Examining methodological variation in response inhibition: The effects of outcome measures and task characteristics on age-related differences.

This study addressed methodological issues common to developmental studies on response inhibition. Age-related differences were investigated using two Stroop-like tasks with different levels of complexity and comparing different outcome measures in a sample of 340 children and adolescents aged 7-15 years. First, speed and accuracy of task performance were examined; the results showing that improvement in speed continued until age 13 in both the basic naming task and the two inhibition tasks.

Neurocognitive performance of children with higher functioning autism spectrum disorders on the NEPSY-II.

This study examined patterns of strengths and weaknesses in the neurocognitive performance of children with higher functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The participants were 30 children with higher functioning ASD ranging from 6 to 11 years, and 60 typically developing (TD) children, who were matched with the children with higher functioning ASD in terms of age, gender, and maternal education. The TD children were drawn from the Finnish standardization sample for the NEPSY-II.

Preschoolers' recognition of emotional expressions: relationships with other neurocognitive capacities.

We cross-sectionally examined the development of the ability to recognize facial expressions of emotions in preschool-aged children and the relationship between this ability and other neurocognitive capacities, that is, attention/executive functions, language, memory/learning, sensorimotor functions, theory of mind, and visuospatial processing. Children aged 3 to 6 years with no significant developmental deficits (N = 370) were assessed with a nonverbal matching task of emotion recognition ability: The Affect Recognition subtest from the NEPSY-II. The relationship between emotion recognition ability and other neurocognitive capacities was analyzed using correlation, regression, and commonality analyses.

Risk factors for impaired quality of life and psychosocial adjustment after pediatric heart, kidney, and liver transplantation.

Few studies compare HRQOL and PSA in children who have undergone different types of solid organ Tx. In this cross-sectional study, HRQOL and PSA were assessed in 74 Tx patients (16 heart, 44 kidney, 14 liver) at a mean age of 11.5 (range 6.

Neurocognitive functioning in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

There is a paucity of research studying comprehensive neurocognitive profiles of adolescents with higher functioning autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This study compared the neurocognitive profiles of higher functioning adolescents with ASD (n = 30, mean age 13.5) with that of typically developing adolescents (n = 30; mean age 13.

Neurocognitive development in 5- to 16-year-old North American children: a cross-sectional study.

Executive functions are thought to be the latest functions to mature. However, this view has not been tested by assessing simultaneously memory, perception of emotions, visuospatial perception, and visuoconstructional skills. NEPSY II norm data from 1000 5- to 16-year-old U.

Does simultaneous bilingualism aggravate children's specific language problems?

Aim: There is little data on whether or not a bilingual upbringing may aggravate specific language problems in children. This study analysed whether there was an interaction of such problems and simultaneous bilingualism.

Methods: Participants were 5- to 7-year-old children with specific language problems (LANG group, N = 56) or who were typically developing (CONTR group, N = 60).

Adaptive behaviour in children and adolescents with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders: a comparison with specific learning disability and typical development.

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) is a leading cause of intellectual disability in the western world. Children and adolescents with FASD are often exposed to a double burden in life, as their neurological sequelae are accompanied by adverse living surroundings exposing them to further environmental risk. In the present study, the adaptive abilities of a group of children and adolescents with FASD were examined using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS) and compared to those of a group of IQ-matched children with specific learning disorder (SLD) as well as with typically developing controls (CON).

Neuropsychological profile of children with kidney transplants.

Background: Varying results on the cognitive outcome of children who have undergone kidney transplantation (KTx) have raised concern for specific neurocognitive difficulties.

Methods: Fifty children with KTx were assessed at a mean age of 11.1 (SD 3.

Neurocognitive development and behavioral outcome of 2-year-old children with univentricular heart.

Recent advances in the treatment of children with severe congenital heart defects, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and other forms of univentricular heart (UVH), have significantly improved their survival rates. However, these children are at risk for various neurodevelopmental deficits. The aim of the present study was to assess cognitive development, expressive language, and behavior in 30-month-old children with univentricular heart.

Risk factors for behavioural problems in foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Aim: To examine risk and protective factors associated with behavioural problems of children and adolescents following prenatal alcohol exposure.

Methods: A total of 73 children and adolescents with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) were assessed for internalizing, externalizing and total behavioural problems using the Child Behavior Checklist. Linear regression models were used to determine the effects of diagnostic and environmental risk and protective factors on behaviour, while controlling for age, sex and IQ.

Visuospatial impairment in children and adolescents after liver transplantation.

A minority of children with liver transplants exhibit significant delay in global intelligence; others have specific learning disabilities. More specific data on neurocognitive strengths and weaknesses are lacking. Eighteen children aged 7-16 yr, who had undergone LTx in Finland participated in the study.

Cognitive and neuropsychological outcomes at 5 years of age in preterm children born in the 2000s.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the cognitive level and neuropsychological performance at 5 years of age in children with a very low birthweight (VLBW; birthweight <1501 g) born in 2001 to 2003.

Method: A regional cohort of 97 children with a VLBW (mean gestational age 28 wks [SD 3 wks]; mean birthweight 1054 g [SD 259 g]; 50 male; 47 female) and a comparison group of 161 healthy children born at term (mean gestational age 40 wks [SD 1 wks]; mean birthweight 3644 g [SD 446 g]; 80 male; 81 female) were included in this study. At 5 years of age (SD 2 mo) cognitive level was assessed with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - revised and neuropsychological performance was assessed using NEPSY II.

