[Down Syndrome: Perception of Mothers and Fathers About Parenting a Child with Intellectual Disability].

Parents of children with intellectual disabilities report increased stress levels as well as experiences of personal growth and a positive impact on family relationship. 30 mothers and fathers of children with Down syndrome in school age complete questionnaires on the family impact of childhood disability, parental stress and child behavioral symptoms. Mothers as well as fathers report more positive than negative perceptions of the impact on the family.

[Quality of Life in Children with Down Syndrome from Parental Point of View].

Parents of 42 children with Down syndrome (mean age 9 years) report on their child's quality of life (physical, emotional and social domain). The KINDL-R was used as a proxy-report measure. Quality of life correlated negatively with behavioral symptoms (SDQ), but did not vary between children in mainstreamed or special schools.

Fathers of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Infants and Toddlers - Experiences, Needs, and Challenges.

Studies on fathers with deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children are quite rare in deaf education; if they are conducted, they narrowly focus on preschool-age or school-age children. The study reported here presents data from a survey on 92 fathers of very young DHH children with a mean age of 26 months. Questionnaires were used to measure the impact of children's hearing loss on parenting, the frequency of fathers' participation in early intervention appointments, and the level of fathers' involvement in daily care as well as in early intervention activities.

[Parenting Stress in Mothers of Children with Down Syndrome in Preschool Age].

Parenting Stress in Mothers of Children with Down Syndrome in Preschool Age Research suggests that parenting stress is elevated in parents of children with intellectual disabilities. However, data are inconsistent if this holds true for parents of children with Down syndrome. As part of the Heidelberg Down syndrome study, 52 mothers of children with Down syndrome (mean age: 5 years) completed the German adaptation of the Parenting Stress Index.

[Behaviour problems of children with Down syndrome in preschool-age - Results from the Heidelberg Down syndrome study].

Aims: We report on the frequency and the correlations of behaviour problems among children with Down syndrome in preschool-age.

Method: As part of a longitudinal study 48 mothers of children with Down syndrome completed the German version of the “Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire” (SDQ-D) and the Parenting Stress Inventory (PSI). The mothers were asked to fill out the questionnaires when the children had a mean age of five years.

Preliminary Evidence Assessing Social-Emotional Competences in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants and Toddlers Using a New Parent Questionnaire.

Social-emotional competences are an important developmental domain for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children and early diagnosis of problems is needed to ensure that DHH children receive appropriate support in this domain. In order to explore the usefulness of an instrument, which was recently developed for very young children, two studies in DHH infants and toddlers were conducted from Germany using the Social-Emotional Assessment/Evaluation Measure (Squires et al. (2013).

[Social-Emotional Competence in Young Children with Hearing, Visual or Intellectual Impairments - an Explorative Study with the ITSEA].

Social-Emotional Competence in Young Children with Hearing, Visual or Intellectual Impairments - an Explorative Study with the ITSEA Early emotional and social competence is considered as an important requirement for social participation in family and child care settings. We report on a study exploring the usefulness of the competence scales as a part of the "Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment" (ITSEA) for one- to three-year old children in a sample of 253 toddlers with hearing, visual or intellectual impairments. Internal consistency of the six scales is good (alpha > .

[Risk factors for self-injurious, aggressive, and stereotypic behavior in children and youths with visual impairments].

Objective: To increase the limited knowledge concerning the form and risk factors of self-injurious, aggressive, and stereotypic behavior in children and youths with visual impairments.

Method: Parents of 83 children and youths with visual impairments report on the characteristics of visual impairment, the social-communicative competence of their children, and the frequency and severity of self-injurious, aggressive, and stereotypic behaviors.

Results: Stereotypic behaviors are reported more often than the other behavioral abnormalities.

[Social-emotional competences in deaf and hard-of-hearing toddlers – results from an empirical study with two current parent questionnaires].

Objective: Hearing loss in the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) is associated with an elevated risk of problems in socio-emotional development. Early assessment is necessary to start timely interventions. The present study tested two parent questionnaires that allow evaluation of the socio-emotional development of toddlers from a competence perspective.

[Caregiver Stress in Foster and Adoptive Parents of Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders].

Caregiver Stress in Foster and Adoptive Parents of Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Foster and adoptive parents of 71 children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) report on developmental and behavioral characteristics, family stress, coping resources and their satisfaction with support. The data reveal an elevated rate of social and emotional problems in the children.

[Family experiences with the diagnosis of fragile X syndrome--results of a retrospective parental survey].

Family X syndrome is the second most common inherited form of mental retardation. The suspected diagnosis is made on a characteristic behavioral phenotype and confirmed by genetic analysis. In a retrospective survey, 57 parents report on the process of diagnosis.

