Developing the Social Skills of Young Adult Special Olympics Athletes

The purpose of the study was to determine if young adult Special Olympics participants could develop, generalize, and maintain target social skills (eye contact, contributing relevant information, and turn taking) as a result of a 14-week Social Skills and Sports (S3) Program that combined classroom instruction with soccer activities. Data were collected through direct observation during soccer practices, parent interviews, and parent rating forms. Visual analysis and qualitative methodology were applied to analyze the four case studies. All of the participants increased their ability to demonstrate at least one of the targeted skills, generalized the skill(s) to other settings, and maintained the skill(s) five weeks after completing the intervention. Participants also developed social skills that were not targeted in S 3

Health-Related Fitness of Deaf Children--How Do They Measure Up?

This article discusses a study on health-related fitness of deaf children. Participants in this study were deaf children in the first through fourth grades at either regular or special schools. Physical fitness was evaluated using the cardiorespiratory endurance Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER), percent body fat, flexibility, abdominal and upper body strength and endurance. The results of this study indicated deaf children have at least minimally acceptable levels of physical fitness. This study also revealed the significant differences for age, with decreasing fitness associated with increasing age. Moreover, the outcome of this study emphasizes the importance of having performance levels for comparison and evaluation of fitness performances, rather than comparing the performance of one group of individuals to another different group of individuals as was completed with deaf children in earlier studies

The NHLBI Study on Long-terM OUtcomes after the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (MUSIC): Design and Objectives

BackgroundThe Long-terM OUtcomes after the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome In Children (MUSIC) study aims to characterize the frequency and time course of acute and long-term cardiac and non-cardiac sequelae in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19 (MIS-C), which are currently poorly understood.MethodsThis multicenter observational cohort study will enroll at least 600 patients <21 years old who meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition of MIS-C across multiple North American centers over 2 years. The study will collect detailed hospital and follow-up data for up to 5 years, and optional genetic testing. Cardiac imaging at specific time points includes standardized echocardiographic assessment (all participants) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in those with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45% during the acute illness. The primary outcomes are the worst LVEF and the highest coronary artery z-score of the left anterior descending or right coronary artery. Other outcomes include occurrence and course of non-cardiac organ dysfunction, inflammation, and major medical events. Independent adjudication of cases will classify participants as definite, possible, or not MIS-C. Analysis of the outcomes will include descriptive statistics and regression analysis with stratification by definite or possible MIS-C. The MUSIC study will provide phenotypic data to support basic and translational research studies.ConclusionThe MUSIC study, with the largest cohort of MIS-C patients and the longest follow-up period to date, will make an important contribution to our understanding of the acute cardiac and non-cardiac manifestations of MIS-C and the long-term effects of this public health emergency