Neurocognitive function of pediatric heart transplant recipients.

Background: Pediatric heart transplant recipients exhibit cognitive delays, as evident in assessments of their general intelligence. Less is known about their specific neurocognitive impairments.

Methods: All 19 children in Finland aged 6 to 16 years who had undergone heart transplantation (HTx) participated.

The Attention and Executive Function Rating Inventory (ATTEX): Psychometric properties and clinical utility in diagnosing ADHD subtypes.

This study presents a new inventory, the Attention and Executive Function Rating Inventory (ATTEX), and examines the psychometric properties and the clinical utility of ATTEX in identifying the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder combined type (ADHD-C) and the ADHD predominantly inattentive type (ADHD-I) in school environments. A normative sample of Finnish 7- to 15-year-old children and adolescents (N = 701) and a clinical sample consisting of children with ADHD-C (N = 190) and ADHD-I (N = 25) were examined with the ATTEX and the ADHD Rating Scale-IV. The ATTEX and its scales had good internal consistency reliability (0.

Relations between brain volumes, neuropsychological assessment and parental questionnaire in prematurely born children.

The objective of this study is to assess the relationship between brain volumes at term equivalent age and neuropsychological functions at 5 years of age in very low birth weight (VLBW) children, and to compare the results from a neuropsychological assessment and a parental questionnaire at 5 years of age. The study group included a regional cohort of 97 VLBW children and a control group of 161 children born at term. At term equivalent age, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on the VLBW children, and analysed for total and regional brain volumes.

Mood is associated with snoring in preschool-aged children.

Objective: To study emotional and behavioral problems and sleep and cognitive performance in snoring and nonsnoring 3- to 6-year-old children.

Methods: As part of an epidemiological study of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in preschool-aged children, 43 snorers and 46 nonsnorers participated in a clinical study. Their parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

Neurocognitive test profiles of extremely low birth weight five-year-old children differ according to neuromotor status.

The neurocognitive outcome of children born with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) is highly variable due to the complexity of morbidity. So far, no study has compared comprehensive neuropsychological test profiles in groups with different neuromotor status. In a national cohort of ELBW children neuropsychological test profiles were assessed in 4 groups defined according to a neurological examination at 5 years of age: normal neuromotor status (N = 56), motor coordination problems (N = 32), multiple subtle neuromotor signs including both motor coordination problems and deviant reflexes (N = 20), and spastic diplegia (N = 12).

Language profiles of monolingual and bilingual Finnish preschool children at risk for language impairment.

Background: A large proportion of children are exposed to more than one language, yet research on simultaneous bilingualism has been relatively sparse. Traditionally, there has been concern that bilingualism may aggravate language difficulties of children with language impairment. However, recent studies have not found specific language impairment (SLI) or language-related problems to be increased by bilingualism.

Language impairment is reflected in auditory evoked fields.

Specific language impairment (SLI) is diagnosed when a child has problems in producing or understanding language despite having a normal IQ and there being no other obvious explanation. There can be several associated problems, and no single underlying cause has yet been identified. Some theories propose problems in auditory processing, specifically in the discrimination of sound frequency or rapid temporal frequency changes.

Relationship between dysmorphic features and general cognitive function in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Prenatal alcohol exposure may adversely affect fetal development, causing growth restriction, distinctive craniofacial anomalies, and central nervous system dysfunction. The continuum of associated adverse fetal outcomes is most accurately termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The purpose of this study was to further clarify the relationship between dysmorphic features and general cognitive capacity in a study on Finnish children with FASD.

Neuropsychological outcomes in children of mothers with epilepsy.

The study investigated the nature of the effects of maternal epilepsy on cognitive performance of the offspring. One hundred fifty-four children of mothers with epilepsy aged 5 to 11 years (study group), along with 130 control children, comparable with respect to IQ, socio-economic status, age, and gender underwent a neuropsychological assessment using subtests from the NEPSY: A Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment, tapping attentional, auditory-verbal, visuomotor, fine motor, and memory abilities. The study group scored significantly lower than the controls on measures of attention, memory, and fine-motor function.

Brain metabolic alterations in adolescents and young adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

Background: Prenatal alcohol exposure affects brain structure and function. This study examined brain metabolism using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and searched for regions of specific vulnerability in adolescents and young adults prenatally exposed to alcohol.

Methods: Ten adolescents and young adults with confirmed heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and a diagnosis within the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) were included.

Group intervention changes brain activity in bilingual language-impaired children.

This investigation assessed the effectiveness of a phonological intervention program on the brain functioning of bilingual Finnish 6- to 7-year-old preschool children diagnosed with specific language impairment (SLI). The intervention program was implemented by preschool teachers to small groups of children including children with SLI. A matched group of other bilingual children with SLI received a physical exercise program and served as a control group.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in Finland: clinical delineation of 77 older children and adolescents.

The adverse effects of alcohol on the developing human comprise a spectrum of structural anomalies and behavioral and neurocognitive disabilities, most accurately termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). We previously have proposed revisions to the 1996 Institute of Medicine Diagnostic Criteria for diagnoses in the FASD continuum [fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), partial fetal alcohol syndrome (PFAS), alcohol related birth defects (ARBD), and alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND)], allowing for more reproducible and accurate FASD diagnosis in a clinical setting [Hoyme et al., 2005].