AIM To evaluate patient engagement processes in the development of a new health coaching intervention for parents of children with suspected developmental delays. METHOD A cross-sectional mixed-method study design was used. Researchers (n=18) and patient-partners (n=9) were surveyed using the Public and Patient Engagement Evaluation Tool (PPEET) in areas of: (1) communication/supports for participation;

AIM To assess the efficacy of intermittent serial casting in conjunction with occupational therapy and botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) presenting spastic wrist flexion deformity. METHOD This was a controlled, prospective study in which 34 children (19 females, 15 males; mean [SD] 11y [4y 6mo]) were randomly allocated to casting or control groups in a ratio of 2:1

AIM To investigate the inter- and intrarater reliability of the Woods and Teuber scale to detect mirror movements in children and adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD A convenience sample of children and adolescents with unilateral CP (n=68; 31 males, 37 females; mean age 12y 2mo, SD 3y 6mo) in Manual Ability Classification levels I to III was recruited from Norway, Australia, and

AIM To summarize current evidence for early identification and motor-based intervention for children aged 5 years and younger with/at risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD). METHOD Using scoping review methodology and after duplicates were removed, 11 115 peer-reviewed articles and grey literature were independently screened by two authors. Data from 103 included records were extracted and

AIM To examine the developmental outcomes of children born to opioid-dependent females enrolled in methadone maintenance and identify pre- and postnatal factors that place these children at developmental risk. METHOD Ninety-nine methadone-maintained females and their 100 infants (42 females, 58 males, mean gestational age 38.8wks) were recruited during pregnancy/at birth and studied to age 2 years

AIM To summarize the current knowledge on brain involvement in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1, focusing on brain pathology, cognition, and speech/language development. METHOD A scoping review was performed using the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute. Five databases and references from relevant articles were searched up to December 2019. Articles were screened on the basis of titles and

AIM To describe the major congenital anomalies present in children with postneonatally acquired cerebral palsy (CP), and to compare clinical outcomes and cause of postneonatally acquired CP between children with and without anomalies. METHOD Data were linked between total population CP and congenital anomaly registers in five European and three Australian regions for children born 1991 to 2009 (n=468

AIM To investigate associations between clinical factors and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), specifically seizures, electroencephalogram abnormalities, tubers and other neurostructural abnormalities, and genetic factors. METHOD MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched until January 2019. Studies

AIM To summarize current evidence for early identification and motor-based intervention for children up to and including 5 years of age with/at risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD). METHOD Using scoping review methodology, we independently screened over 11 000 articles and selected those that met inclusion criteria. RESULTS Of the 103 included articles, 78 articles were related to early

Muscle-tendon unit surgery for correction of deformities and movement dysfunction in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is fairly complicated. An understanding of basic muscle-tendon unit properties and their adaptation to both CP and surgery are important to develop advances in this field. In this review, we provide information to therapists, surgeons, and scientists regarding the short- and long-term

AIM We compared preschool age children born very preterm with term-born controls to: (1) understand the association between very preterm birth and community participation, (2) determine if motor impairment or social risk affect participation differently between groups, and (3) understand environmental barriers and supports to participation for parents. METHOD Forty-eight children born very preterm

AIM To assess the sensitivity and specificity of automated movement recognition in predicting motor impairment in high-risk infants. METHOD We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus databases and identified additional studies from the references of relevant studies. We included studies that evaluated automated movement recognition in high-risk infants to predict motor

AIM To see if three-dimensional (3D) methods could bring new understanding to acetabular changes in shape and orientation in the spastic hip and in which direction(s) acetabular orientation might change, which is crucial for planning appropriate hip correction surgery. METHOD We performed a retrospective study of pelvic computed tomography (CT) examinations in 20 consecutive patients (10 females, 10

AIM To determine the features cited by motor phenotyping experts when identifying dystonia in people with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD Dystonia identification in CP, particularly when comorbid with spasticity, can be difficult. The dystonia diagnostic criterion standard remains subjective visual identification by expert consensus. For this qualitative study, we conducted an inductive thematic analysis

AIM To describe the point prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) and distribution of gross and fine motor function in individuals registered in a CP-North surveillance programme. METHOD Aggregate data of individuals with CP aged 6 to 19 years, sex, CP subtype, and gross and fine motor function levels were collected from each programme. Overall and age-specific point prevalence of CP was calculated for each

