A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Play-Based, Peer-Mediated Pragmatic Language Intervention for Children With Autism

Purpose: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of a play-based pragmatic language intervention for children with autism. Methods: A sample of 71 children with autism were randomized to an intervention-first group (n = 28 analyzed) or waitlist-first (n = 34 analyzed) group. Children attended 10, weekly clinic play-sessions with a typically developing peer, and parents mediated practice components at home. The Pragmatics Observational Measure (POM-2) and the Social Emotional Evaluation (SEE) evaluated pragmatics before, after and 3-months following the intervention. Results: POM-2 gains were greatest for intervention-first participants (p = 0.031, d = 0.57). Treatment effects were maintained at 3-month follow-up (p < 0.001–0.05, d = 0.49–0.64). POM-2 scores were not significantly different in the clinic and home settings at follow-up. Conclusion: Findings support the combination of play, peer-mediation, video-feedback and parent training to enhance pragmatic language in children with autism

Trial of a Peer-to-Peer, Play-based Intervention to Improve Pragmatic Language in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Taking a systematic approach to intervention development and evaluation, this thesis evaluated a peer-mediated, play-based pragmatic language intervention for children with autism. The intervention demonstrated a significant, moderate effect on pragmatic language for children with autism. Peer’s pragmatic language also improved significantly. Effects were greatest for children with autism with high social anxiety and use of context scores, but low nonverbal communication and expressive vocabulary scores at baseline. Parents deemed the intervention appropriate for families

Applying Item Response Theory (IRT) Modeling to an Observational Measure of Childhood Pragmatics: The Pragmatics Observational Measure-2

Assessment of pragmatic language abilities of children is important across a number of childhood developmental disorders including ADHD, language impairment and Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Pragmatics Observational Measure (POM) was developed to investigate children's pragmatic skills during play in a peer-peer interaction. To date, classic test theory methodology has reported good psychometric properties for this measure, but the POM has yet to be evaluated using item response theory. The aim of this study was to evaluate the POM using Rasch analysis. Person and item fit statistics, response scale, dimensionality of the scale and differential item functioning were investigated. Participants included 342 children aged 5-11 years from New Zealand; 108 children with ADHD were playing with 108 typically developing peers and 126 typically developing age, sex and ethnic matched peers played in dyads in the control group. Video footage of this interaction was recorded and later analyzed by an independent rater unknown to the children using the POM. Rasch analysis revealed that the rating scale was ordered and used appropriately. The overall person (0.97) and item (0.99) reliability was excellent. Fit statistics for four individual items were outside acceptable parameters and were removed. The dimensionality of the measure showed two distinct elements (verbal and non-verbal pragmatic language) of a unidimensional construct. These findings have led to a revision of the first edition of POM, now called the POM-2. Further empirical work investigating the responsiveness of the POM-2 and its utility in identifying pragmatic language impairments in other childhood developmental disorders is recommended

A systematic review and meta-analysis of psychosocial interventions for 6–12-year-old children who have been forcibly displaced

Background: Children who have been forcibly displaced are likely to experience psychosocial challenges given they may be dealing with past trauma and challenges of adapting to their new environment. Effective psychosocial interventions are needed to promote psychosocial wellbeing. Literature identifies the ages of 6–12 years (middle childhood), as key to addressing psychosocial development. To date, systematic reviews identifying effective psychosocial interventions for children have focused on adolescents. Aim: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to: 1) identify psychosocial interventions conducted in middle childhood with forcibly displaced children; 2) summarize the characteristics of the included interventions; 3) identify the methodological quality of the studies; and 4) identify effectiveness of the interventions. Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four databases and supplementary literature. Study design was classified according to the National Health and Medical Research Council Hierarchy of Evidence. Methodological quality was assessed using the QualSyst appraisal checklist. Intervention approaches were classified into activity codes using the ‘Who is Where When doing What’ (4Ws) tool. Intervention effects were explored through meta-analysis. Results: Nineteen studies with 2386 children met the eligibility criteria. A total of 19 intervention approaches were identified. The interventions found to be most promising were Narrative Exposure Therapy for children and adolescents (KidNET), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Child-Centred Play Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and creative interventions. Unstructured play or education alone did not produce a beneficial intervention effect. Conclusions: Middle childhood presents a unique opportunity to address psychosocial wellbeing with forcibly displaced children. While psychological-based activities in this review demonstrated effectiveness for symptom reduction, future intervention options should expand to include strengths- and resilience-based. Further research evaluating the effectiveness of psychosocial intervention for forcibly displaced children is required using randomised control designs, greater sample sizes, and longitudinal data

