ABSTRACT
An international Task Force was convened under the guidance of BMBF Conference so as to review the "State of the art" for measuring quality of life (QoL) in children who have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI). After expert review of instruments and evaluation of two independent literature reviews this work group established "inclusion criteria" for the review of current tools that could contribute to the measurement of QoL in children with TBI. Six instruments were determined to meet all or most of the criteria required to be used in current clinical practice and research for children with TBI.
Subject(s)
Brain Injuries/psychology , Outcome Assessment, Health Care , Psychometrics/methods , Quality of Life , Age Factors , Brain Injuries/rehabilitation , Child , Health Status Indicators , Humans , Rehabilitation , Reproducibility of Results , Sex Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Spinal muscular atrophy is a chronic disease characterised by loss of motor function. The aim of the study was to analyse cognitive functions in a large group of patients with spinal muscular atrophy. It was hypothesised that their intelligence is comparable to controls, but not above average as previously postulated. Ninety-six children and adolescents with spinal muscular atrophy I-III, aged 6.0-18.11 years, 45 non-affected siblings and 59 healthy, matched controls were examined with one- (CPM/SPM), as well as multi-dimensional intelligence tests (Kaufman-ABC; Wechsler tests). The mean IQ measured with the CPM/SPM tests was 109.6 for the spinal muscular atrophy group, 107.3 for the sibs and 104.1 for the healthy controls (no significant difference). In the older children and adolescents (SPM only) the mean IQ was significantly higher for the spinal muscular atrophy patients (109.6) than for the controls (95.4). The standard score in the 'mental processing composite' scale of the Kaufman-ABC was identical in the spinal muscular atrophy group and controls (103.8). The cognitive profile was relatively homogeneous. However, the older children and adolescents did have a significantly higher verbal IQ (113.8) than controls (104.6) in the Wechsler tests. There were no significant differences in any of the tests among different grades of severity (spinal muscular atrophy types I-III). It can be concluded that children and adolescents with spinal muscular atrophy have a general intelligence in the normal range. By adolescence, environmentally mediated aspects of intelligence are higher in patients with spinal muscular atrophy. It could be speculated that the development of cognitive skills and knowledge is a creative way to compensate the many restrictions due to their physical handicap.
Subject(s)
Cognition , Intelligence , Spinal Muscular Atrophies of Childhood/psychology , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Intelligence Tests , Male , Memory , Nuclear Family , Reference Values , Severity of Illness Index , Spinal Muscular Atrophies of Childhood/genetics , Spinal Muscular Atrophies of Childhood/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Among a number of issues and disorder pictures neuropsychological diagnostics should occupy a solid position, both in the initial assessment, as well as in that of the course. With an eye towards its use in child and adolescent psychiatry, a descriptive definition of this area of psychological diagnostics must be provided. In so doing, several essentially different approaches arise, whose effects on psychometrics and interpretation must be examined. Regardless of the fact that the current availability of standardized neuropsychological diagnostics is satisfactory only in certain areas, the methods used in clinical practice and/or research are presented. In addition to the individual test batteries, individual test methods for the areas of visual and auditory memory functions, attention functions, functions associated with speech, and executive functions are discussed. The current status of neuropsychological diagnostics generates essential tasks towards its further development. This is true with regard to goals attainable in the short term, such as adaptation or standardization of available instruments, as well as for long-term research tasks.
Subject(s)
Developmental Disabilities/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Neuropsychological Tests/standards , Psychology, Adolescent , Psychology, Child , Adolescent , Child , Germany , Humans , PsychometricsABSTRACT
Survived traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are one of the most serious challenges to the patient's future life. Recent literature increasingly questions the long believed protective effects of functional cerebral plasticity in children. Although TBI in children and adolescents is frequent, they are less frequently admitted to rehabilitation centers as in-patients than adults. This emphasizes the role of out-patient treatment. The progressing study described here aims to achieve a contribution to a comprehensive approach in TBI-rehabilitation for youngsters. A two-stage multimethodal program, starting with stimulation in coma while the patient is on the intensive care unit, and neuropsychological therapy after regaining consciousness is to be evaluated in a controlled, prospective and randomized study. After including nearly 50 % of the planned sample (100 persons), some preliminary results can be mentioned with all applicable caution. The effectiveness of the applied therapy can be stated here with respect to the posttraumatic development of intellectual abilities in the 6- and 12 months follow ups. Moreover, in the control group development of psychopathological alterations was found to a considerable degree and also lower ratings in a quality of life questionnaire, compared to the experimental group. It is expected to prove these differences statistically, after the total sample has been included, and thus equal distributions have been achieved in all predictive variables.
ABSTRACT
The use of the Kaufman-Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) was evaluated with a sample of 50 mentally disabled adults in a wide age range, as there exist no special tests for this group of patients. Intercorrelation--and factor analyses, and correlations with the German adaptation of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (HAWIE-R) proved the use of the K-ABC to be valid. As an assessment battery for children designed for the wide age range from 2-6 to 12-5 years is more adequate to the capability of intellectually impaired adults, the K-ABC delivers results on individual strengths and weaknesses, based on a neuropsychological theory. Thus the individual cognitive abilities can be assessed with more differentiation, and that gives an important base for intervention, partial remediation, and placement.
Subject(s)
Aptitude Tests/statistics & numerical data , Intellectual Disability/diagnosis , Intelligence , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/classification , Intellectual Disability/psychology , Male , Middle Aged , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results , Wechsler Scales/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Adaptation, structure and standardization of the German version of the K-ABC, a test of intelligence and achievement in children comprising 16 subtests, were discussed in the first part of this article. Part 2 deals with aspects of test administration intended to make the procedure simple, objective and appealing to children. Also discussed are possibilities for internal and external comparison of test scores, approaches to interpretation and ideas for remedial measures that are an integrated feature of the K-ABC concept. Assessment of numerous psychometric properties of the K-ABC demonstrated the reliability and validity of this test.
Subject(s)
Educational Status , Intelligence Tests/statistics & numerical data , Neuropsychological Tests/statistics & numerical data , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Psychometrics , Reference Values , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
The German version of the K-ABC is an adaptation of Alan and Nadeen Kaufman's test, published in the USA in 1983. The battery comprises a total of 16 subtests, organized in different scales, for the assessment of mental processing and achievement in children in the age range of 2-6 to 12-5 years. The underlying theory of intelligence measurement is based on findings in the fields of cognitive psychology and neuropsychology. It differentiates from sequential simultaneous information processing. The present article provides information about adaptation and structure of the German version, and about the standardization performed with a sample of 3098 children. Part 2 of this article, to appear soon, will survey application of the test battery, diagnostic relevance, and reliability and validity scores.