Across disciplines, there is great anticipation that evolving cell therapies may finally provide a therapeutic option for conditions in dire need. These conditions are typically complex and their pathophysiology incompletely understood, hindering the development of robust preclinical models and the precise assessment of therapeutic effects in human studies. This article provides an overview of the

Research in cerebral palsy (CP) has increased steadily over the past decades and new, important findings are published regularly in journals such as this. The new knowledge that has become available will undoubtedly strengthen prevention of CP and contribute to improving the quality of life for those affected. This positive development would not be possible if not for the large, international community

The need for social distancing, isolation, quarantine, and ultimately lockdown due to COVID-19 has presented a major challenge to the field of neurodisability, for which personal interaction has always been a key element. These restrictions have resulted in many services being transferred to telehealth consultations. Does this way of working fill an enduring need and what can be learnt from it? The

AIM To determine the prevalence of long-term mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) and concomitant mechanical ventilation in children with neurological conditions, with reported reasons behind the initiation of treatment. METHOD This was a population-based, cross-sectional study using Norwegian national registries and a questionnaire. RESULTS In total, 114 of 19 264 children with a neurological

AIM To compare skeletal muscle mitochondrial enzyme activity and mitochondrial content between independently ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing children. METHOD Gracilis biopsies were obtained from 12 children during surgery (n=6/group, children with CP: one female, five males, mean age 13y 4mo, SD 5y 1mo, 4y 1mo-17y 10mo; typically developing children: three females

AIM To investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of hip pain in adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and compare the findings with those of the same individuals 5 years earlier. METHOD Sixty-seven adolescents (28 females, 39 males; mean age 14y 7mo; SD 1y 5mo; range 12-17y) with bilateral CP, in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels III to V enrolled in a CP

AIM To compare the frequencies of neurosurgical procedures to treat comorbid conditions of myelomeningocele in patients who underwent fetal surgery versus postnatal surgery for closure of the placode. METHOD By utilizing the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry in a comparative effectiveness study, 298 fetal surgery patients were matched by birthdate (±3mo) and spina bifida clinic site with one to

AIM To determine the predictors of magnitude of change in response to a participation-focused leisure-time physical activity intervention in children with cerebral palsy (CP) using the ParticiPAte CP protocol. METHOD We included 33 children (16 males, 17 females) aged 8 to 12 years (mean age=10y, SD=1y 6mo) with CP with pre/postintervention data from a wait-list randomized trial. The hypothesized linear

AIM To explore relationships between category classifications for children's rehabilitation goals, outcomes, and participant characteristics. METHOD Children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy due to perinatal stroke rated self-selected goals with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and completed the Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) and Box and Block Test (BBT), at baseline and 6 months

AIM To examine the relationship between self-care and bimanual performance in children aged 8 to 12 years with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD This was a cross-sectional study of 74 children with CP (unilateral n=30, bilateral n=44; 48 males, 26 females; median age 9y 8mo [25th, 75th centiles 9y 1mo, 10y 8mo], Manual Abilities Classification System level I=30, II=28, III=16). Self-care was measured using

AIM To perform a scoping literature review of associations between risk factors in early life and developmental coordination disorder (DCD). METHOD PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (January 1994-March 2019) were searched to identify studies on early risk factors and motor impairment or DCD. The effect of single and multiple risk factors was assessed. Level of evidence was evaluated

The impairment of inhibitory control is often assumed to be the core deficit of several neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by poor impulse control. However, could the same deficit explain different clinical phenotypes? Evidence from behavioural studies is very mixed. This is partly because inhibition is a highly complex executive function. Thus, the different types of tasks that generically

AIM To determine whether socioeconomic status (SES) is a stronger predictor for cognitive outcome after childhood arterial ischemic stroke compared to clinical factors. METHOD We investigated perceptual reasoning, executive functions, language, memory, and attention in 18 children and adolescents (12 males, six females, median age at testing 13y 4mo, range 7y-17y 5mo) after arterial ischemic stroke;

AIM To report on psychomotor development and outcomes in term born neonates with non-epileptic paroxysmal events (NEPEs). METHOD From October 2017 to March 2019 we enrolled 38 consecutive term born neonates (22 males, 16 females; aged between 0-28d), born at the University Hospital San Marco in Catania, Italy, with NEPEs. We performed the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination scale (at enrolment)

