypersensitivity presented a stronger P2 response and a higher hyperacusis score. Daily expressions of auditory hypersensitivity correlated (p = 0.05 - p = 0.01) with larger ERP responses. Conclusions: Auditory hypersensitivity as reflected in daily scenarios is evident in neurophysiological manifestations measured by ERPs. Understanding the relationship between the neural mechanisms of auditory hyper-ensitivity and its daily expressions, may optimize participation and wellbeing for people with hypersensitivity.

Background The severe life-threatening characteristics of hereditary angioedema (HAE) with C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) can affect anxiety levels among pediatric patients. This emotional burden together with the physical restrictions of C1-INH-HAE may decrease children's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Objective (1) To compare anxiety state and trait between children with C1-INH-HAE and healthy controls (2) To examine the relationship between the level of anxiety of children with C1-INH-HAE, their disease activity/affected sites and their HRQoL (3) To predict the HRQoL of children with C1-INH-HAE based on their anxiety level and disease activity/affected sites. Methods Thirty-three children with C1-INH-HAE (aged 5-18 years) and 52 healthy controls were recruited from Israel and Hungary. All children completed the State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (Peds-QL) demographic questionnaire and a disease activity and site questionnaire. Disease activity was defined as the number of attacks in last year. Results Both anxiety state and trait were significantly higher among children with C1-INH-HAE as compared to the controls (44.74±10.56 vs. 38.76±10.67, p

Background The clinical expressions of hereditary angioedema with C1-inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) and its related burden may negatively affect patient quality of life. This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with C1-INH-HAE. Methods Children (N = 98: 34 C1-INH-HAE patients, 64 healthy controls) aged 3–18 years were recruited in Israel and Hungary. All individuals completed a demographic questionnaire, a disease activity and site questionnaire, and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) 4.0 Generic Core Scales (child self-report and maternal proxy report) to assess HRQoL. Results Among C1-INH-HAE patients, nine (26.5%) had 1–5 attacks/year, six (17.6%) had 6–18 attacks/year, eight (23.5%) had 25–60 attacks/year, and 11 (32.4%) were asymptomatic over the previous year. Children with C1-INH-HAE attacks demonstrated lower HRQoL than healthy control children across the total score, school, and psychosocial dimensions of the PedsQL™. The number of C1-INH-HAE attacks negatively correlated with the total HRQoL score (r = −0.48, p = 0.008), school-related HRQoL (r = −0.39, p = 0.02), and psychosocial HRQoL (r = −0.43, p = 0.01). Patients with multisite laryngeal, abdominal, and peripheral C1-INH-HAE attacks had a lower HRQoL compared with those who experienced solely peripheral attacks across the total score (p = 0.04), physical (p = 0.04), and school (p = 0.02) domains. There was no significant difference between asymptomatic C1-INH-HAE patients and healthy controls. Conclusions Children with symptomatic C1-INH-HAE demonstrate impaired HRQoL compared with healthy controls. HRQoL was affected by the frequency and site of C1-INH-HAE attacks and mostly in the school and physical domains.

Background.Meaningful occupational engagement is essential for successful aging. Sensory-processing abilities that are known to deteriorate with age may reduce occupational engagement. However, the relationship between sensory-processing abilities and occupational engagement among older persons in daily life is unknown.Purpose.This study examined the relationship between sensory-processing patterns and occupational engagement among older persons.Method.Participants were 180 people, ages 50 to 73 years, in good health, who lived in their homes. All participants completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Activity Card Sort.Findings.Better registration of sensory input and greater sensory seeking were related to greater occupational engagement.Implications.Sensory-processing abilities among older persons and their relation to occupational engagement in various life settings should receive attention in research and practice. Occupational therapists should encourage older people to seek sensory input and provide them with rich sensory environments for enhancing meaningful engagement in real life.

