Exploratory analyses of sleep intraindividual variability and fatigue in parents of children on the autism spectrum.

Fatigue is associated with numerous harmful physical and mental health outcomes. Despite research indicating a relationship between fatigue and sleep, there has been a limited focus on how the variability of a person's sleep may be associated with fatigue. In addition, previous studies have not explicitly explored relationships among child sleep, parent sleep, and parent fatigue.

Integration of Family Navigation into ECHO Autism for Pediatric Primary Care in Underserved Communities.

Children with autism from underserved communities face complex system-, provider-, and family-level barriers to accessing timely diagnosis and early intervention. The current study evaluated the preliminary effects and feasibility of a new program (ECHO Autism LINKS) that integrated pediatric primary care provider (PCP) training with family navigation (FN) to bridge the gaps between screening, referral, and service access. Three cohorts of PCPs (n = 42) participated in the program, which consisted of 60-minute sessions delivered by Zoom twice per month for 12 months.

Primary Care Framework to Monitor Preterm Infants for Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Early Childhood.

To support decision-making in the primary care medical home, this clinical report links preterm birth and perinatal complications to early childhood developmental disability risks. It consolidates extensive contemporary outcome research from 2005 onward into an easy-to-use framework and stratifies prematurity and NICU experiences by degree of risk for developmental impairments. This framework informs and prioritizes point-of-care screening and surveillance strategies for pediatricians caring for children born preterm, guides additional assessment and referral for appropriate therapies, and offers opportunities for reassurance (when applicable) in office settings.

Protocol for targeting insomnia in school-aged children with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability: a randomised control trial.

Introduction: Insomnia affects up to 80% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Negative consequences of insomnia in ASD include decreased quality of life (QOL), impaired learning and cognition, increased stereotypic and challenging behaviours, and increased parental stress. Cognitive behavioural treatment for childhood insomnia (CBT-CI) is a promising treatment for dealing with insomnia and its negative consequences but has not yet been studied in school-aged children with ASD and comorbid insomnia.

Promoting Healthy Sexuality for Children and Adolescents With Disabilities.

This clinical report updates a 2006 report from the American Academy of Pediatrics titled "Sexuality of Children and Adolescents With Developmental Disabilities." The development of a healthy sexuality best occurs through appropriate education, absence of coercion and violence, and developmental acquisition of skills to navigate feelings, desires, relationships, and social pressures. Pediatric health care providers are important resources for anticipatory guidance and education for all children and youth as they understand their changing bodies, feelings, and behaviors.

Community and Social Participation Among Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder Transitioning to Adulthood.

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are at increased risk for poor psychosocial outcomes as adults. We described community and social participation in adolescents with ASDs as they transitioned from adolescence to adulthood, and identified adolescent factors associated with community and social participation outcomes in adulthood. We performed a secondary data analysis of a nationally representative cohort using the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 and observed a significant decrease in community participation from adolescence to adulthood (63 to 46%); social participation remained stable.

Facilitators and barriers to twice daily tooth brushing among children with special health care needs.

Purpose: The oral hygiene routines of preschool-age children with special health care needs (CSHCN) were examined to identify caregiver behaviors and beliefs associated with twice daily tooth brushing.

Methods: Ninety caregivers of CSHCN, ages 23 to 62 months, were interviewed to determine supports or barriers to tooth brushing.

Results: Ninety-eight percent of caregivers had begun brushing their child's teeth and half reported brushing twice daily.

Health and mental health needs of children in US military families.

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have been challenging for US uniformed service families and their children. Almost 60% of US service members have family responsibilities. Approximately 2.

Complementary and alternative medicine used by children in military pediatric clinics.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, types, perceived effects, and factors that influence the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by military children.

Design: A parent survey was administered in two military general pediatric clinics from June to September 2009. Parents completed surveys about their children including the following items: demographic information, a list of specific CAM therapies, family CAM use, and child health status.

Psychosocial screening in children with wartime-deployed parents.

Children of U.S. military families are exposed to unique challenges and stressors directly related to their parents' wartime deployments, potentially placing them at higher risk for psychosocial disruption.

Medical equipment use in children with disabilities: A descriptive survey.

Objective: To investigate the use of medical equipment by children with disabilities, the reasons for use, and prescribers of equipment.

Methods: A convenience sample.

Setting: Referral clinic for children with developmental conditions.

The psychosocial effects of deployment on military children.

Objective: The impact of the Global War on Terror on two million U.S. military children remains unknown.

Acquisition of autonomy skills in adolescents with myelomeningocele.

This study describes ages of acquisition (AOA) of typical adolescent autonomy skills in a regional cohort of individuals with myelomeningocele (MM), aged 12 to 18 years, with a mean age of 14 years 11 months (SD 2y 5mo). Prospectively collected data over 10 years were analyzed. Regression analysis, using Generalized Estimation Equation, provided 50th centile and 75th centile AOA for each skill.

Long-term survival of individuals with myelomeningocele.

The objectives of this study were to extend survival analysis into adulthood for patients with myelomeningocele (MM) and to compare survival curves for patients born with varying defect severity before and after 1975. We have reviewed existing data for 904 patients with MM seen in a large multidisciplinary children's clinic over 43 years. Before 1975, a major contributor to decreased survival is death during infancy.