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Megari K, Miliadi V. The neuropsychology of early childhood and infancy. Int J Dev Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 39323063 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Piaget's theory emphasizes the biological structures children utilize to make sense of their environment and based on those experiences become able to adapt. Many factors can intervene in the gradual and complex process of development, causing an array of issues both acute and chronic. METHOD Several studies have found that disability in the early months is a strong predictor of cognitive impairment in preschool. The presence of early functional anomalies may represent developmental delay and/or neurodevelopmental disorders. RESULTS Understanding the risk factors and detecting such signs early on is important to prevent or minimize later cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial problems. The study aims to emphasize how critical the early years are to a child's future cognitive, physical, emotional, and social development as well as their overall well-being. DISCUSSION In addition, the fact that crucial developmental stages can be hampered or obstructed by a variety of factors is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalliopi Megari
- Department of Psychology, CITY college, University of York, Europe campus, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Makedonia, Florina, Greece
- School of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Miliadi
- Department of Psychology, CITY college, University of York, Europe campus, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Eye-Movements in a Text Reading Task: A Comparison of Preterm Children, Children with Dyslexia and Typical Readers. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13030425. [PMID: 36979235 PMCID: PMC10046295 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13030425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth is associated with weaknesses in reading skills that are usually less severe than those of children with dyslexia. To understand the characteristics of reading processes in preterm children, we adopted a cross-population and multi-modal approach comparing eye movements in reading tasks among three groups: children with preterm birth, children with a diagnosis of dyslexia, and children with typical development. The study involved 78 participants (10.5 years). Eye movements (number and duration of fixations, amplitude and number of saccades, number of regressions) were recorded during the silent reading of two texts; cognitive and reading standardized tasks were also administered. Children with dyslexia had more fixations and more frequent and smaller saccades compared to the preterm group and children with typical development. They also showed more regressions compared to the control group. Preterm children showed shorter fixations compared to the other groups. Cognitive and reading standardized tasks confirmed severe delays in reading in children with dyslexia and some weaknesses in text reading speed and comprehension in preterm children. These results are discussed with reference to candidate mechanisms that underlie reading processes in preterm children and considering possible implications for research.
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Ståhlberg-Forsén E, Latva R, Leppänen J, Lehtonen L, Stolt S. Eye tracking based assessment of lexical processing and early lexical development in very preterm children. Early Hum Dev 2022; 170:105603. [PMID: 35724569 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2022.105603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Associations between lexical processing and lexical development during the second year of life have been little studied in preterm children. AIMS To evaluate associations between lexical processing at 18 months and lexical development between 12 and 18 months in very preterm children. STUDY DESIGN Correlational study. SUBJECTS 25 Finnish-speaking children born <32 gestational weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES Lexical processing (reaction time RT; correct looking time CLT) was measured with an eye tracking technology-based task at 18 months' corrected age. Lexical development was measured longitudinally at 12-, 15- and 18-months' corrected age using the following screening instruments: the short form version of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories and the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scale: Infant-Toddler Checklist. RESULTS The longer the RT of the child, the weaker expressive skills the child had at 12 and 15 months (correlations coefficient values -0.45 to -0.51). The more the child looked at the target image compared to the distractor (CLT), the stronger expressive skills the child had at 18 months (r = 0.45-0.52). A linear regression model with RT and gender as independent variables explained 33 % of the variance in lexical skills at 18 months. A model with CLT explained 40 % of expressive skills at 18 months. CONCLUSIONS Lexical processing at 18 months was associated with expressive lexical development in very preterm children. The results suggest eye tracking technology based methods may have utility in the assessment of early lexical growth in preterm children, although further research is needed to assess psychometric properties and predictive value of the method.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Reija Latva
- Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland; Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.