(i) To compare children with DCD and typically developing participants via standard motor assessments, two interactive virtual games, measures of physical, social and cognitive self-competence and feedback while playing the virtual games and (ii) To examine the contribution of age and each motor assessment to predict self-competence.Participants were 25 boys with DCD and 25 typically developing boys, aged 5-9 years. They completed the M-ABC-2, the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence, the 6-Minute Walk Test, and then played the two Kinect games and completed the Short Feedback Questionnaire for Children.Children with DCD showed lower physical competence and lower performance than the typical controls in all standard motor assessments. This performance significantly correlated with the children achievements in part of virtual games and with their self-perceived experience while performing within virtual environments. Among the DCD group, Kinect Running game significantly predicted physical and social competence.The significant correlations between the virtual games and standard motor assessments support the feasibility of using these games when evaluating children with DCD for the richer profile they provide. Implications for rehabilitation Clinicians should refer to the impacts of DCD on child's self-competence and daily life. Technological rehabilitation and the use of VR games have the potential to improve self-competence of children with DCD. By including VR games that simulate real life in the intervention for DCD, clinicians may raise child's enjoyment, self-competence and involvement in therapy.

To compare sensory processing and functional behavior abilities between participants with multiple sclerosis (MS), with and without cognitive impairments, and healthy controls, and to examine the role disease severity, cognitive impairment, and sensory processing have in predicting the functional behavior of persons with MS.Sixty-one participants with MS were enrolled in this study, 43 with cognitive impairments and 18 without (based on the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS compositeBoth MS groups showed sensory processing difficulties with lower ability to register sensory input and greater sensory sensitivity and avoidance versus healthy controls. Among both MS groups, sensory processing difficulties correlated with greater disease severity and poor functional behavior in daily life. The significant predictors of functional behavior in daily life were a lower ability to register sensory input and greater sensory avoidance.Persons with MS have sensory processing difficulties regardless of their cognitive abilities, which negatively affect their functional behavior. Research and practice should further explore the role of sensory processing as expressed in daily scenarios for persons with MS and consider the functional impacts of this study in order to optimize daily life experiences for patients.Implications for rehabilitationSensory processing difficulties in multiple sclerosis (MS) are mainly expressed in poor ability to register and modulate sensory input from daily environment, regardless of patients' cognitive status.Sensory processing difficulties in MS may affect patients' ability to perform activities of daily living.Sensory processing difficulties in MS should be evaluated using objective measures (electrophysiology tools) as well as self-reports that reflect patients' difficulties in real life context.Intervention programs in MS should refer to sensory processing difficulties, to their correlation with disease severity, cognitive status and to their impacts on people's daily function.

Importance: Sensory symptoms in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are commonly reported by researchers. However, an often overlooked sensory aspect of ASD is sensory discrimination in general, and somatosensory discrimination in particular. Objective: To examine what has and what has not yet been learned concerning the somatosensory discrimination abilities of people with ASD and to reveal gaps warranting further research. Design: Scoping review of clinical studies published 1995–2017 located through searches of PsycNET, PubMed, ERIC, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria were English-language peer-reviewed studies with (1) participants diagnosed with ASD, (2) a specific somatosensory discrimination measure, and (3) a comparison group. No age or intellectual exclusion criteria were established; studies were excluded if they were theoretical or descriptive, did not incorporate a control group, focused only on neurology or genetics, or used simple threshold detection measures or somatosensory measures integrated with other measures. The final search yielded 12 comparative articles discussing tactile and proprioceptive discrimination in people with ASD. Results: Overall, most results showed atypical somatosensory discrimination in people with ASD, especially among young children. The relationship between sensory discrimination abilities and other sensory symptoms and ASD symptoms is briefly discussed. Conclusions and Relevance: Heterogeneous findings concerning somatosensory discrimination in people with ASD shed light on underlying mechanisms of these disorders and can contribute to improvement of occupational therapy intervention for this population. What This Article Adds: The occupational therapy evaluation of people with ASD can benefit from addressing somatosensory discrimination and its contribution to other clinical symptoms. This type of assessment can help improve intervention strategies for people with ASD by promoting a focus on the effect of discrimination deficits on daily function.

