View clinical trials related to Developmental Disabilities.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to evaluate which surgical protocol for treating Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate (UCLP), a single or two stage repair ( with hard palate late closure) will have less impact in mid facial growth. The study hypothesis states that a two stage cleft palate repair , with a late hard palate repair will reduce maxillary growth impairment.
The language intervention 'Kaatje Klank' is designed for stimulating the speech production and speech perception skills of 4-year-olds in an early childhood educational setting, in order to stimulate early literacy skills. These skills are crucial skills for technical reading in later ages. Good reading skills are an important condition for academic success. To measure the effect of the language intervention 'Kaatje Klank', the intervention will be applied in six Dutch preschool classes (n = 100 children, 50% native speakers of Dutch, 50% non-native speakers) during 12 weeks (daily). Teachers will be trained and observed using a coaching trajectory.To measure the effect on speech production and perception skills, a pre- and posttest and a comparison with a matched control group (n = 100 children, 50% native speakers of Dutch, 50% non-native speakers) will be used. The control group will receive a different language intervention which focuses on vocabulary development (World-project).
This study is being carried out to learn more about the effects of Therapeutic Horseback Riding (THR) for children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This treatment is very popular and horseback riding for children and adults with disabilities has been used as a form of therapy in the United States for over forty years. However, very little research has been done to find out whether or not THR is effective as a therapy for children with an ASD. This study is being done to see if THR will improve the agitation behaviors, coordination, and communication skills of children and adolescents with an ASD. This study is also being done to find out if the horse is necessary for children and adolescents with an ASD to improve.
If autism is the consequence of a chronic inflammatory process preventing the infant brain from forming the proper neural connections, then treatment that reduces inflammation might have a positive impact on autism. IGIV treatment has been known to suppress inflammation and has been used in the treatment of inflammatory conditions and autoimmune diseases.
Children with autism spectrum disorders often engage in problem behaviors such as self-injury, destruction, aggression, and stereotypy. Prior research has clearly shown that these problem behaviors may interfere with learning, daily functioning, and social participation. As such, engaging in problem behaviors has a negative impact on the health and quality of life of children with autism spectrum disorders and their families. One promising solution to reduce problem behaviors in this population is the Prevent-Teach-Reinforce (PTR) model, which relies on the evidence-based practices of positive behavior support. Although the use of PTR has been gaining considerably support in schools, the model has never been evaluated as part of a rigorous large-scale study using parents as interventionists. Thus, the purpose of the project is to conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of a home-based version of the PTR model in reducing problem behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders and in improving families' quality of life. Our hypotheses are that implementing the PTR will (a) produce larger reductions in problem behaviors than participating in an individual parent training session, (b) increase engagement in prosocial behaviors, (c) decrease parental stress, and (c) improve the quality of life of the family. The results of the study will allow an examination of whether PTR is an effective and acceptable model to reduce problem behaviors at home in this population. Given that problem behaviors incur high societal costs when they persist into adolescence and adulthood, the study may potentially lead to large cost reductions in the treatment of difficulties associated with autism spectrum disorders. By reducing engagement in problem behaviors, the implementation of the model may also promote and facilitate the social participation as well as improve the quality of life and health of children with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
To evaluate whether a structured social skills program, called Social Skills Development,is superior to a wait list control group on measures of interpersonal interaction. The Social Skills Development (SSD) is a 16-week, group intervention that uses activities and peer tutors to promote interpersonal skills in children 8 to 11 years of age with Autism Spectrum Disorders.Following a diagnostic and social skills assessment,children are randomly assigned to SSD or wait list for 16 weeks. Children who were randomized to the wait list are offered SSD at Week 16. Children randomized to SSD are followed for 9 months to assess the durability of gains during the first 16 weeks.
The investigators hypothesize that use of an educational story with pictures illustrating overnight sleep study procedure (also called polysomnography or PSG)accompanied by simple narrative will be a cost-effective, readily accepted intervention that will contribute to successful completion of sleep studies among children with disabilities. Children who have been referred for a clinical sleep study at Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) will be enrolled and randomized to either recieve usual care (discussion of polysomnography with referring clinicians) or educational story intervention. Both groups of participants will be asked to complete questionnaries before and after the sleep study. Set-up for the sleep study will be videotaped so that behavior of the child can be evaluated. The investigators will evaluate whether successful study completion differs between the two groups.
Nearly all children with autism spectrum disorders engage in non-functional repetitive vocal and motor behaviours commonly referred to as stereotypy. These repetitive behaviours may considerably interfere with the child's daily functioning, learning, and social inclusion. As such, stereotypy generally has a negative impact on the child and family's health and quality of life. Several behavioural interventions have been developed to reduce engagement in stereotypy in children with autism spectrum disorders, but the limited number of specialists available, the long waiting lists associated with public health services in Canada, and the high costs of private services have considerably restricted accessibility. One potential solution to the limited availability and high costs of services is using a mobile application to recommend, teach, and monitor interventions designed to reduce engagement in stereotypy. To this end, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the effects of the iSTIM (i.e., individualized Stereotypy Treatment Integrated Modules), a mobile application designed to assist parents in reducing stereotypy in children with autism spectrum disorders. Specifically, we will assess whether the iSTIM correctly estimates the frequency or duration of stereotypy, offers suggestions consistent with recommended clinical practices, effectively reduces engagement in stereotypy, and is socially acceptable, safe, and easy to use for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. The results of the study will allow us to determine whether the mobile application may be used to treat this core symptom in children with autism spectrum disorders, which could potentially reduce waiting times and costs of providing health services to this population. By reducing engagement in stereotypy, the iSTIM may also promote and facilitate the social participation as well as improve the quality of life and health of children with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
Anxiety disorders affect 40 to 50% of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), contributing to substantial distress and impairment. The goal of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a personalized type of psychotherapy against standard-care psychotherapy for addressing anxiety in youth with ASD.
The experiences of learning from paediatric physiotherapists were explored through unstructured interviews applying Colazzi's method to interpret the data. In this hermeneutic phenomenological study, six parents responsible for a physiotherapy home programme for their child were selected through convenience sampling. The purpose of this study was to obtain rich and valid information that could be analysed. The phenomenon of their learning experiences was formed and explored, its implications discussed and inferences made in light of current physiotherapy service delivery.