Not Really "The Same Thing".

Susie is a 10-year-old girl who is followed by a developmental-behavioral pediatrician for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), combined type and challenging behaviors. Susie has been treated with extended-release methylphenidate HCl 36 mg daily and extended-release guanfacine 1 mg daily for the past year. Susie attended an evidence-based summer treatment program for ADHD for 8 weeks over the summer, and the family has continued to attend monthly behavioral therapy visits with a local child psychologist.

Health Care Transition Planning Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Improving the health care transition process for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is critically important. This study was designed to examine the overall national transition core outcome among youth with ASD and each of the component measures of health care transition planning. Fewer than 10% of youth with ASD meet the national transition core outcome.

Developmental Screening With Spanish-Speaking Families in a Primary Care Setting.

Cultural beliefs may influence parents' willingness to raise concerns on a developmental screener. Our study evaluated the performance of the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) in an urban community health center where 75% of families are Spanish speaking. Our primary outcome was the presence of parent-reported concerns either in the medical record or on the PEDS before the PEDS was introduced compared with after it became routine care (post-PEDS).

Copy number variation plays an important role in clinical epilepsy.

Objective: To evaluate the role of copy number abnormalities detectable using chromosomal microarray (CMA) testing in patients with epilepsy at a tertiary care center.

Methods: We identified patients with International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision (ICD-9) codes for epilepsy or seizures and clinical CMA testing performed between October 2006 and February 2011 at Boston Children's Hospital. We reviewed medical records and included patients who met criteria for epilepsy.

Developmental screening and parents' written comments: an added dimension to the parents' evaluation of developmental status questionnaire.

Objective: The aim of this study was to better understand the utility of using the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) in well-child visits by analyzing themes and patterns in parents' written responses on the PEDS form.

Methods: We reviewed a consecutive sample of medical records with PEDS forms for children aged 6 months to 9 years (site 1) and 3 to 5 years (site 2). We recorded the concerns that parents identified in response to the 10 PEDS questions along with demographic information.

Barking vocalizations and shaking movements in a 13-year old girl.

Erica is a 13-year old female who was hospitalized for a 4-week history of "barking" noises and 2 weeks of generalized shaking episodes. Four weeks prior to admission, she had a viral upper respiratory infection (URI) with cough which was treated with over-the-counter cough syrup. After resolution of the URI, she developed a persistent cough that turned into a "bark"-like vocalization.

Clinical genetic testing for patients with autism spectrum disorders.

Background: Multiple lines of evidence indicate a strong genetic contribution to autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Current guidelines for clinical genetic testing recommend a G-banded karyotype to detect chromosomal abnormalities and fragile X DNA testing, but guidelines for chromosomal microarray analysis have not been established.

Patients And Methods: A cohort of 933 patients received clinical genetic testing for a diagnosis of ASD between January 2006 and December 2008.

Developmental screening: is there enough time?

Objectives: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine developmental screening in well-child care. Providers cite time restraints as a limitation preventing its widespread adoption. The objectives were to determine whether routine screening lengthened well-visits and was associated with changes in parent satisfaction and report of anticipatory guidance.

Routine developmental screening implemented in urban primary care settings: more evidence of feasibility and effectiveness.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of implementation of validated developmental screening by using the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status in 2 urban pediatric practices.

Design And Methods: We implemented the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status at Boston Children's Hospital Primary Care Center and at Joseph Smith Community Health Center as quality improvement initiatives. Each practice offered screening to all of the patients attending well-child care visits between 6 months and 8 years of age.

Barking vocalizations and shaking movements in a 13-year old girl.

Erica is a 13-year old female who was hospitalized for a 4-week history of "barking" noises and 2 weeks of generalized shaking episodes. Four weeks prior to admission, she had a viral upper respiratory infection (URI) with cough which was treated with over-the-counter cough syrup. After resolution of the URI, she developed a persistent cough that turned into a "bark"-like vocalization.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: complexities and controversies.

Purpose Of Review: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder continues to be a prevalent childhood behavioral disorder, with significant clinical and media interest. Providers must be current with research findings that impact the evolving understanding of this complex entity. This article summarizes recent progress in our view of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, with emphasis on controversies around diagnosis and treatment, and future management directions.

Update: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the primary care office.

Purpose Of Review: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) affects 7.5% of children, making it among the more common behavioral disorders of childhood. Pediatricians increasingly are expected to recognize AD/HD, as well as diagnose and manage it in the primary care setting.

The effect of chronic or intermittent hypoxia on cognition in childhood: a review of the evidence.

Objective: A review of the evidence concerning the effect of chronic or intermittent hypoxia on cognition in childhood was performed by using both a systematic review of the literature and critical appraisal criteria of causality. Because of the significant impact of behavioral disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder on certain cognitive functions as well as academic achievement, the review also included articles that addressed behavioral outcomes.

Methods: Both direct and indirect evidence were collected.

Factors associated with difficult toilet training.

Objective: To identify temperament and behavioral patterns in children with difficult toilet training and to compare those children with same-aged toilet-trained children.

Methods: We compared 46 referred clinic patients who were difficult toilet trainers (DTT) with 62 comparison children (CC) using the Carey-McDevitt Behavioral Style Questionnaire, the Parenting Scale, and a questionnaire of toilet-training history.

Results: CC were more likely to have easy temperaments (odds ratio [OR]: 33.

Trends in referral to a single encopresis clinic over 20 years.

Objective: To compare the characteristics of children with encopresis referred to a single encopresis clinic over the course of 20 years, including symptoms, previous diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, and parental attitudes.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of an encopresis clinic at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Questionnaires at initial evaluation elicited information about bowel habits, soiling, previous evaluations, previous treatments, and parental attitudes.