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality gaming environments may be used as a supplement to the motor performance assessment tool box by providing clinicians with quantitative information regarding motor performance in terms of movement accuracy and speed, as well as sensory motor integration under different levels of dual tasking. OBJECTIVE: To examine the feasibility of using the virtual reality game ‘Timocco’ as an assessment tool for evaluating goal-directed hand movements among typically developing children. METHODS:In this pilot study, 47 typically-developing children were divided into two age groups, 4–6 years old and 6–8 years old. Performance was measured using two different virtual environment games (Bubble Bath and Falling Fruit), each with two levels of difficulty. Discriminative validity (age effect) was examined by comparing the performance of the two groups, and by comparing the performance between levels of the games for each group (level effect). Test-retest reliability was examined by reassessing the older children 3–7 days after the first session. RESULTS: The older children performed significantly better in terms of response time, action time, game duration, and efficiency in both games compared to the younger children. Both age groups demonstrated poorer performance at the higher game level in the Bubble Bath game compared to the lower level. A similar level effect was found in the Falling Fruit game for both age groups in response time and efficiency, but not in action time. The performance of the older children was not significantly different between the two sessions at both game levels. CONCLUSIONS: The discriminative validity and test-retest reliability indicate the feasibility of using the Timocco virtual reality game as a tool for assessing goal-directed hand movements in children. Further studies should examine its feasibility for use in children with disabilities.

Background Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and its functional restrictions may persist into adulthood. Nevertheless, the knowledge about DCD in adulthood and its association with health related quality of life (HRQOL) is limited. Aims To explore how individuals with suspected DCD experience DCD impacts as children and as adults and how these experiences predict their HRQOL. Methods Participants were 200 healthy individuals aged 20−64 (mean 32.66 ± 11.51): 18 with suspected DCD and 182 with normal motor performance (according to the Adult Developmental Coordination Disorder/Dyspraxia, ADC, Checklist cut-off score). Participants completed a sociodemographic/health questionnaire, the ADC and the WHOQOL-BREF which measures physical, psychological, social and environmental HRQOL. Results The group with suspected DCD had significantly lower HRQOL (except for the physical domain). In the general sample, current feelings about the individual’s performance predicted all HRQOL domains. Among the study group, HRQOL was predicted by current perception of performance and difficulties experienced as a child. Conclusions and implications The negative effects of DCD during childhood and adulthood may reduce adults' HRQOL, mainly in the psycho-social and environmental domains. The detailed profile provided by the ADC with its functional context may assist in evaluating DCD in adults and in tailoring intervention for improving HRQOL.

Participation is a central concept in health and well-being and healthcare, yet operationalizing this concept has been difficult. Its definition, uses in healthcare, and impacts on recovery require ongoing research. Our review question goes like this: from the longitudinal evidence investigating participation among stroke survivors, what are the patterns of participation recovery in stroke survivors over time, and what interventions are used to improve participation? To fully understand these questions, we also ask, how is participation defined in the stroke literature, and what are the measures of participation used in the stroke literature? A systematic scoping review was undertaken using the search terms “stroke,” “longitudinal,” “participation,” and “outcome” in seven databases. Articles included were published until April 2017, written in English, and had at least two longitudinal assessments of participation. Fifty-nine articles met the inclusion criteria. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health was the most frequent definition of participation used (34%). There were 22 different measures of participation. Eight of ten studies demonstrated significant improvements in participation up to 12 months poststroke. Efficacy of interventions and their impact on participation varied. The various definitions, measures, and intervention efficacies of participation highlight the need for further research worldwide into achieving meaningful participation and quality of life among stroke survivors. Future practice should include participation as a main outcome measure.