| | | | - Liisa Lehtonen
- University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
| | - Suvi Stolt
- University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Perra O, Wass S, McNulty A, Sweet D, Papageorgiou KA, Johnston M, Bilello D, Patterson A, Alderdice F. Very preterm infants engage in an intervention to train their control of attention: results from the feasibility study of the Attention Control Training (ACT) randomised trial. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2021; 7:66. [PMID: 33712090 PMCID: PMC7952829 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-021-00809-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Very premature birth (gestational age between 28 and 31 + 6 weeks) is associated with increased risk of cognitive delay and attention deficit disorder, which have been linked to anomalies in the development of executive functions (EFs) and their precursors. In particular, very preterm (VP) infants display anomalies in controlling attention and gathering task-relevant information. Early interventions that support attention control may be pivotal in providing a secure base for VP children’s later attainments. The Attention Control Training (ACT) is a cognitive training intervention that targets infants’ abilities to select visual information according to varying task demands but had not been tested in VP infants. We conducted a feasibility study to test the processes we intend to use in a trial delivering the ACT to VP infants. Methods and design We tested recruitment and retention of VP infants and their families in a randomised trial, as well as acceptability and completion of baseline and outcome measures. To evaluate these aims, we used descriptive quantitative statistics and qualitative methods to analyse feedback from infants’ caregivers. We also investigated the quality of eye-tracking data collected and indicators of infants’ engagement in the training, using descriptive statistics. Results Twelve VP infants were recruited, and 10 (83%) completed the study. Participants’ parents had high education attainment. The rate of completion of baseline and outcome measures was optimal. VP infants demonstrated engagement in the training, completing on average 84 min of training over three visits, and displaying improved performance during this training. Eye-tracking data quality was moderate, but this did not interfere with infants’ engagement in the training. Discussion The results suggest the ACT can be delivered to VP infants. However, challenges remain in recruitment of numerous and diverse samples. We discuss strategies to overcome these challenges informed by results of this study. Trial registration Registered Registration ID: NCT03896490. Retrospectively registered at Clinical Trials Protocol Registration and Results System (clinicaltrials.gov). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40814-021-00809-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Perra
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK. .,Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Sam Wass
- School of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK
| | - Alison McNulty
- TinyLife, The Premature Baby Charity for Northern Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - David Sweet
- Health and Social Care Belfast Trust, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | | | - Matthew Johnston
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.,Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.,School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Delfina Bilello
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.,Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation, Queen's University Belfast, Medical Biology Centre, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK.,School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Aaron Patterson
- School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Fiona Alderdice
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Perra O, Wass S, McNulty A, Sweet D, Papageorgiou K, Johnston M, Patterson A, Bilello D, Alderdice F. Training attention control of very preterm infants: protocol for a feasibility study of the Attention Control Training (ACT). Pilot Feasibility Stud 2020; 6:17. [PMID: 32055404 PMCID: PMC7008548 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-020-0556-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children born preterm may display cognitive, learning, and behaviour difficulties as they grow up. In particular, very premature birth (gestation age between 28 and less than 32 weeks) may put infants at increased risk of intellectual deficits and attention deficit disorder. Evidence suggests that the basis of these problems may lie in difficulties in the development of executive functions. One of the earliest executive functions to emerge around 1 year of age is the ability to control attention. An eye-tracking-based cognitive training programme to support this emerging ability, the Attention Control Training (ACT), has been developed and tested with typically developing infants. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using the ACT with healthy very preterm (VP) infants when they are 12 months of age (corrected age). The ACT has the potential to address the need for supporting emerging cognitive abilities of VP infants with an early intervention, which may capitalise on infants' neural plasticity. METHODS/DESIGN The feasibility study is designed to investigate whether it is possible to recruit and retain VP infants and their families in a randomised trial that compares attention and social attention of trained infants against those that are exposed to a control procedure. Feasibility issues include the referral/recruitment pathway, attendance, and engagement with testing and training sessions, completion of tasks, retention in the study, acceptability of outcome measures, quality of data collected (particularly, eye-tracking data). The results of the study will inform the development of a larger randomised trial. DISCUSSION Several lines of evidence emphasise the need to support emerging cognitive and learning abilities of preterm infants using early interventions. However, early interventions with preterm infants, and particularly very preterm ones, face difficulties in recruiting and retaining participants. These problems are also augmented by the health vulnerability of this population. This feasibility study will provide the basis for informing the implementation of an early cognitive intervention for very preterm infants. TRIAL REGISTRATION Registered Registration ID: NCT03896490. Retrospectively registered at Clinical Trials Protocol Registration and Results System (clinicaltrials.gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Perra
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, Medical Biology Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK
- Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Sam Wass
- School of Psychology, University of East London, London, UK
| | - Alison McNulty
- TinyLife, The Premature Baby Charity for Northern Ireland, Belfast, UK
| | - David Sweet
- Health and Social Care Belfast Trust, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Kostas Papageorgiou
- School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Matthew Johnston
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, Medical Biology Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK
- Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Aaron Patterson
- School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Delfina Bilello
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, Medical Biology Building, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK
- Centre for Evidence and Social Innovation, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Fiona Alderdice
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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