Effectiveness of Self-Management Therapy in the Management of Psychological Distress Among Adolescents with Hearing Loss in Oyo State, Nigeria

Introduction: Psychological wellbeing has been linked to wellness in all facets of life. However, this may be altered when man becomes distressed because of some factors influencing man’s stable psychological wellness. Hence, such conditions need to be moderated. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of self-management therapy in the management of psychological distress among adolescents with hearing loss. Methods: This study is quasi experimental pre-test-post- test design to investigate the effectiveness of self-management therapy in the management of psychological distress using a sample of 39 adolescents with hearing loss purposively selected through the Kesler Psychological Distress Scale with index scores of 19 and above. Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (Core-10) and Rosenberg Self-esteem Rating Scale were used for both pre and post- test. Results: The results revealed that there was a significant main effect of treatment (self-management therapy) on management of psychological distress among adolescents; there was a significant main effect of onset of hearing loss on participants’ management of psychological distress and there was a significant interaction effect of onset of hearing loss and self-esteem on participants’ management of psychological distress. Conclusion: Self- management therapy proved effective in the management of psychological distress among adolescents with hearing loss; hence the focus should be on the use of self-management therapy to manage distressed conditions among adolescents with hearing loss

Joint Attention Ability and the Neurocognitive functioning in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have neurobiological origins but the exact nature of these brain dysfunctions has not been yet fully elucidated. Children with autism have difficulties in processing social and emotional stimuli, imitating body movements or interpreting relational gestures. These difficulties suggest as candidate factors related to autistic symptomatology, a specialised brain system involved in the mechanisms of social cognition, consisting in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC). Objective: Our research examines whether young children with autism are impaired on neuropsychological tasks and also if the performance on such neurocognitive tasks can be correlated with joint attention ability (JAT). Methods: Three groups of children – with autism, with intellectual disability and with typical development, matched according to the mental age (calculated with the Fairview development scale, Giampiccolo & Boroskin, 1974) were administered neurocognitive and joint attention tests and procedures. Results: The results showed that only the MTL-VMPFC task performances were strongly correlated with the JAT behavior, while the dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPFC) ones were not. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the VMPFC is involved in the development of JAT mechanisms. We found no correlation between the performance in tasks related to JAT behavior and the DLPFC factor. This means that autism is not associated, at least at young ages, with a unique pattern of poor executive functioning, so this dimension cannot be used as an indicator for the early diagnosis of autism

Knowledge and implementation of the guidelines of the holistic educational approach in the Republic of Slovenia

Introduction: The UNESCO Education Sector and the European Commission for decades emphasise the importance and necessity of introducing a holistic approach to education. The school policies emphasise only a cognitive or rationalist approach and the educational process is operating in a reductionist and deterministic manner. From a sustainable point of view, such consequences are various and multifaceted – on a personal and a social level. Methods: The aim of the research was to establish the level of knowledge of Delors Report, Incheon Declaration and holistic approach among educational professionals (N=525) in Slovenia. A causal non-experimental method of research was used to search the causes for use of international guidelines and knowledge of holistic approaches. The connections between knowledge of documents and demographics were determined with chi-square test, the importance of pillars by statements, compliance with international guidelines by self- assessment. Results: The results show low familiarity with Delors Report (27%), Incheon Declaration (10.8%) and holistic approach (58.6%). The reasons given for a better knowledge of the Delors Report are older age, longer years of service, and the position of principal. Familiarity with that report influences the with holistic approach, but not on importance of certain pillar, or implementation of international guidelines. There is an inversely proportional correlation between familiarity with Incheon Declaration and holistic approach. Conclusion: The awareness of documents and holistic educational approaches is perceived only on a formalistic, declarative level. A solution is in the introduction of logopedagogy/holistic approaches based on anthropological attitude (logotherapy/existential analysis) towards understanding man as a physical, mental and spiritual being

COVID-19 Effect on Everyday Mobility of Different Demographic Groups of People with Blindness and Visual Impairment

