Assessment of executive functions in children and adolescents with acquired brain injury (ABI) using a novel complex multi-tasking computerised task: The Jansari assessment of Executive Functions for Children (JEF-C©).

Objectives: The Jansari assessment of Executive Functions for Children (JEF-C©) is a new non-immersive computerised assessment of executive functions. The objectives of the study were to test the feasibility and validity of JEF-C© in children and adolescents with acquired brain injury (ABI). Methods: Twenty-nine patients with ABI aged 10-18 years and 30 age-and gender-matched controls were tested. Participants performed JEF-C©, Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) and the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome for Children (BADS-C), while parents completed the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) questionnaire. Results: The JEF-C© task proved feasible in patients with ABI. The internal consistency was medium (Cronbach's alpha = 0.62 and significant intercorrelations between individual JEF-C© constructs). Patients performed significantly worse than controls on most of the JEF-C© subscales and total score, with 41.4% of participants with ABI classified as having severe executive dysfunction. No significant correlations were found between JEF-C© total score, the BRIEF indices, and the BADS-C. Significant correlations were found between JEF-C© and demographic characteristics of the sample and intellectual ability, but not with severity/medical variables. Conclusion: JEF-C© is a playful complex task that appears to be a sensitive and ecologically valid assessment tool, especially for relatively high-functioning individuals.

Binocular visual function in congenital esotropia after bilateral medial rectus recession with loop suture.

PURPOSE: Our aim was to evaluate the binocular visual function in congenital esotropia after bimedial rectus recession with loop suture and to address the factors that could take part in the attainment of binocular function. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty children with congenital esotropia who were operated on between 12 and 48 months of age were included in the study group. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 2 to 10 years. In order to determine the factors affecting the sensory results in congenital esotropia, we classified our patients into two groups according to their fusion status. We compared the preoperative and postoperative characteristics of patients in these two groups. RESULTS: Twenty-one of 40 patients (52.5%) fused the Worth four-dot at near (Group 1), 19 patients (47.5%) did not (Group 2) at the final examination. No patient showed evidence of stereopsis. We found significant differences between these two groups in respect to the final angle of vertical deviation, the age at surgery, the presence of postoperative inferior oblique overaction, dissociated vertical deviation and abnormal head position. Correlation analysis revealed that early alignment of the eyes and the absence of postoperative vertical deviation were associated with increased incidence of achieving some degree of binocular vision. CONCLUSION: In congenital esotropia, not all infants may have the potential for normal binocular function owing to yet unknown constitutional factors. We determined that achieving some degree of binocular function may be related to early alignment of the eyes. Additionally, close follow-up and precise treatment of the accompanying vertical deviation, especially inferior oblique overaction and dissociated vertical deviation, in a timely manner may enhance the attainment of binocular sensory function.