[Behavioral characteristics of children with Prader-Willi syndrome in preschool and school age: an exploratory study on ritualistic behavior].

Parents of 64 children and youths with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) describe their children's behaviour on the "Temperament and Atypical Behavior Scale" (TABS) and the German version of the "Developmental Behavior Checklist" (VFE). In the younger age group, there are no specific behavioural abnormalities which characterize a behavioral phenotype. In the older age group the data reveal elevated levels of abnormal behaviors (communication disturbance, social relations and disruptive behaviors).

[Parental self-efficacy in family-centered early intervention].

Parental self-efficacy is seen as an important concern in family-centered early intervention. This article reports the data from 125 parents of young children with intellectual disabilities, hearing impairment or visual impairment. The relationship between parental self-efficacy, parental stress and several parent and child variables is analyzed.

[Psychopathology in youths with intellectual disabilities--prevalence and prevention].

A survey of epidemiological findings suggests a significantly increased level of emotional and behavioural problems in children and youth with intellectual disabilities. Some biological and social factors are presented which contribute to this elevated risk for psychopathology. Assessment and intervention planning needs to acknowledge genetic dispositions, and limitations of the capacity of information processing which characterise children with intellectual disabilities.

[Regulatory disorders as early indicators of mental health disorders in severely handicapped children].

Objectives: The present study examines regulatory dysfunctions and atypical behaviors in young children with various levels of intellectual disabilities.

Method: Families were recruited from parent self-help groups. 133 mothers completed questionnaires on adaptive competence (VABS-II) as well as temperament and atypical behaviors (TABS).

[Perceived quality of life in mothers of young boys with fragile X syndrome].

Quality of life has been conceptualized as a subjective view of one's feeling of well-being. There is evidence for restraints caused by parenting stress as well as resilience in mothers of children with an intellectual handicap. Specifically, we report on an investigation using the family-related life quality questionnaire (FLQ) in mothers of 26 young boys with Fragile X syndrome.

[Mental health disorders among handicapped children and youth].

Data on the prevalence of mental health disorders among children and youth with hearing disorders, blindness, physical handicaps or intellectual disabilities are reviewed. Problems in parent-child relations and issues in the development of social competence and social participation are discussed as risk factors for emotional social maladjustment. The differentiation between developmental problems resulting from the handicap and mental health problems is a challenging task in practice.

[Autistic spectrum disorders in very young children: issues in the diagnostic process].

The diagnosis of very young children with autistic spectrum disorders and differentiating the disorder from mental retardation are difficult in the early years. Some efforts to improve diagnostic practice are reviewed. The usefulness of standardized behavioural rating scales, observation of core deficits in communication and play and parental reports are discussed in view of the author's experience with 13 children (2-4 years of age).

[Assessment of behavioral problems in children with intellectual disability: the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form].

Epidemiological data show a high prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in children with intellectual disability. However there is a lack of standardized instruments designed to assess emotions and behaviors typically seen in mentally handicapped children. The results of a survey using the "Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form" are presented.

[Rett syndrome: individual differences in developmental and behavioral markers and psychosocial stress].

Objectives: Rett Syndrome is a severe neurological developmental disorder caused by a genetic mutation on the long arm of the X chromosome (Xq28). This disorder is characterized by a loss of purposeful hand use, verbal language, and specific behaviors.

Methods: Data were obtained from a survey of the parents of 83 girls on pre-verbal skills (Pre-verbal Communication Schedule), behavioral characteristics and emotional expression (Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire) and on maternal psychosocial stress (Handicap-related Problems for Parents Inventory).

Behavioural and emotional characteristics in children with Sotos syndrome and learning disabilities.

In contrast to physical characteristics, the developmental and behavioural characteristics of children with Sotos syndrome are not well documented. Data from a survey of 27 children (17 males and 10 females; mean age 10 years 7 months; range 6 to 15 years) with mild and moderate learning disabilities were obtained concerning school placement, social networks, adaptive competence, and behavioural problems and compared with a control group matched for cognitive level and age. Ten children attended a mainstream school (with remedial assistance), eight were placed in a school for children with learning disabilities, nine children attended other special schools.

Analysis of intentional communication in severely handicapped children with Cornelia-de-Lange syndrome.

Unlabelled: Intentional communicative acts were assessed in 13 children with Cornelia-de-Lange syndrome (CdLS) with a severe mental disability and compared to a control group of Down and 5p (Cri-du-Chat (CdC)) syndrome children. The mean number of intentional communicative acts were significantly lower. Analysis of play behaviors revealed that the differences were specific for the communicative domain.