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic imposed some challenges on the mobility of people with blindness and visual impairment (BVI). Compliance with social distance epidemiological guidelines proved to be especially troublesome for those with BVI. Objective: The goal of this research was to determine the differences between specific demographic groups of people with BVI before and during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in everyday mobility, to identify the groups most affected. Methods: Forty-five people with BVI members of the Croatian Blind Union completed the questionnaire describing their pre-pandemic and lockdown independent everyday mobility activity frequencies on a 5-point Likert scale along with demographic questions in May 2020. Wilcoxon signed ranks test and paired samples t-test were used to test differences before and during the pandemic lockdown on average scale results for demographic groups. Results: A decline in independent everyday mobility between before and during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown was shown for the total sample of people with BVI. When considering demographic groups both those with blindness and low vision, non-married and married, females, participants living in apartments, employed and unemployed participants, and participants living in a household with two members showed a statistically significant decline in independence during the pandemic. Males, retired participants, and participants older than 40, living alone in a house did not show a statistically significant decline. Conclusion: The decline in mobility functioning implies possible long-term effects of the pandemic lockdown on specific groups of people with BVI and additional support needed after the lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic

Plan S the Present and Future of Open Access Publishing

Introduction: This editorial is based on a concise introduction to the basics of open access, describing what it is and showing that it is easy, fast, inexpensive, legal, and a beneficial form of academic publishing. The Internet lets us share perfect copies of our work with a worldwide audience at virtually no cost. Working in “open access” means: digital, online, free of charge, and free of most copyright and licensing restrictions. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview about Plan S and its significance for open access publishing. Methods: An analysis of relevant literature, sources from the internet and published literature, personal experience and obser-vations of the author. Findings: Formerly, scholars have written peer-reviewed journal articles for impact, not for money, and are free to consent to open access without losing revenue. Open access is beneficial for authors and readers of research. Plan S is an initia-tive to drive wider adoption of open access publishing which was launched in 2018 by cOAlition S, an internation-al consortium of organisations who fund or carry out research. The first and main objective was to require that, from 2021, publicly funded research must only be published in journals or on platforms on an open access basis without embargo. Conclusion: There are 10 principles of Plan S covering the way in which all stakeholders should work together towards an op-timal open access future, drive service standards, promote greater transparency around costs and charges, and more fairly assess the merits of research outputs

Functional Status of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Introduction: Austism spectrum disorder (ASD) heterogeneity requires these individuals to have functional heterogeneity. Compared to the general population, numerous studies have shown that people with ASD have a lower functional status in performing daily activities and most of them require assistive technology. Methodology: We performed a comparative analysis of the collected data from 72 subjects with ASD and 75 neurotypical controls aged 3-24 years using the Rochester Health Status Survey IV (RHSS-IV) by conducting a structured individual interview to provide a comparative item for functional status and use of assistive technology in Macedonia. Results: Children with ASD have a lower functional status in performing daily activities required for eating, dressing, showering and using the toilet (p = 0.000), as well as acquiring academic knowledge and skills (p = 0.000). Children with ASD use more assistive technology (p = 0.032) as opposed to neurotypical children and the most commonly used are alternative and aumentative devices (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Most children with ASD have a lower functional status in performing the daily activities required for eating, dressing, showering and using the toilet, as well as acquiring academic knowledge and skills unlike their peers with neurotypical development. Also, children with ASD use alternative and augmentative devices, which is not the case with children in the control group. Accurate quantification is crucial for the progress and positive outcome of children with ASD

Empowerment and Social Functioning of People with Mental Disabilities

Introduction: Mental disability is characterised by impaired social functioning. Medical rehabilitation and medical treatment are not enough to recover from mental illness and improve quality of life. The theory of psychological empowerment defines it as a main approach in the support of people with mental disabilities, aimed towards the improvement of their social functioning and quality of life. The purpose of this article is to present the results of a study of the understanding of empowerment as an approach to social support of people with mental disabilities and the impact of the application of such an approach on the domains of their social functioning. Methods: A narrative review of literature related to empowerment theory, the empowerment as an approach to the social support of people with mental disabilities, and the impact of such an approach on the domains of their social functioning. Literature sources were identified by searching the databases: EbscoHost Academic Search, Science Direct, Scopus, IST Web of Science by keywords: empowerment, social functioning people with mental disability. Findings: Empowerment as a “multicomponent” and “multilevel” construct is presenting as a main element and a valuable tool in the process for providing support and recovery of people with mental disabilities. The outlined connections between empowerment and the functioning of the individual in many cases are two-sided. Conclusion: Empowerment is defined as a central approach in the process of recovery and support of people with mental illness

