Exploring the Intersection of ADHD and Music: A Systematic Review.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting both children and adults, which often leads to significant difficulties with attention, impulsivity, and working memory. These challenges can impact various cognitive and perceptual domains, including music perception and performance. Despite these difficulties, individuals with ADHD frequently engage with music, and previous research has shown that music listening can serve as a means of increasing stimulation and self-regulation.

Transition-to-home arrangements for very preterm infants and related parental needs at perinatal centres in Austria and Switzerland: a cross-sectional multicentred study.

Introduction: The current study aims to give an overview of transition-to-home services provided by perinatal centres in Austria and Switzerland and to evaluate parental satisfaction with the care provided.

Methods: This cross-sectional multicentred study was conducted by performing two surveys between May 2022 and November 2023: one among all level III perinatal centres in Austria (n=7) and Switzerland (n=9) (institutional survey) and one among parents of very preterm infants treated at one selected perinatal centre in each of the two countries (parental survey). Both questionnaires consisted of matching questions focusing on current transition-to-home services.

Malay translation and validation of modified checklist for autism in toddlers, revised with follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F).

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition diagnosed clinically based on phenotypic characteristics and criteria such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Due to its significant social, emotional, and psychological impacts, early identification and diagnosis are crucial for starting early intervention and improving outcomes. A screening tool is imperative in identifying young children at risk so timely intervention can be instituted.

The ADHD Assessment Quality Assurance Standard for Children and Teenagers (CAAQAS).

Around 5% of the children and teenagers worldwide are affected by Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder [ADHD], making it a major public health concern. Recently, demand for assessments has substantially increased, putting strain on healthcare and waiting lists. There is concern that pressure to clear service bottlenecks is leading to variable quality and reliability of ADHD assessments in this population.

Overnight changes in performance fatigability and their relationship to modulated deep sleep oscillations via auditory stimulation.

Deep sleep oscillations are proposed to be central in restoring brain function and to affect different aspects of motor performance such as facilitating the consolidation of motor sequences resulting in faster and more accurate sequence tapping. Yet, whether deep sleep modulates performance fatigability during fatiguing tasks remains unexplored. We investigated overnight changes in tapping speed and resistance against performance fatigability via a finger tapping task.

Neonatal Markers of Prematurity as Predictors of Permanent Childhood Hearing Loss and Neurodevelopmental Impairment in Children Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Need for admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) confers an increased risk of hearing loss in the newborn and of later neurodevelopmental impairment. In this retrospective longitudinal case-controlled study, we assess how the degree of prematurity, measured via gestational age, birth weight, and z-scores, in 138 infants admitted to the NICU are associated with permanent childhood hearing loss (PCHI) and 2-year developmental outcomes. Logistic regression analyses, Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance, and Chi-squared tests were used.

Efficacy and Safety of Valganciclovir in Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection with Isolated Intrahepatic Cholestasis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection affects the hepatic, neurologic, hematopoietic, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and other organs, resulting in a high mortality rate and long-term sequelae. It may cause acute or chronic hepatitis, or even lead to hepatic cirrhosis. Valganciclovir (VGCV) is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated treatment for congenital CMV infection, without any serious adverse effects.

Oral health status and dental treatment needs in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Objective: To evaluate oral health care practices, health status, and dental treatment needs in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 96 children diagnosed with ASD per the DSM-V criteria and 96 typically developing healthy children. The WHO form assessed oral health status and dental treatment needs.

Evolving A Children's Manifesto.

The health and welfare of children and adolescents-the nation's future-must always be a priority. One would, therefore, expect this to be reflected in the manifestos of political parties. This article suggests that pediatricians and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) should play a more proactive role in influencing political parties to commit to an inclusive manifesto that addresses key issues related to child health and welfare, by also liaisoning and collaborating with other stakeholders, such as parents, educators, and child rights organizations.

Sleep and cardiac autonomic modulation in older adults: Insights from an at-home study with auditory deep sleep stimulation.

The autonomic nervous system regulates cardiovascular activity during sleep, likely impacting cardiovascular health. Aging, a primary cardiovascular risk factor, is associated with cardiac autonomic disbalance and diminished sleep slow waves. Therefore, slow waves may be linked to aging, autonomic activity and cardiovascular health.

Acoustically evoked K-complexes together with sleep spindles boost verbal declarative memory consolidation in healthy adults.

Over the past decade, phase-targeted auditory stimulation (PTAS), a neuromodulation approach which presents auditory stimuli locked to the ongoing phase of slow waves during sleep, has shown potential to enhance specific aspects of sleep functions. However, the complexity of PTAS responses complicates the establishment of causality between specific electroencephalographic events and observed benefits. Here, we used down-PTAS during sleep to specifically evoke the early, K-complex (KC)-like response following PTAS without leading to a sustained increase in slow-wave activity throughout the stimulation window.

