High Intellectual Potential and High Functioning Autism: Clinical and Neurophysiological Features in a Pediatric Sample.

High Intellectual Potential (HIP) and High Functioning Autism (HFA) are two different conditions sharing some clinical and neurobiological features. The aim of the present study was to characterize a sample of HIP children (n: 16; M/F: 14/2; median age: 10 years) in comparison to those with HFA (n: 17; M/F: 16/1; median age: 13 years) and to neurotypically developed (NTD) children (n: 10; M/F: 4/6; median age: 11 years) from a clinical and neurophysiological perspective. Specifically, a standardized clinical assessment of cognitive and adaptive skills, autistic symptoms, executive functions and behavioral features was performed.

Parental Stress and Disability in Offspring: A Snapshot during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Parenting a child with a disability, such as neurodevelopmental disorders and genetic syndromes, implies a high level of stress. During the COVID-19 outbreak-as a period implying additional challenges-few studies have specifically investigated caregivers' distress among neurodevelopmental disabilities. The objective of the study is to investigate whether during the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of parental stress differs between four disability groups including neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)) and genetic syndromes (Rett syndrome (RTT), Sotos syndrome (SS)) in comparison to families with typical development offspring (TD).

Sex Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Repetitive Behaviors and Adaptive Functioning.

Sex differences in restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have been explored with mixed findings. We aimed to investigate sex differences in RRBs through a specific measure-i.e.

Wearable-based electronics to objectively support diagnosis of motor impairments in school-aged children.

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are neuro-developmental disorders, starting in childhood, which can affect the planning of movements and the coordination. We investigated how and in which measure a system based on wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) can provide an objective support to the diagnosis of motor impairments in school-aged children. The IMUs measured linear and rotational movements of 37 schoolchildren, 7-10yo, 17 patients and 20 control subjects, during the execution of motor exercises, performed under medical and psychiatric supervision, to assess different aspects of the motor coordination.

Cognitive phenotype and language skills in children with achondroplasia.

Background: Although achondroplasia (ACH) may not be considered a condition that is strictly related to neuropsychiatric problems, many children referred to pediatric neurologists and psychiatrists to undergo motor and linguistic diagnostic-rehab procedures. The purpose of this study was to delineate a characterization of language difficulties in a sample of Italian children with achondroplasia and analyze how an untreated language disorder can develop into a learning disability.

Methods: Seventeen Italian children (average age: 5 years and 8 months) with a clinical diagnosis genetically confirmed of achondroplasia were enrolled.

Promoting Shared Decision Making to strengthen outcome of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: the role of staff competence.

Little is known on how the conceptual description of Shared Decision Making (SDM) accomplishes clinical practice in the context of lifetime disabilities as in particular Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), when intervention is long-lasting and requires constant family involvement. This study aimed mainly to investigate to what extent the staff's competence in SDM contributes to positive child and parent improvement when involving parents in Early Intensive Behavior Interventions (EIBI). It was also geared to verify whether SDM staff competence contributes to a child's treatment responsiveness.

Slow EEG amplitude oscillations during NREM sleep and reading disabilities in children with dyslexia.

Study Objectives: To analyze non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep microstructure of children with dyslexia, by means of cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) analysis and to correlate CAP parameters with neuropsychological measures.

Design: Cross-sectional study using polysomnographic recordings and neuropsychological assessments.

Setting: Sleep laboratory in academic center.

Sleep spindle activity is correlated with reading abilities in developmental dyslexia.

Study Objectives: To analyze sleep architecture of children with dyslexia, by means of conventional parameters and EEG spectral analysis and to correlate sleep parameters and EEG spectra with neuropsychological measures.

Design: Cross-sectional study involving validated sleep questionnaires, neuropsychological scales, and polysomnographic recordings.

Setting: Sleep laboratory in academic center.