AIM We explored the ability of the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) to identify typical and delayed cognitive performance in a large population of infants born preterm, both with and without cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD We conducted a retrospective study of infants born preterm who had repeated HINEs between 3 and 12 months corrected age. At 2 years, cognition was assessed using the

Seven typical developmental steps are described as cardinal changes leading children from implicit embodied self-awareness at birth, self-consciousness by 2 years, and the adoption of an ethical stance toward others by the preschool years (3-5y). This development may be a useful benchmark for clinicians. In this review, some clinical pointers are outlined in relation to each developmental step, but

AIM First, to understand the barriers to achieving effective transition and the supports required from the perspective of parents and carers, adolescents with intellectual disability and/or autism spectrum disorder and co-existing mental health disorders (often termed 'dual disability'), and those who provide services to this group. Second, to develop an informed model of shared care to improve the

AIM To explore the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolite features in acute neuroinflammatory diseases and identify potential biomarkers to diagnose and monitor neuroinflammation. METHOD A cohort of 14 patients (five females, nine males; mean [median] age 7y 9mo [9y], range 6mo-13y) with acute encephalitis (acute disseminated encephalomyelitis n=6, unknown suspected viral encephalitis n=3, enteroviral

AIM To investigate the efficacy of a virtual reality rehabilitation system of wearable multi-inertial sensors to improve upper-limb function in children with brain injury. METHOD Eighty children (39 males, 41 females) with brain injury including cerebral palsy aged 3 to 16 years (mean age 5y 8mo, SD 2y 10mo) were assessed as part of a multicentre, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. The intervention

In the last few months, the general appetite for exploring possible future outcomes of current trends and discussing prediction scenarios has been intensely stimulated by dramatic manifestations of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, the predicted scenarios highlight transformative impacts rather than incremental changes. The foresights offered are generally pessimistic, but they may

AIM To study school outcomes of adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) compared with a matched comparison group from the general population, and to observe to what extent sociodemographic and disability-specific factors are associated with school outcomes. METHOD This was a register study of persons with CP in Sweden, born between 1990 and 1999, with a matched comparison group. Logistic regressions were

AIM To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions to improve sitting ability in young children with or at risk for cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD A systematic literature search was performed using five databases. Study selection criteria were randomized controlled trials published in English on physical therapy interventions targeting sitting,

AIM To determine whether inequities in health outcomes for Indigenous Canadians are also present in cerebral palsy (CP) by comparing CP profiles between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. METHOD Using the Canadian Cerebral Palsy Registry, we conducted a cross-sectional study. CP motor subtype, gross motor severity, comorbidities, perinatal adversity, preterm birth, and parental education were

AIM To assess the prevalence of elementary visuospatial perception (EVSP) deficit in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. METHOD Using a screening test designed and validated to measure dorsal EVSP ability, 168 children (122 males, 46 females; mean age 10y [SD 1y 10mo], range 4y 8mo-16y 4mo) diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder (DCD), specific learning disorder (SLD), attentio

Pregnancy and early childhood are periods with high plasticity in neurological development. Environmental perturbations during these sensitive windows can have lifelong developmental consequences. This review summarizes key findings relevant to the effects of air pollution on neurological development. Mounting evidence suggests that exposure to air pollution, both during pregnancy and childhood, is

AIM To develop a new comorbidity index for adults with cerebral palsy (CP), the Whitney Comorbidity Index (WCI), which includes relevant comorbidities for this population and better predicts mortality than the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI). METHOD Data from the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart was used for this retrospective cohort study. Diagnosis codes were

The report by Serra et al. is a fascinating attempt to quantify developmental abnormalities in children with moyamoya angiopathy, a disease that I have treated in both children and adults for many years. I commend the authors for this contribution and their scholarly approach. For the most part, the main treatment for moyamoya angiopathy is surgery, in both pediatric and adult variants. Classically

AIM To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of the Hand Assessment for Infants (HAI) in identifying infants at risk of being diagnosed with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP), and to determine cut-off values for this purpose. METHOD A convenience sample of 203 infants (106 females, 97 males) was assessed by the HAI at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values

Birth prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) is declining in high‐income countries, to as low as 1.4 per 1000 live births in the most recent international reports. This represents a 35% reduction in birth prevalence over a 15‐year period. This reduction is underpinned by a heightened focus of attention towards all aspects of CP, including: increased awareness, better data collection, development of national

BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in social interaction with deficits in social reciprocity and nonverbal communication and skills needed to develop, maintain, and understand relationships. ASD also presents with restricted and repetitive behaviors, activities, and interests. People with ASD commonly show impairments in daily living

AIM To investigate the diagnostic yield and treatment impact of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in patients with paediatric neurological disorders. METHOD From January 2016 to December 2019, paediatric patients who had suspected genetic neurological disorders were assessed using WGS. The phenotypes of eligible patients were divided into four groups: patients with neurodevelopmental disorders; patients

To summarize current evidence on the effects and reach of leisure‐time physical activity (LTPA) interventions among children and adults with cerebral palsy (CP).