The Prevalence of Risky Behaviours in Traffic that can Lead to Traumatic Brain

Introduction: Traffic accidents are a common cause of traumatic brain injuries. Such injuries are often associated with problematic behaviour i.e., violations of the Traffic Safety Act. Driving under the influence of intoxicants and non-compliance with traffic signals often cause traffic accidents, and not wearing a crash helmet or not wearing a protective seat belt increase the possibility of developing a traumatic brain injury. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of risky behaviours in traffic that can lead to traumatic brain injury and to examine differences according to gender. It is assumed that the most common risky behaviour is failure to wear a crash helmet and that the male participants will show a higher prevalence of risky behaviour compared to women. Methods: The measuring instrument is a questionnaire consisting of nine statements. The questionnaire was filled out by a sample of 302 people in Croatia. The IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program was used for data processing. The prevalence of risky behaviours was expressed in percentages, and the Pearson’s Chi-Square was used to examine the differences between male and female participants. Results: The results show that risky behaviours in traffic are present, especially not wearing a crash helmet while riding a bicycle, running across the road on a red light, and not wearing a seat belt in a car whilst sitting in the back seat. The male participants showed a higher prevalence of risky behaviour compared to women. Conclusion: To reduce the number of traffic accidents that can lead to traumatic brain injury, it is important to act on risky behaviours in traffic. Public health policies and legislation are one way of prevention. In addition, it is important to inform, educate and raise public awareness about this global problem. In order to implement the necessary preventative measures, one should be aware of the prevalence of the risky behaviours in traffic that can lead to traumatic brain injury and of the groups that are more willing to take risks in traffic

Medical Speech-Language Pathology in Bulgaria – a Comparative Study of the Current Status and Development

Introduction: The complexity of ever-changing health standards, new health policies, changes in the healthcare environment, necessitates an advanced level of professional expertise in Medical Speech-Language Pathology (MSLP). Objective: This study presents the current status, opportunities, and perspectives for the development of MSLP in Bulgaria. Method Theoretical overview and comparative analysis of the data and literature on MSLP as it exists in the USA and is developing in Bulgaria, where it is most often referred to as Clinical Logopedics. In this article, we present: (i) a comparative analysis of the development of this dynamic, expanding, and continuously developing health profession in the USA (the country with the most innovative and highly evolved practice of MSLP) and Bulgaria; (ii) brief historical notes related to the development of Speech-Language Pathology in the United States and Bulgaria; (iii) the scope of practice of MSLP in the USA and Bulgaria, which is a key problem for the prospects for the development of this specialty in Bulgaria, and (iv) the problems associated with establishing a master’s degree program in MSLP. Conclusion: MSLP has perspective for development in Bulgaria only if it is studied as a health specialty within medical or health faculties, but necessarily housed within a medical university. A clear understanding of the scope of practice is fundamental for the development of MSLP, but it should not overlap the purview of other professions. The MSLP master’s program should be innovative, manageable, and comprehensive, providing for a wide range of specialized clinical experiences that prepare students to practice effectively in a medical environment

Sleeping Patterns in Children with Developmental Disabilities

Introduction: Sleep is one of the most important components of overall health. Children with developmental disabilities are at a higher risk of having sleep problems. Purpose: The goal of the present study is to compare sleep patterns of children with developmental disabilities with those of typically developing children. In particular, we examined whether children with an intellectual disability (ID), children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing children differ in sleep duration, number of night’s waking, screen time (time spent on smartphones, tablets, TV), and outdoor activities. Methods: The sample for this study consisted of 114 children (34 children with ASD, 40 children with ID and 40 typically developing children) aged 2 to 14 years (mean age= 6.4 years, SD = 3.0). Information on children’s sleep patterns was obtained through an online survey completed by the parents of the children. We also collected information regarding the strategies parents use to settle their children for sleep, as well as information regarding screen time and outdoor activities. Results: The results of this study indicate that sleep duration was shortest for children with ID and longest for children without developmental disabilities. Another finding in this study is that screen time and not the outdoor activities was associated with sleep duration. Children with ASD were more likely to use melatonin to fall asleep, while the children with ID were more likely to use medications. Conclusion: Children with ID have shorter sleep duration than children with ASD and typically developing children. Parents have several cognitive and behavioural strategies at their disposal to improve their children’s sleep