Sensory-Based Approaches in Intervention for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Influences on Occupational Therapists' Recommendations and Perceived Benefits.

Objective: We investigated factors that influenced occupational therapists' beliefs about and use of sensory-based approaches for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Method: Occupational therapists working with children with ASD (N = 211 from 16 countries) completed an online survey addressing their work experience, training, use of sensory-based approaches, and beliefs and perceptions about the effects of the approaches. Linear regression was used to determine predictors of use of and beliefs about sensory-based approaches.

Transition Intervention for Adolescents With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: There is little evidence regarding the efficacy of interventions to prepare adolescents with congenital heart disease (CHD) to enter adult care.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of a nurse-led transition intervention on lapses between pediatric and adult care.

Methods: A cluster randomized clinical trial was conducted of a nurse-led transition intervention for 16- to 17-year-olds with moderate or complex CHD versus usual care.

Longitudinal patterns of early development in Canadian late preterm infants: A prospective cohort study.

This prospective, longitudinal cohort study examined longitudinal patterns of early development in Canadian children born late preterm. A convenience sample of 82 mothers and their healthy, singleton, late preterm children participated. Mothers completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaires at 4, 8, and 18 months corrected age.

Parenting stress and development of late preterm infants at 4 months corrected age.

Parenting stress has been linked to child development issues in early preterm infants, but less is known about its effects on development in infants born late preterm. We examined relationships between parenting stress of 108 mothers and 108 fathers and development of late preterm infants born at 34 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks gestation. At 4 months corrected age, mothers and fathers completed the Parenting Stress Index (PSI-3); mothers were primary caregivers in almost all families and completed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-2) on child development.

Equine-Assisted Occupational Therapy: Increasing Engagement for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Engagement in meaningful activities is essential to development and is often reduced in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have limited engagement in activities or relationships. A multiple-baseline design was used with 7 children with ASD ages 4-8 yr to assess the effect of including a horse in occupational therapy intervention on task engagement. The children showed improvements in engagement.

Stakeholders' perspectives on social participation in preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Objective: To determine (a) the essential components of social participation for preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using stakeholders' perspectives and (b) the facilitators and barriers experienced in promoting social participation.

Methods: A mixed-methods, web-based survey utilizing the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health - Child and Youth version (ICF-CY) taxonomy was circulated across Canada through purposeful snowball sampling.

Results: Frequency analysis of the combined responses of 74 stakeholders revealed the most essential components of social participation were: (a) behavior management, (b) social interactions, and (c) various types of play.

Risk of developmental delay: Comparison of late preterm and full term Canadian infants at age 12 months.

Background: Late preterm (34(0/7) to 36(6/7)weeks gestation) infants may experience developmental delays greater than those found in term (≥ 37(0/7)weeks gestation) infants.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the risk of developmental delay between late preterm and full-term Canadian born infants at age 12months, and to determine infant and maternal factors associated with risk of delay.

Methods: A descriptive comparative study was conducted from data available from the All Our Babies community-based, prospective, pregnancy cohort in Calgary, Alberta.

Enabling 2-Wheeled Cycling for Youth With Down Syndrome.

Purpose: To study the effectiveness of cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance (CO-OP) to teach motor skills to youth with intellectual disabilities.

Methods: Six youth aged 12 to 19 years participated in this study. A multiple baseline design was employed to evaluate distance and time cycled, and a pre-post-follow-up design was used to evaluate the effect on cycling skills mastered, cycling performance, and parent satisfaction.

Playfulness in Children with Limited Motor Abilities When Using a Robot.

Aims: Children with limited gross motor and manual abilities have fewer opportunities to engage in free play. We investigated the effect of a robotic intervention on the playfulness of children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: We used a partially nonconcurrent multiple baseline design with four children and their mothers.

Psychosocial Maturity, Autonomy, and Transition Readiness among Young Adults with Congenital Heart Disease or a Heart Transplant.

Objective: The population of young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) or a heart transplant (HTx) is growing rapidly. These survivors require lifelong cardiology care and must assume self-management responsibilities with respect to their health. Accordingly, we sought to assess psychosocial maturity and validity of the Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) in this population.

Through the eyes of a new dad: experiences of first-time fathers of late-preterm infants.

Fathers of late-preterm (34-36 weeks' gestation) infants may experience challenges in parenting. Late-preterm infants are more irritable and less responsive in interactions. The unexpected early birth of an infant may negatively affect fathers' cognitive and emotional experiences.

