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Biomedical subjects

P J Accardo

Publications and source records attributed to P J Accardo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Attentional function as measured by a Continuous Performance Task in children with dyscalculia.

This study determined whether or not students with dyscalculia had difficulty with attention as measured by the Conners' Computerized Continuous Performance Test (CPT). Fifty-six control subjects and 27 subjects with dyscalculia were administered the CPT. Performance was measured using percent omission errors, percent commission errors, mean response time, SE of response times (SE-RT), and a calculated overall attention index (CPT Index). Compared with controls, subjects with dyscalculia had higher CPT Index scores, made more omission errors, and had more inconsistent response times (SE-RT). Multiple regression analysis of arithmetic scores showed that SE-RT and percent commission errors were the only CPT measures that contributed to the arithmetic scores. Problems with attention, as measured by the Conners' CPT, were associated with lower arithmetic achievement scores. Students who have difficulties in arithmetic may have more attentional problems than other children, and students with attentional difficulties may be at risk for difficulties in arithmetic.

Attention↗

Practice parameter: screening and diagnosis of autism: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Child Neurology Society [RETIRED].

Autism is a common disorder of childhood, affecting 1 in 500 children. Yet, it often remains unrecognized and undiagnosed until or after late preschool age because appropriate tools for routine developmental screening and screening specifically for autism have not been available. Early identification of children with autism and intensive, early intervention during the toddler and preschool years improves outcome for most young children with autism. This practice parameter reviews the available empirical evidence and gives specific recommendations for the identification of children with autism. This approach requires a dual process: 1) routine developmental surveillance and screening specifically for autism to be performed on all children to first identify those at risk for any type of atypical development, and to identify those specifically at risk for autism; and 2) to diagnose and evaluate autism, to differentiate autism from other developmental disorders.

Asperger Syndrome↗

By any other name.

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Autistic Disorder↗

The screening and diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders.

The Child Neurology Society and American Academy of Neurology recently proposed to formulate Practice Parameters for the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Autism for their memberships. This endeavor was expanded to include representatives from nine professional organizations and four parent organizations, with liaisons from the National Institutes of Health. This document was written by this multidisciplinary Consensus Panel after systematic analysis of over 2,500 relevant scientific articles in the literature. The Panel concluded that appropriate diagnosis of autism requires a dual-level approach: (a) routine developmental surveillance, and (b) diagnosis and evaluation of autism. Specific detailed recommendations for each level have been established in this document, which are intended to improve the rate of early suspicion and diagnosis of, and therefore early intervention for, autism.

Asperger Syndrome↗

Early ear problems and developmental problems at school age.

Retrospective history of middle ear disease was compared with developmental diagnosis in 507 consecutively referred school-age children. History of major ear problems was positively associated with discrepancies between the performance and verbal IQ on the WISC-R. History of major ear problems was positively associated with the presence of articulation disorders for children in the low social class, hyperactivity in the middle social class, and language problems in the high social class. A history of significant middle ear disease in early childhood should raise concerns for articulation difficulties and possible language problems in children presenting to clinicians with school problems.

Adolescent↗

Common sense.

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Child Development↗

Early maturation of motor-delayed children at school age.

Children underwent motor and sensory testing during each of 3 consecutive years beginning at kindergarten entrance. Children were assigned to either a motor-normal or motor-delayed group based on results from testing during the 1st year of the study. Motor-normal subjects (n = 17) had standard scores on a global motor-sensory test that fell within one standard deviation of the mean. Motor-delayed subjects (n = 12) had a global motor-sensory test standard score indicating greater than one standard deviation of motor delay and, in addition, were delayed by a minimum of one standard deviation on four of five of the motor-sensory test subtests. At the conclusion of the 3-year study, the mean standard score of the motor-delayed group remained greater than one standard deviation below the performance of the motor-normal group as measured by the global motor-sensory test. Statistical analysis using repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that the motor-delayed group made gains but did not close the gap between themselves and the motor-normal group during the 3-year study. Group x time interaction effects showed that during the study, significant gain was made by the motor-delayed group on the motor coordination subtest of the motor-sensory test. The study supports the conclusion that motor-delayed children without early intervention fail to outgrow their motor delays by age 8 years.

Adolescent↗

Longitudinal assessment of motor and sensory skills in academically disabled and control children.

Motor and tactile integration skills were sequentially assessed with academically average (N = 28) and academically disabled children (N = 17) over a 3-year period. The initial results demonstrated considerable differences between the groups. Analysis of variance and visual inspection of trends in the longitudinal data for the academically disabled group revealed a mixed pattern with catch-up in the motor areas and persistent delays in sensory areas. The results suggest different developmental patterns depending on the skill and group assessed. Right hand advantages were found across groups with motor speed whereas a left hand advantage was demonstrated on a stereognosis task. These right-left differences suggest an important developmental role for corpus callosum myelinization. The interpretation of soft neurological signs needs to be refined to allow for these sensory-motor, right-left parameters.

Journal Article↗

Minor malformations, hyperactivity, and learning disabilities.

Standardized minor malformation scores have been reported to predict and identify children with attentional problems and hyperactivity. The reason why this marker works for only a subset of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder remains unclear. The dysmorphology scores on all children presenting for a multidisciplinary team evaluation of developmental disorders were examined for diagnostic correlations after children with chromosomal disorders and recognized dysmorphic syndromes were excluded. For 1233 subjects, the mean minor malformation score was 2.94 (SD = 2.05). A significant association between minor malformation scores and IQ (mean = 80.95, SD = 23.67) was accounted for by the group with IQs greater than 100 exhibiting the higher dysmorphology scores. An analysis of variance revealed no significant association between minor malformation scores and hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder. Indeed, the presence of an attention deficit disorder yielded lower mean dysmorphology scores. When the minor malformation scores were compared for those subgroups of children with and without specific learning disabilities, the learning-disabled subjects had significantly higher dysmorphology scores. Minor dysmorphic features do not relate to the presence or absence of attentional problems or hyperactivity in referred children. Rather they appear to characterize that subpopulation of children with attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities as well as a group of learning-disabled children without attentional disorders.

Adolescent↗

Autistic disorder in Sotos syndrome: a case report.

A case study of a child with Sotos syndrome, normal intelligence, and autistic disorder is presented. Initial descriptions of Sotos syndrome included severe to mild mental retardation. More recent studies indicate language and learning disabilities with normal intelligence. Our patient met criteria for a diagnosis of autistic disorder. Sotos syndrome is another genetic and neurodevelopmental syndrome that can be associated with autistic as well as communication and language disorders.

Autistic Disorder↗