Introduction Sensory processing patterns have been proposed as a stable dimension able to characterize individuals with major affective disorders, but to what extent specific impairments in sensory processing may be involved in the pathophysiology of these conditions is poorly understood. We aimed to explore which sensory profiles may better respond to psychoactive medications, with particular regard to antidepressants, according to depression, alexithymia, and hopelessness levels. Methods A total of 402 outpatients who received maintenance treatment and were in stable psychopathological conditions were recruited and completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), second version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) according to a longitudinal prospective study design including three time points of measurements. Results Subjects with abnormally reduced sensory seeking, hypersensitivity, enhanced sensory avoidance, and lower ability to register information better responded to antidepressant medications according to their reduced depression levels. Similarly, participants with lower registration better responded to antidepressants as reported by lower hopelessness levels. Regression analyses revealed that the use of antidepressants was the first variable able to predict depression, hopelessness, and alexithymia levels at baseline, and after three and six months of treatment, respectively, but the pattern of sensory sensitivity contribute to the prediction of depression and hopelessness. This pattern together with low registration predicted changes in alexithymia levels. Limitations The study was limited by the modest sample size at the follow-up assessment points. Discussion Exploring sensory processing patterns may provide intriguing insights into specific illness characteristics and treatment response.

Sensory processing abilities involve the registration and modulation of sensory information and the internal organi- zation of sensory input. These abilities are necessary for executing successful responses to the environmental demands and thus for meaningful engagement in daily activities. Sensory processing disabilities are defined as inability to process sensory stimuli in a graded manner and to execute behaviors that are suitable to the degree, nature or intensity of the sensory stimuli. As such, sensory processing disabilities may affect function, behavior and quality of life in a negative manner. At present, the sensory profile of children with generalized epilepsy has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of the study was to assess possible sensory processing disabilities within all sensory modalities in children with generalized epilepsy. Forty-eight children at the age of 6-10.9 yr participated including 22 patients with generalized epilepsy compared with 26 age and gender matched controls. A standardized Short Sensory Profile questionnaire including 38 items was given to caregivers to report, measured tactile and taste/ smell sensitivities, movement sensitivity; under-responsive/seeks sensation, auditory filtering, low energy/weak sensation and visual/auditory sensitivity. We have found that children with generalized epilepsy had significantly higher sensory processing disabilities in all sensory modalities compared with controls and even showed extreme patterns of under-responsive/sensation seeking. These results are preliminary given a rather small group of patients in each tests group and should be verified in large groups. The present study further delineates the growing bulk of data recognizing generalized epilepsy among children as a multi-faceted neurological disorder with diverse functional disabilities also including sensory processing dysfunction.

IntroductionSensory processing disorders are prevalent among children with intellectual developmental deficits and negatively impact their daily routines. Eating, which is a major part of daily routines, is known to be frequently impaired among children with intellectual developmental deficits. This study aimed to examine the relationships between sensory processing disorders and eating problems in children with different levels of intellectual developmental deficit.MethodParticipants were 91 children aged 4 to 9 years: 25 with mild intellectual developmental deficits, 32 with moderate intellectual developmental deficits and 34 with severe/profound intellectual developmental deficits. All participants were recruited from special education kindergartens/schools for children with intellectual developmental deficits. Participants' primary caregiver in school completed the screening tool of eating problems and the short sensory profile.FindingsSignificant correlations between sensory processing disorders and eating problems were found in each intellectual developmental deficit level ( r = −.40, p ≤ .05 to r = −.57, p ≤ .001), but most correlations were found among children with moderate and severe/profound level. Energy level significantly predicted aspiration frequency; smell/taste sensitivity significantly predicted food selectivity and food refusal frequency.ConclusionEating problems should be screened among children with intellectual developmental deficits according to intellectual developmental deficit severity and other related factors such as sensory processing disorders. Applying this approach in occupational therapy intervention may contribute to a child's adaptive behaviour and performance in daily routines.

