Developmental dyslexia and its complex genetic puzzle

Genetics suggest that DD is an additive or interactive effect of multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. In 2014 an interdisciplinary collaboration between the University of Trieste and the Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS \u201cBurlo Garofolo\u201d of Trieste started, with the aim of performing a genetic study in Italian families with dyslexia

A quasi randomized-controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of clowntherapy on children\u2019s anxiety and pain levels in emergency department

The aim of the study is to investigate if the presence of medical clowns during painful procedures in the emergency department (ED) affects children's anxiety and pain. Forty children (4-11 years) admitted to the ED with the need of painful procedures were prospectively enrolled. They were randomly assigned to the clown group, where children interacted with clowns or to the control group in which they were entertained by parents and ED nurses. The children's anxiety was assessed by the Children's Anxiety and Pain Scales; pain was evaluated with the Numerical Rating Scale and Wong-Backer Scale, according to the children's age. Staff and clown's opinions were evaluated by means of dedicated questionnaires. Children's anxiety levels in the clown group were significantly lower than those compared with the control group, while children's pain levels did not change between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The presence of clowns in the ED before and during painful procedures was effective in reducing children's anxiety. WHAT IS KNOWN: \u2022 Anxiety and fear caused by medical procedures exacerbate children's pain and may interfere with the procedure. \u2022 To reduce anxiety, fear, and pain and to facilitate patient's evaluation, different non-pharmacological approaches have been proposed and positive effects of laughter and humor have been reported. What is New: \u2022 The presence of clowns in the waiting room and in the ED during medical evaluation and painful procedures helps to reduce children's anxiet

The Submerged Dyslexia Iceberg: How Many School Children Are Not Diagnosed? Results from an Italian Study

Background: Although dyslexia is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders affecting children, prevalence is uncertain and available data are scanty and dated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of dyslexia in an unselected school population using clearly defined and rigorous diagnostic criteria and methods. Methods: Cross sectional study. We selected a random cluster sample of 94 fourth grade elementary school classes of Friuli Venezia Giulia, a Region of North Eastern Italy. We carried out three consecutive levels of screening: the first two at school and the last at the Neuropsychiatry Unit of a third level Mother and Child Hospital. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of dyslexia, defined as the number of children positive to the third level of screening divided by the total number of children enrolled. Results: We recruited 1774 children aged 8-10 years, of which 1528 received parents' consent to participate. After applying exclusion criteria, 1357 pupils constituted the final working sample. The prevalence of dyslexia in the enrolled population ranged from 3.1% (95% CI 2.2-4.1%) to 3.2% (95% CI 2.4-4.3%) depending on different criteria adopted. In two out of three children with dyslexia the disorder had not been previously diagnosed. Conclusions: This study shows that dyslexia is largely underestimated in Italy and underlines the need for reliable information on prevalence, in order to better allocate resources both to Health Services and Schools

The submerged dyslexia iceberg: how many school children are not diagnosed? Results from an Italian study.

BACKGROUND: Although dyslexia is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders affecting children, prevalence is uncertain and available data are scanty and dated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of dyslexia in an unselected school population using clearly defined and rigorous diagnostic criteria and methods. METHODS: Cross sectional study. We selected a random cluster sample of 94 fourth grade elementary school classes of Friuli Venezia Giulia, a Region of North Eastern Italy. We carried out three consecutive levels of screening: the first two at school and the last at the Neuropsychiatry Unit of a third level Mother and Child Hospital. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of dyslexia, defined as the number of children positive to the third level of screening divided by the total number of children enrolled. RESULTS: We recruited 1774 children aged 8-10 years, of which 1528 received parents' consent to participate. After applying exclusion criteria, 1357 pupils constituted the final working sample. The prevalence of dyslexia in the enrolled population ranged from 3.1% (95% CI 2.2-4.1%) to 3.2% (95% CI 2.4-4.3%) depending on different criteria adopted. In two out of three children with dyslexia the disorder had not been previously diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that dyslexia is largely underestimated in Italy and underlines the need for reliable information on prevalence, in order to better allocate resources both to Health Services and Schools

Steps for third level evaluation.

<p>Steps for third level evaluation.</p

Definition of poor performance in reading tasks by diagnostic criteria defined at the third level evaluation.

*<p>DDE-2: Battery for the evaluation of Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography-2.</p>§<p>MT: MT battery (Prove di lettura MT per la scuola elementare-2).</p

Children positive to the criteria of the first evaluation level. In red children with previously formalised diagnosis of dyslexia.

<p>Children positive to the criteria of the first evaluation level. In red children with previously formalised diagnosis of dyslexia.</p

The Submerged Dyslexia Iceberg: How Many School Children Are Not Diagnosed? Results from an Italian Study

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Although dyslexia is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders affecting children, prevalence is uncertain and available data are scanty and dated. The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of dyslexia in an unselected school population using clearly defined and rigorous diagnostic criteria and methods.</p> <h3>Methods</h3><p>Cross sectional study. We selected a random cluster sample of 94 fourth grade elementary school classes of Friuli Venezia Giulia, a Region of North Eastern Italy. We carried out three consecutive levels of screening: the first two at school and the last at the Neuropsychiatry Unit of a third level Mother and Child Hospital. The main outcome measure was the prevalence of dyslexia, defined as the number of children positive to the third level of screening divided by the total number of children enrolled.</p> <h3>Results</h3><p>We recruited 1774 children aged 8–10 years, of which 1528 received parents’ consent to participate. After applying exclusion criteria, 1357 pupils constituted the final working sample. The prevalence of dyslexia in the enrolled population ranged from 3.1% (95% CI 2.2–4.1%) to 3.2% (95% CI 2.4–4.3%) depending on different criteria adopted. In two out of three children with dyslexia the disorder had not been previously diagnosed.</p> <h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This study shows that dyslexia is largely underestimated in Italy and underlines the need for reliable information on prevalence, in order to better allocate resources both to Health Services and Schools.</p> </div