A study of laterality in children of high, normal and low intelligence with behavioural and brain imaging indices

The study of differences in language laterality among children with different levels of intelligence is particularly important in neuropsychological research and practice, as it contributes to a deeper understanding of the functional characteristics of intellectually deficient, as well as intellectually gifted children. These children in our country are thought to be children with special educational needs and require specific educational interventions. The present thesis explores these differences in language laterality in 102 children 13-17 years old with different levels of intelligence through a meta-analytic method and experimental methods, which include self-report questionnaires, behavioral tests, indirect hormonal indices and a new neuroimaging technique, functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Both the results of meta-analysis and research findings, were in agreement as intellectually deficient children seemed to have a greater tendency towards atypical handedness compared to control group, while intellectually gifted children seemed to have more often mild typical latearlity. These findings are broadly in line with genetic theories for the relationship between intelligence and language laterality.Η μελέτη των διαφορών αναφορικά με την πλευρίωση της γλώσσας σε παιδιά με διαφορετικά επίπεδα νοημοσύνης είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντική στη νευροψυχολογική έρευνα και πράξη, καθώς συμβάλλει στη βαθύτερη κατανόηση λειτουργικών χαρακτηριστικών του εγκεφάλου των παιδιών με υψηλή νοημοσύνη και νοητική υστέρηση, τα οποία αναγνωρίζονται στη χώρα μας ως παιδιά με ιδιαίτερες εκπαιδευτικές ανάγκες και χρήζουν ειδικών εκπαιδευτικών παρεμβάσεων. Η παρούσα διατριβή ερευνά αυτές τις διαφορές στην πλευρίωση της γλώσσας σε 102 παιδιά, ηλικίας 13-17 ετών, με διαφορετικά νοητικά επίπεδα μέσα από μία μετα-αναλυτική μέθοδο, καθώς και μέσα από πειραματικές μεθόδους, οι οποίες συμπεριλαμβάνουν ερωτηματολόγια αυτό-αναφοράς, συμπεριφορικές δοκιμασίες, έμμεσους ορμονικούς δείκτες και μια σύγχρονη νευροαπεικονιστική τεχνική, το λειτουργικό διακρανιακό υπέρηχο Doppler. Tόσο τα αποτελέσματα της μετα-ανάλυσης, όσο και τα ερευνητικά ευρήματα, κατέδειξαν παρόμοια αποτελέσματα, καθώς μεταξύ των παιδιών με νοητική υστέρηση εντοπίστηκαν τα υψηλότερα ποσοστά μη τυπικής πλευρίωσης, ενώ τα παιδιά με υψηλή νοημοσύνη παρουσίαζαν συχνότερα ήπια τυπική πλευρίωση. Τα ευρήματα αυτά συμβαδίζουν σε μεγάλο βαθμό με τις γενετικές θεωρίες για τη σχέση νοημοσύνης και πλευρίωσης της γλώσσας

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Containment Measures on Families and Children with Moderate and High-Functioning ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

The present study focuses on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) transmission prevention measures and, in particular, home confinement of families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Greece. It is assumed that the implemented new measures during the pandemic constitute a profound change for children on the spectrum, considering that the core ASD symptoms include the persistence and adherence to routine and stability, a condition that also directly affects the children’s parents. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted. Participants were 10 caregivers with a child diagnosed with ASD of medium or high functioning in Greece. The ages of the children range from 6.5 to 15 years old. The results of the thematic analysis revealed three main themes: (1) the educational framework, (2) the management of daily life, and (3) the construction of the new daily routine. These three themes represent the levels that have undergone a decisive transition, and the sub-themes recommend the areas, individual ways of dealing with this shift. So far, the impact of the pandemic mitigation measures cannot be described as generally positive or negative, as there have been advances and setbacks for children and families alike. Finally, governmental measures and technology-assisted teaching (distance learning) were considered necessary but not sufficient enough for full adaptation

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Containment Measures on Families and Children with Moderate and High-Functioning ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

The present study focuses on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) transmission prevention measures and, in particular, home confinement of families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Greece. It is assumed that the implemented new measures during the pandemic constitute a profound change for children on the spectrum, considering that the core ASD symptoms include the persistence and adherence to routine and stability, a condition that also directly affects the children’s parents. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted. Participants were 10 caregivers with a child diagnosed with ASD of medium or high functioning in Greece. The ages of the children range from 6.5 to 15 years old. The results of the thematic analysis revealed three main themes: (1) the educational framework, (2) the management of daily life, and (3) the construction of the new daily routine. These three themes represent the levels that have undergone a decisive transition, and the sub-themes recommend the areas, individual ways of dealing with this shift. So far, the impact of the pandemic mitigation measures cannot be described as generally positive or negative, as there have been advances and setbacks for children and families alike. Finally, governmental measures and technology-assisted teaching (distance learning) were considered necessary but not sufficient enough for full adaptation