It is well established that physical activity during childhood contributes to children's physical and psychological health. The aim of this study was to test the reliability and validity of the Hebrew version of the Teacher Estimation of Activity Form (TEAF) questionnaire as a screening tool among school-aged children in Israel. Six physical education teachers completed TEAF questionnaires of 123 children aged 5–12 years, 68 children (55%) with Typical Development (TD) and 55 children (45%) diagnosed with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The Hebrew version of the TEAF indicates a very high level of internal consistency (α = .97). There were no significant gender differences. Significant differences were found between children with and without DCD attesting to the test's construct validity. Concurrent validity was established by finding a significant high correlation (r = .76, p

Background: Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder exhibit persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction accompanied by restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Those with normal intelligence are considered to have high functioning autism spectrum disorder (HFASD). Method: The study participants were 20 children with HFASD aged 5 to 7 years old attending mainstream educational programs and their parents (study group) and 30 typically-developing age-matched children from the same socio-economic background and their parents (control group). Parents from both groups completed the Short Sensory Profile to investigate their children’s sensory processing and the presence of Sensory Processing Disorder. Children and parents from both groups were administered the Make My Day (MMD) to obtain information regarding the children’s participation and performance in daily activities. Results: The study group had significantly more sensory difficulties, which correlated with restricted daily routines, compared with the control group. SPD significantly predicted the quality and independence of the performance of daily activities by children with HFASD as measured by the MMD. Conclusions: SPD may be a worthwhile therapeutic target for therapists seeking to improve participation in and performance of daily activities, as identified by the MMD, among children with HFASD.

(1) To profile sensory deficits examined in the ability to process sensory information from daily environment and discriminate between tactile stimuli among patients with controlled and un-controlled diabetes mellitus. (2) Examine the relationship between the sensory deficits and patients' health-related quality of life.This study included 115 participants aged 33-55 with uncontrolled (n = 22) or controlled (n = 24) glycemic levels together with healthy subjects (n = 69). All participants completed the brief World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and performed the tactile discrimination test.Sensory deficits were more emphasized among patients with uncontrolled glycemic levels as expressed in difficulties to register sensory input, lower sensation seeking in daily environments and difficulties to discriminate between tactile stimuli. They also reported the lowest physical and social quality of life as compared to the other two groups. Better sensory seeking and registration predicted better quality of life. Disease control and duration contributed to these predictions.Difficulties in processing sensory information from their daily environments are particularly prevalent among patients with uncontrolled glycemic levels, and significantly impacted their quality of life. Clinicians should screen for sensory processing difficulties among patients with diabetes mellitus and understand their impacts on patients' quality of life. Implications for Rehabilitation Patients with diabetes mellitus, and particularly those with uncontrolled glycemic levels, may have difficulties in processing sensory information from daily environment. A multidisciplinary intervention approach is recommended: clinicians should screen for sensory processing deficits among patients with diabetes mellitus and understand their impacts on patients' daily life. By providing the patients with environmental adaptations and coping strategies, clinicians may assist in optimizing sensory experiences in real life context and elevate patients' quality of life. Relating to quality of life and emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach is of major importance in broadening our understanding of health conditions and providing holistic treatment for patients.

Introduction Extreme sensory processing patterns may contribute to the pathophysiology of major affective disorders. We aimed to examine whether significant correlations exist between sensory profiles, hypomania, self-reported depression, and hopelessness and whether sensory profiles may be potential mediators of the association between hypomania and depression/hopelessness. Methods The sample consisted of 488 euthymic affective disorder patients of which 283 diagnosed with unipolar and 162 with bipolar disorder with an age ranging from 18 to 65 years (mean = 47.82 ± 11.67). Results Lower registration of sensory input and sensory sensitivity significantly correlated with elevated self-reported depression, hopelessness, and irritable/risk-taking hypomania while sensation seeking and avoiding significantly correlated with elevated depression and hopelessness but not with irritable/risk-taking hypomania. Moreover, individuals with lower ability to register sensory input and higher hypomania showed higher self-reported depression than those with good registration of sensory information. According to SEM analyses, there was both a direct/indirect effect of irritable/risk-taking on depression-hopelessness with the mediation model explaining 48% of the variance in depression-hopelessness. Limitations The relatively small sample size and the cross-sectional nature of the study design do not allow the generalization of the main findings. Conclusion Low registration was associated with enhanced depressed mood and hopelessness while sensory seeking may be considered a resilient factor.