Surgery has become routine in many parts of the world but is not without risk. Even in the best circumstances, there can be complications. Maybe these are small, like some hoarseness that lasts a day or two after the endotracheal tube is removed, or a wound infection that requires oral antibiotics. Or maybe there are bigger problems, like a pneumonia that prolongs hospital stay, necessitates admission

AIM To investigate the relation between cognitive and motor development in preschool aged children with Dravet syndrome, in particular between the age of independent walking and cognitive development. METHOD Results of cognitive and motor developmental assessments and the age of independent walking were retrieved retrospectively from the medical records of 33 children (17 males, 16 females; mean age

The study by Peris et al. suggests that low maternal levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) and low levels of b-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (b-hCG) in the first trimester of pregnancy increase the risk of cerebral palsy (CP) in the child. Mothers with low levels of both these biomarkers had a more than twofold increase in risk. The study suggests that intrauterine factors

AIM To determine if robotic assisted gait training (RAGT) using surface muscle electrical stimulation and locomotor training enhances mobility outcomes when compared to locomotor training alone in children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD Forty children (18 females, 22 males; mean age 8y 1mo, SD 2y 1mo; range 5y 1mo-12y 11mo) with CP in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels (GMFCS) III

AIM To determine if constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is more effective than standard care in improving upper-limb activity outcomes in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP). METHOD Twenty-one children with NBPP (mean age 25mo, SD=10.3, range=17-48mo; 11 males, 10 females) were enrolled in a crossover trial and randomly allocated to first receive CIMT or standard care, each for

AIM To determine the concurrent validity of the Warner Initial Developmental Evaluation of Adaptive and Functional Skills (WIDEA-FS), a criterion-specified questionnaire that assesses a child's adaptive skills in everyday contexts, and the Bayley Infant and Toddler Scales of Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). METHOD In a prospective cohort study, 431 WIDEA-FS and Bayley-III assessments were completed

To investigate whether combined first‐trimester screening (cFTS) biomarkers are associated with cerebral palsy (CP) and to identify CP characteristics associated with abnormal biomarker levels.

AIM To assess the efficacy and safety of repeat abobotulinumtoxinA injections in reducing upper limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHOD This was a double-blind, repeat-cycle study (NCT02106351) in children with CP (2-17y). Children were randomized to receive 2U/kg (control), 8U/kg, or 16U/kg abobotulinumtoxinA injections into the target muscle group (wrist or elbow flexors) and

In a previous commentary, we considered potential positive contributions of a modern causal inference framework for studying causes of developmental disabilities. The study by Schwartz and Ries demonstrates the power of these methods in the real world. The authors estimate the effects of rectus femoris transfer surgery in children with cerebral palsy based on observational data, and compare the results

AIM To assess a total population of school-age children with cerebral palsy (CP) for autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with a view to determining their prevalence and to relate findings to motor function, intellectual disability, and other associated impairments. METHOD Of 264 children, born between 1999 and 2006, from the CP register of western Sweden, 200 children (109 males

AIM To examine pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in children with cerebral palsy (CP) at baseline and in response to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), and correlate outcomes compared with age-matched comparisons, to evaluate their ability to mount an immune response. METHOD Serum cytokines were assessed in 12 children (eight males, four females; mean age 10y 1mo [SD 1y 8mo], 6-16y) with CP against

AIM This systematic review evaluates the accuracy of clinical tools used at a corrected age of 6 months or younger to predict motor and cognitive delay (not cerebral palsy) at 24 months' corrected age, in infants born very preterm. METHOD Six databases were searched. Quality was evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool. Predictive analysis included calculation of sensitivity

To assess how co‐occurring conditions influence recovery after hip reconstruction surgery in children with neurological complex chronic conditions (CCCs).