With a Theme, as a Team, for a Client: A Digital Textile Design Commissioned Art Project

The creative textile design process presents both challenges and opportunities when designing for a client. In addition, as practicing artists and designers in academia, we often question our understanding of and research path toward design that is for decorative rather than for functional purposes. There are few clear research models available, especially when the objective is artwork intended to communicate a specific message defined by a client

Faculty Brass Quintet

Center for the Performing Arts October 17, 2017 Tuesday Evening 8:00 p.m

Hand-rearing, release and survival of african penguin chicks abandoned before independence by moulting parents

The African penguin Spheniscus demersus has an ‘Endangered’ conservation status and a decreasing population. Following abandonment, 841 African penguin chicks in 2006 and 481 in 2007 were admitted to SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) for hand-rearing from colonies in the Western Cape, South Africa, after large numbers of breeding adults commenced moult with chicks still in the nest. Of those admitted, 91% and 73% respectively were released into the wild. There were veterinary concerns about avian malaria, airsacculitis and pneumonia, feather-loss and pododermatitis (bumblefoot). Post-release juvenile (0.32, s.e. = 0.08) and adult (0.76, s.e. = 0.10) survival rates were similar to African penguin chicks reared after oil spills and to recent survival rates recorded for naturally-reared birds. By December 2012, 12 birds had bred, six at their colony of origin, and the apparent recruitment rate was 0.11 (s.e. = 0.03). Hand-rearing of abandoned penguin chicks is recommended as a conservation tool to limit mortality and to bolster the population at specific colonies. The feasibility of conservation translocations for the creation of new colonies for this species using hand-reared chicks warrants investigation. Any such programme would be predicated on adequate disease surveillance programmes established to minimise the risk of disease introduction to wild birds

Risk factors of hemorrhagic transformation in acute ischaemic stroke : A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) following reperfusion therapies for acute ischaemic stroke often predicts a poor prognosis. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to identify risk factors for HT, and how these vary with hyperacute treatment [intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT)]. Methods: Electronic databases PubMed and EMBASE were used to search relevant studies. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. Results: A total of 120 studies were included. Atrial fibrillation and NIHSS score were common predictors for any intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) after reperfusion therapies (both IVT and EVT), while a hyperdense artery sign (OR = 2.605, 95% CI 1.212–5.599, I2 = 0.0%) and number of thrombectomy passes (OR = 1.151, 95% CI 1.041–1.272, I2 = 54.3%) were predictors of any ICH after IVT and EVT, respectively. Common predictors for symptomatic ICH (sICH) after reperfusion therapies were age and serum glucose level. Atrial fibrillation (OR = 3.867, 95% CI 1.970–7.591, I2 = 29.1%), NIHSS score (OR = 1.082, 95% CI 1.060–1.105, I2 = 54.5%) and onset-to-treatment time (OR = 1.003, 95% CI 1.001–1.005, I2 = 0.0%) were predictors of sICH after IVT. Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (ASPECTS) (OR = 0.686, 95% CI 0.565–0.833, I2 =77.6%) and number of thrombectomy passes (OR = 1.374, 95% CI 1.012–1.866, I2 = 86.4%) were predictors of sICH after EVT. Conclusion: Several predictors of ICH were identified, which varied by treatment type. Studies based on larger and multi-center data sets should be prioritized to confirm the results. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=268927, identifier: CRD42021268927