Texting teens in transition: the use of text messages in clinical intervention research.

Background: The rapidly growing population of young adults living with congenital heart disease (CHD), currently challenging ill-prepared cardiac care systems, presents a novel population in which to consider the use of mHealth. This methodological study was part of a larger study that tested the effectiveness of a clinic-based nursing intervention to prepare teens for transfer from pediatric to adult cardiology care. The intervention included creation of a MyHealth Passport and subsequently SMS (short message service) text messages between the intervention nurse and study participant.

Parental mediation of television viewing and videogaming of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and their siblings.

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder spend considerable time in media activities. Parents play an important role in shaping adolescents' responses to media. This study explored the mediation strategies that parents of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder used to manage television and video game use, factors associated with their use of different strategies, and whether mediation strategies changed over time.

Healthcare transition for youth with heart disease: a clinical trial.

Objectives: Adolescents with heart disease have complex health needs and require lifelong cardiology follow-up. Interventions to facilitate paediatric to adult healthcare transition are recommended, although outcomes are unknown. We sought to determine the impact of a transition intervention on improving knowledge and self-management skills among this population.

Stability of parent report on Mobility and Self-Care item scores of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory.

Secondary analysis using data from a clinical trial was performed to evaluate the stability of individual items of the Mobility and Self-Care functional skills scales of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI). Parents of 113 children aged 1-6 years old with cerebral palsy completed the PEDI twice by questionnaire 6 months apart. An item was classified "unstable" if the score changed from capable to unable.

Key components of early intervention programs for preterm infants and their parents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Preterm infants are at greater risk for neurodevelopmental disabilities than full term infants. Interventions supporting parents to improve the quality of the infant's environment should improve developmental outcomes for preterm infants. Many interventions that involve parents do not measure parental change, nor is it clear which intervention components are associated with improved parental outcomes.

Parenting under pressure: a grounded theory of parenting young children with life-threatening congenital heart disease.

Aim: To report a grounded theory study to describe the process of parenting young children who have survived hypoplastic left heart syndrome to inform parent-focused interventions.

Background: Technological advances in paediatric cardiology worldwide have improved the survival rates for young children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who undergo staged surgical palliation. These children, however, are at risk for life-threatening complications and parents are charged with the responsibility to monitor their children at home with minimal support and guidance from healthcare professionals once home.

Facets of parenting a child with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

The purpose of the study was to conceptualize the needs of parents of young children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) to provide a theoretical framework to inform the development of future parent interventions. Participants were parents and grandparents (n = 53) of 15 young children who had undergone the Sano surgical approach for HLHS. Analysis of recorded and transcribed single interviews with each participant was done as directed by interpretive description methodology.

"It's no big deal": adolescents with congenital heart disease.

Improved survival rates for congenital heart disease (CHD) have increasing numbers requiring lifelong specialized health care. In this interpretive description, interview data were analyzed to understand how adolescents with CHD describe everyday life and relate to questions about quality of life. Most viewed themselves as normal, their CHD something that they situated into the foreground or background of their lives as it suited their needs.

Sensory processing and ADHD in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Background: Sensory processing problems are prevalent in children who have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. It is unclear to what degree these problems are distinct from attention deficits as measured during the diagnostic process in these children.

Purpose: To understand sensory processing in these children, which may assist with early identification and intervention.

Risk factors for loss to follow-up among children and young adults with congenital heart disease.

Objective: To identify risk factors for loss to cardiology follow-up among children and young adults with congenital heart disease.

Methods: We used a matched case-control design. Cases were born before January, 2001 with moderate or complex congenital heart disease and were previously followed up in the paediatric or adult cardiology clinic, but not seen for 3 years or longer.

Computer-mediated support for adolescents with cerebral palsy or spina bifida.

Social support plays a key role in improving health outcomes for children with chronic conditions. Internet connections are an important component of adolescents' social networks and may overcome geographic and environmental barriers for those with disabilities. This article focuses on the processes associated with a 6-month online support intervention for adolescents with cerebral palsy or spina bifida.

Weighted vests, stereotyped behaviors and arousal in children with autism.

The homeostatic theory of stereotyped behaviors assumes that these behaviors modulate arousal. Weighted vests are used to decrease stereotyped behaviors in persons with autism because the input they provide is thought to serve the same homeostatic function. This small-n, randomized and blinded study measured the effects of wearing a weighted vest on stereotyped behaviors and heart rate for six children with autism in the classroom.