Neurobehavioral Outcomes of Children with Antenatal Exposure to Antiseizure Medications.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of antiepileptic medications prescribed to mothers during pregnancy on the development and behavior of children.

Methods: From the Kerala Registry of Epilepsy and Pregnancy, 98 children between the ages of 1½ to 2½ y were consecutively chosen. Children of mothers who did not have epilepsy during pregnancy and not exposed to antiseizure medications (ASMs) antenatally were selected as comparator group.

PSMC5 insufficiency and P320R mutation impair proteasome function.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system mediates the degradation of a wide variety of proteins. Proteasome dysfunction is associated with neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. Here we identified mutations in PSMC5, an AAA ATPase subunit of the proteasome 19S regulatory particle, in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, which were initially considered as variants of unknown significance.

Methodology for adapting a co-created early childhood development intervention and implementation strategies for use by frontline workers in India and Guatemala: a systematic application of the FRAME-IS framework.

There is little evidence on optimizing the effectiveness and implementation of evidence-based early childhood development (ECD) interventions when task-shifted to frontline workers. In this Methods Forum paper, we describe our adaptation of the International Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) for task-shifting to frontline workers in Guatemala and India. In 2021-2022, implementers, trainers, frontline workers, caregivers, and international GMCD experts collaborated to adapt the GMCD for a task shifted implementation by frontline workers.

Clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services at paediatric hospitals: A non-randomised multi-site study for children and young people and their families - study protocol.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of mental health difficulties in children and young people with long-term health conditions (LTCs), these difficulties and experiences are often overlooked and untreated. Previous research demonstrated the effectiveness of psychological support provided via a drop-in mental health centre located in a paediatric hospital. The aim of this prospective non-randomised single-arm multi-centre interventional study is to determine the clinical effectiveness of drop-in mental health services when implemented at paediatric hospitals in England.

Extended wakefulness alters the relationship between EEG oscillations and performance in a sustained attention task.

During drowsiness, maintaining consistent attention becomes difficult, leading to behavioural lapses. Bursts of oscillations in the electroencephalogram (EEG) might predict such lapses, given that alpha bursts increase during inattention and theta bursts increase with time spent awake. Paradoxically, however, alpha bursts decrease with time awake and theta bursts increase during focussed attention and cognitive tasks.

The development of the Helping your Anxious Child programme: a parent-mediated group intervention for parents of autistic children in South Asia.

Autistic children are at increased risk of experiencing a range of mental health difficulties, including anxiety. A number of intervention programmes are now available in high-income countries to support autistic children. However, to date there are no evidence-based interventions to support families of such children in South Asia.

Cochlear implantation outcomes in children with multiple disabilities: a topic that's worth revisiting.

Objectives: To determine the benefits of cochlear implantation in hearing loss children with multiple disabilities (MD) in terms of auditory outcomes, speech performance, and their quality of life.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study from January 2019 to December 2020 in which thirty-one children with hearing loss and multiple disabilities were evaluated. Their improvement in auditory and speech performances were assessed using Categories of Auditory Performance version II (CAP-II) and the Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scales.

Efficacy of Early Intervention for Infants With Cerebral Palsy in an LMIC: An RCT.

Objective: To test efficacy of a parent-delivered multidomain early intervention (Learning through Everyday Activities with Parents [LEAP-CP]) for infants with cerebral palsy (CP) compared with equal-dose of health advice (HA), on (1) infant development; and (2) caregiver mental health. It was hypothesized that infants receiving LEAP-CP would have better motor function, and caregivers better mental health.

Methods: This was a multisite single-blind randomized control trial of infants aged 12 to 40 weeks corrected age (CA) at risk for CP (General Movements or Hammersmith Infant Neurologic Examination).

Consensus Statement of the IAP - Neurodevelopmental Chapter On Neurodevelopmental Disorders Habilitation Process: Strategic Plan for Prevention, Early Detection and Early Intervention.

Justification: Neurodevelopmental disorders, as per DSM-V, are described as a group of conditions with onset in the development period of childhood. There is a need to distinguish the process of habilitation and rehabilitation, especially in a developing country like India, and define the roles of all stakeholders to reduce the burden of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Process: Subject experts and members of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Chapter of Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics, who reviewed the literature on the topic, developed key questions and prepared the first draft on guidelines.

Establishing performance standards for child development: learnings from the ECDI2030.

Background: Standards of early childhood development (ECD) are needed to determine whether children living in different contexts are developmentally on track. The Early Childhood Development Index 2030 (ECDI2030) is a population-level measure intended to be used in household surveys to collect globally comparable data on one of the indicators chosen to monitor progress toward target 4.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals: The proportion of children aged 24-59 months who are developmentally on track in health, learning and psychosocial well-being.