Innovations in Practice: Adapting a specialized ADHD parenting programme for use with 'hard to reach' and 'difficult to treat' preschool children.

Background: Effective implementation of parent training programmes for preschool Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder type is constrained by barriers limiting take-up and effective engagement by 'hard to reach' and 'difficult to treat' families.

Method: We describe an evidence-driven adaptation and piloting of an existing empirically supported preschool ADHD parenting programme to address these problems.

Results: The New Forest Parenting programme was changed substantially in terms of length; content and delivery on the basis of information gathered from the literature, from parents and practitioners, further modifications were made after the pilot study.

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of a specialist and a generic parenting programme for the treatment of preschool ADHD.

Background: The New Forest Parenting Programme (NFPP) is a home-delivered, evidence-based parenting programme to target symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in preschool children. It has been adapted for use with 'hard-to-reach' or 'difficult-to-treat' children. This trial will compare the adapted-NFPP with a generic parenting group-based programme, Incredible Years (IY), which has been recommended for children with preschool-type ADHD symptoms.

Early detection and intervention for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a high-cost/high-burden disorder. Early detection and intervention may prevent or ameliorate the development of the disorder and reduce its long-term impact. In this article, we set out a rationale for an early detection and intervention program.

The effect of early confirmation of hearing loss on the behaviour in middle childhood of children with bilateral hearing impairment.

Aim: To determine if the benefit of early confirmation of permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) on children's receptive language development is associated with fewer behavioural problems.

Method: Follow-up of a total population cohort of 120 children with PCHI of moderate or greater severity (≥ 40 decibels relative to hearing threshold level) (67 males, 53 females; mean age 7 y 11 mo, range 5 y 5 mo-11 y 8 mo) and 63 hearing children (37 males, 26 females; mean age 8 y 1 mo, range 6 y 4 mo-9 y 10 mo). The main outcome measures were the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) completed by teachers and parents and the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS) which are completed on the basis of a parental interview.

The role of histamine degradation gene polymorphisms in moderating the effects of food additives on children's ADHD symptoms.

Objective: Food additives can exacerbate ADHD symptoms and cause non-immunoglobulin E-dependent histamine release from circulating basophils. However, children vary in the extent to which their ADHD symptoms are exacerbated by the ingestion of food additives. The authors hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms affecting histamine degradation would explain the diversity of responses to additives.

The relationship between language development and behaviour problems in children with hearing loss.

Background: There are well-replicated findings that link poor development on a range of communication skills with increased behavioural problems. This paper examines this relationship in children with hearing loss.

Method: One hundred and twenty children with hearing loss (67 boys, 53 girls) and 63 hearing children (37 boys, 26 girls) with a mean age of 8 years from eight districts in Southern England were assessed for receptive and expressive language skills.

Can schools promote the health of children with asthma?

This report describes the evaluation of a whole-school intervention to improve morbidity and psychosocial well-being in pupils with asthma. In all, 193 children with asthma (7-9 years) from 23 primary/junior schools in the south of England participated. Schools (n = 12) randomly assigned to the intervention group (IV) received a staff asthma training session, advice on asthma policy and practice and an emergency beta(2)-agonist inhaler with spacer.

Health status and health-related quality of life preference-based outcomes of children who are aged 7 to 9 years and have bilateral permanent childhood hearing impairment.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the health status and health-related quality of life preference-based outcomes of children with diagnosed bilateral permanent childhood hearing impairment and a comparison group of English-speaking children with normal hearing.

Methods: We studied 120 children who were aged 7 to 9 years and had bilateral permanent childhood hearing impairment of moderate or greater severity, identified from a cohort of 156,733 children who were born in 8 districts of southern England, and 63 English-speaking children with normal hearing and the same place of birth and age at assessment. Principal caregivers were interviewed by using the Health Utilities Index Mark III questionnaire for proxy-assessed usual health status assessment.

Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: We undertook a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial to test whether intake of artificial food colour and additives (AFCA) affected childhood behaviour.

Methods: 153 3-year-old and 144 8/9-year-old children were included in the study. The challenge drink contained sodium benzoate and one of two AFCA mixes (A or B) or a placebo mix.

Language ability in children with permanent hearing impairment: the influence of early management and family participation.

Objective: The goal was to examine the relationships between management after confirmation, family participation, and speech and language outcomes in the same group of children with permanent childhood hearing impairment.

Methods: Speech, oral language, and nonverbal abilities, expressed as z scores and adjusted in a regression model, and Family Participation Rating Scale scores were assessed at a mean age of 7.9 years for 120 children with bilateral permanent childhood hearing impairment from a 1992-1997 United Kingdom birth cohort.

Language ability after early detection of permanent childhood hearing impairment.

Background: Children with bilateral permanent hearing impairment often have impaired language and speech abilities. However, the effects of universal newborn screening for permanent bilateral childhood hearing impairment and the effects of confirmation of hearing impairment by nine months of age on subsequent verbal abilities are uncertain.

Methods: We studied 120 children with bilateral permanent hearing impairment identified from a large birth cohort in southern England, at a mean of 7.

The economic costs of congenital bilateral permanent childhood hearing impairment.

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the economic costs of bilateral permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) in the preceding year of life for children aged 7 to 9 years.

Methods: A cost analysis was conducted by using a birth cohort of children born between 1992 and 1997 in 8 districts of Southern England, of which half had been born into populations exposed to universal newborn screening (UNS). Unit costs were applied to estimates of health, social, and broader resource use made by 120 hearing-impaired children and 63 children in a normally hearing comparison group.

Universal newborn screening for permanent childhood hearing impairment: an 8-year follow-up of a controlled trial.

An 8-year follow-up study of the birth cohort of babies enrolled in the Wessex controlled trial of universal newborn screening (UNS) for permanent childhood hearing impairment (PCHI) was undertaken to establish whether UNS would increase the proportion of all true cases of PCHI in children aged 7-9 years who are referred early. The proportion referred before 6 months of age increased from 11 of 35 (31%) children with true PCHI born during periods without UNS to 23 of 31 (74%) born during periods with UNS (difference 43%, 95% CI 19-60). UNS leads to early referral of PCHI.

The prevalence and management of asthma in primary-aged schoolchildren in the south of England.

A postal questionnaire survey of headteachers in 149 Infant, Junior and Primary schools (response rate: 63.8%) indicated poor asthma record keeping and a need for regular staff training in asthma. Dealing with an emergency was a major concern of headteachers.