Meaningful occupational engagement is essential for successful aging. Sensory-processing abilities that are known to deteriorate with age may reduce occupational engagement. However, the relationship between sensory-processing abilities and occupational engagement among older persons in daily life is unknown.This study examined the relationship between sensory-processing patterns and occupational engagement among older persons.Participants were 180 people, ages 50 to 73 years, in good health, who lived in their homes. All participants completed the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Activity Card Sort.Better registration of sensory input and greater sensory seeking were related to greater occupational engagement.Sensory-processing abilities among older persons and their relation to occupational engagement in various life settings should receive attention in research and practice. Occupational therapists should encourage older people to seek sensory input and provide them with rich sensory environments for enhancing meaningful engagement in real life.

Individual variations in the way people respond to sensory stimuli can sometimes lead to maladaptive representations of the world. Indeed, sensory responsiveness profiles were found to be associated with mood symptoms such as depression and anxiety. The goal of the current study was to investigate whether attachment orientations can account for the relationship between sensory responsiveness profiles and anxiety symptoms. Participants (N = 194) completed a battery of questionnaires assessing sensory responsiveness profiles, attachment orientations, and anxiety symptoms. As expected, various associations between sensory responsiveness profiles and anxiety symptoms were accounted for by attachment anxiety and avoidance. We suggest a possible causal path, in which early-developing sensory responsiveness profiles lead to attachment insecurities, which in turn may lead to mood symptoms such as anxiety.

Aim Sensory hypersensitivity is one expression of sensory processing disorders (SPD) and results from the inability to regulate an appropriate response to a sensory input in an adaptive manner. We explored the sensory processing profile of children with asthma, based on reports from parents. Methods We studied 86 children between the ages of four and 11 years: 37 diagnosed with asthma and 49 healthy controls. The parents of all participants filled out the Short Sensory Profile (SSP) that measures the child's behavioural reactions to sensory stimuli in daily environments. Results Sensory processing disorders were more prevalent among children with asthma (F7,71 = 4.16, p = 0.001; ή2 = 0.29) than among healthy controls and were mainly reflected by hypersensitivity. While about 90% of the healthy children were reported to actively seek sensory stimuli, only 53% of the asthmatic children showed this trend. In the study group, 25.7% of the children's scores reflected abnormal sensory performance, compared with 0% of the controls (χ2=21.93; p

The purpose of this study was to compare preferences for participation in out-of-school activities between children with childhood-onset primary generalized epilepsy and their healthy peers. Overall, participants were 56 children aged 6–11 years. The study group included 26 children with childhood-onset primary generalized epilepsy. The controls were 30 healthy children. Parents of all participants completed a demographic and health status questionnaire. All children completed the Preference Assessment of Children (PAC) that profiles the out-of-school activities the child wishes to participate in. Scores are calculated for five activity types, namely, recreational, active physical, social, skill-based, and self-improvement and for two domains of formal and informal activities. Children with generalized epilepsy showed a similar preference for participation in out-of-school activities as did their healthy peers. The study group showed a lower preference for participation in social activities but showed a higher preference for participation in self-improvement activities. In both groups, younger children (aged 6–8 years) showed a lower preference for participation in most PAC scales. Older children (aged 9–11 years) showed a higher preference for participation in social activities. Difference between genders was close to being statistically significant in the skill-based activities (F1,21 = 3.84, p = .06), where girls showed a higher preference compared with boys. Intervention policies need to be undertaken in order to encourage children with epilepsy to participate in activities together with their healthy peers, aiming to enhance the well-being of children with primary generalized epilepsy.

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are characterized by participation restrictions. Participation, a central concept in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health - Children and Youth Version (ICF-CY; WHO, 2007), is a dynamic process that occurs between individuals and their environment. The aim of this review is to emphasize the role of early identification of children with DCD as an important factor in predicting their participation in daily life. This review discusses issues such as by whom and how this early identification is achieved, at what point within the developmental sequence and in which contexts, and the parents’ role to this process and contribution to their children’s participation. Finally, future directions for advancing research and practice towards enhancing the participation of children with DCD are discussed in relation to the children's attendance, belonging and involvement in varied life domains.