[Determinants of psychomotor performance in schoolchildren from Barranquilla, Colombia]. / Determinantes del desempeño psicomotor en escolares de Barranquilla, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of the psychomotor profile in children aged four to eight years attending the schools of the North Historical Center of Barranquilla, Colombia. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 755 students from public and private schools aged between 4 and 8 years. The motor profile was measured by Da Fonseca Psychomotor Battery. RESULTS: An increased risk for apraxic-dyspraxic performance of the global praxis subfactor was observed in schoolchildren aged four to five years [OR 4.8; 95 % CI; 3.3-7.1] who study in public schools [OR 4.4; 95 % CI; 2.7-7.3], in those classified in the socioeconomic in strata 1, 2 and 3 [OR 2.4; 95 % CI; 1.5-3.9], and in those with an increased weight [OR 2; 95 % CI; 1.2-3.3]. The highest risk for apraxic-dyspraxic performance correlated to public school students [OR 1.9; 95% CI; 1.3-2.8] aged between four and five [OR 3.7; 95 % CI; 2.7-5.3]. The apraxic-dyspraxic performance in the structuring of the temporal space subfactor was higher in girls [OR 1.6; 95 % CI; 1.1- 2.2], in schoolchildren aged four to five [OR 4.8; 95 % CI; 3.3-7.1], in students of public schools [OR 1.9; 95 % CI; 2.7- 5.3], and in children classified in the socioeconomic strata 1, 2 and 3 [OR 1.6; 95 % CI; 1.1-2.7]. CONCLUSIONS: Determinants such as studying in public schools, nutritional status, gender and socioeconomic stratum are related to motor performance in students.

OBJETIVO: Establecer la prevalência del perfil psicomotriz en niños de cuatro a ocho años de edad de los colegios de la localidad Norte Centro Histórico de la ciudad de Barranquilla. MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal realizado en 755 estudiantes de cuatro a ocho años de edad de colegios oficiales y privados. El perfil motriz se midió mediante la Batería Psicomotora (BPM) de Da Fonseca. RESULTADOS: Existe mayor riesgo para un desempeño apráxico-dispráxico del subfactor praxia global para los escolares de cuatro a cinco años [OR 4,8; IC 95 %; 3,3-7,1] que estudian en colegios oficiales [OR 4,4; IC 95 %; 2,7-7,3]; los que viven en estrato 1, 2 y 3 [OR 2,4; IC 95 %; 1,5-3,9] y quienes tienen un peso aumentado [OR 2; IC 95 %; 1,2-3,3]. El mayor riesgo para un desempeño apráxico-dispráxico en praxia fina fue los participantes de cuatro a cinco años de edad [OR 3,7; IC 95 %; 2,7-5,3], para los estudiantes de colegios oficiales [OR 1,9; IC 95 %; 1,3-2,]. Un desempeño apráxico-dispráxico en el subfactor estructuración espacio temporal es mayor en las niñas [OR 1,6; IC 95 %; 1,12,2], para los escolares de cuatro a cinco [OR 4,8; IC 95 %; 3,3-7,1]; en los que estudian en el sector oficial [OR 1,9; IC 95 %; 2,7-5,3]; para los que residen en estratos socioeconómicos 1, 2 y 3 [OR 1,6; IC 95 %; 1,1-2,7]. CONCLUSIONES: Los determinantes como estudiar en colegios del sector oficial, estado nutricional, género y estrato socioeconómico están relacionados con el desempeño motor de los estudiantes.

How Valid Is the Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder When a Child Has Apraxia of Speech?

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine if the Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CASD) was inadvertently overemphasizing autism symptoms in a population of children without autism. METHODS: Children noted with communication delays were referred to both a developmental pediatrician and a speech and language pathologist for an apraxia and autism evaluation. All children who underwent both autism and apraxia evaluations and met rule-in or rule-out criteria for both diagnoses were included in the study, resulting in a sample size of 30. RESULTS: Our results show that 63.6% of children initially diagnosed with autism also had apraxia, 36.8% of children initially diagnosed with apraxia also had autism, 23.3% had neither, and 23.3% had both. Overall diagnostic accuracy for the CASD was 96.7%. Overall accuracy for the CASD for children without apraxia was 100% and accuracy for children with apraxia was 94.7%. Specificity for the CASD was 100%, while sensitivity was 90.9%. The PPV was 100% and the NPV was 95.0%. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the CASD does not overemphasize autism symptoms in a population of children without autism. It also shows that autism and apraxia are highly comorbid. Thus, it is important to monitor all children diagnosed with apraxia for signs of autism and all children diagnosed with autism for signs of apraxia. This will help identify children as early as possible and allow them access to services appropriate to their needs.

Evaluation of the performance of normal elderly in a limb praxis protocol: influence of age, gender, and education.

Limb praxis can be influenced by age, gender, and education. The present study investigated the influence of these variables on gesture production by healthy elderly subjects. We evaluated 96 individuals divided into two age groups (60-74 and 75-88 years). Each group contained 48 men and 48 women and was subdivided into four groups according to education: illiterates and 1-3, 4-7, and 8 or more years of education. Individuals were requested to carry out tasks on verbal command and imitation. There were no differences between the performance of men and women, while older individuals performed worse than their younger counterparts. Regarding educational level, three major groups emerged: illiterates, individuals with 1-7 years of education, and those with 8 or more years of education. In conclusion, age and education significantly influenced the performance of individuals in limb praxis tests.