Attention Deficit Disorder and Memory Capacity in Language-impaired and Inconspicuous Children

Ausgehend von der Hypothese einer geringeren Gedächtnisfähigkeit sprachauffälliger Kinder wurden 110 sprachauffällige und 123 sprachunauffällige Kinder im Grundschulalter (Altersdurchschnitt 10;0 Jahre) untersucht. Die Kinder absolvierten jeweils einzeln einen verbalen Gedächtnistest sowie einen Test zur Problemlösereflexivität. Ferner beurteilten die Lehrer ihre Schüler im Hinblick auf Aufmerksamkeitsstörungen und Aufmerksamkeitsverhalten. Im Ergebnis zeigen sich signifikante Unterschiede zwischen beiden Gruppen in bezug auf die Gedächtnisfähigkeit und die Anzahl der Fehler. Den sprachauffälligen Schülern gelingt es weniger gut, Wortlisten zu lernen und den Lerngewinn gegen eine Ablenkung aufrechtzuerhalten. Sie weisen eine signifikant geringere Behaltensstabilität auf. Die Gedächtnisfähigkeit ist ferner weitgehend unabhängig von der Problemlösereflexivität und dem im Lehrerurteil festgehaltenen Aufmerksamkeitsverhalten. Es wird geschlossen, daß sprachauffällige Kinder sowohl Schwierigkeiten bei der Informationsaufnahme als auch Einschränkungen der Gedächtniskapazität haben. Die unterschiedliche Gedächtnisfähigkeit von sprachauffälligen und sprachunauffälligen Kindern ist am ehesten durch die (meta)kognitiven Kompetenzen der Kinder erklärbar.(DIPF/Orig.)In order to investigate the hypothesis that language-impaired children also show deficits in memory, 110 language-impaired and 123 children showing no such impairments (average age 10;0 yrs.) were tested for verbal memory and selecting attention through a matching familiar figures test. As an additional measure, teachers assessed the children, using DSM criteria, for both general attentivenesse and attention deficit disorder. The results revealed significant differences between both groups concerning their ability to memorise word lists and difficulties resisting distractions. They also show a significantly diminished stability regarding the retention of memories. Furthermore, the ability to memorise has proved to be greatly independent of both selective attention and the rated attentiveness in class. It is therefore concluded that language-impaired children have difficulties in acquiring information as well as a limited capacity to memorise. These differences in ability to memorise between language-impaired children and children with no impairments are most likely attributable to the meta-cognitive competence of the child.(DIPF/Orig.

Maternal complications and conditions in pregnancy and wheezing in early childhood: A combined analysis of 14 European birth cohorts

Aims.We assessed the relationship of maternal complications including hypertensive disorders and diabetes in pregnancy, and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) with wheezing symptoms in infants, combining data from birth cohorts participating in the CHICOS (Developing a Child Cohort Research Strategy for Europe) project. Methods. Eligible cohorts met the following criteria: recruitment from 1990 onwards, maternal complications recorded at any time during pregnancy, and wheezing recorded in the first 12-24 months of life. Associations of maternal complications and ever ( 65 one episode), and recurrent ( 654 episodes) wheezing were assessed for each cohort, adjusting for maternal country of birth, education, asthma, smoking in pregnancy, parity, and age. Crude, adjusted and mutually adjusted risks ratios (aRR) were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. Results. The analysis included 93245 subjects. Ever wheezing ranged from 20 to 47 %, and recurrent wheezing from 3 to 14%. Pre-eclampsia and obesity (BMI 65 30; ref: BMI: 18.5-24) were associated with an increased risk of ever wheezing (aRR, 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.17 and 1.12; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.18, respectively). Both estimates increased slightly for recurrent wheezing. Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight (BMI: 25-29) was associated with an increased risk of wheezing, both ever and recurrent (aRR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.11 and 1.20: 1.13, 1.26, respectively). Neither hypertension nor diabetes were found to be associated with ever or recurrent wheezing. Conclusions. Pre-pregnancy overweight, obesity and pre-eclampsia are associated with a slightly increased risk of wheezing in infants

Maternal occupation during pregnancy, birth weight, and length of gestation:Combined analysis of 13 European birth cohorts

International audienceObjectives - We assessed whether maternal employment during pregnancy - overall and in selected occupational sectors - is associated with birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), term low birth weight (LBW), length of gestation, and preterm delivery in a population-based birth cohort design. Methods - We used data from >200 000 mother-child pairs enrolled in 13 European birth cohorts and compared employed versus non-employed women. Among employees, we defined groups of occupations representing the main sectors of employment for women where potential reproductive hazards are considered to be present. The comparison group comprised all other employed women not included in the occupational sector being assessed. We performed meta-analyses of cohort-specific estimates and explored heterogeneity. Results - Employees had a lower risk of preterm delivery than non-employees [adjusted odds ratio (OR adj) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.81-0.91]. Working in most of the occupational sectors studied was not associated with adverse birth outcomes. Being employed as a nurse was associated with lower risk SGA infants (OR adj0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.99) whereas food industry workers had an increased risk of preterm delivery (OR adj1.50, 95% CI 1.12-2.02). There was little evidence for heterogeneity between cohorts. Conclusions - This study suggests that, overall, employment during pregnancy is associated with a reduction in the risk of preterm birth and that work in certain occupations may affect pregnancy outcomes. This exploratory study provides an important platform on which to base further prospective studies focused on the potential consequences of maternal occupational exposures during pregnancy on child development

Maternal occupation during pregnancy, birth weight, and length of gestation: combined analysis of 13 European birth cohorts

Objectives We assessed whether maternal employment during pregnancy overall and in selected occupational sectors - is associated with birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), term low birth weight (LBW), length of gestation, and preterm delivery in a population-based birth cohort design. Methods We used data from >200 000 mother-child pairs enrolled in 13 European birth cohorts and compared employed versus non-employed women. Among employees, we defined groups of occupations representing the main sectors of employment for women where potential reproductive hazards are considered to be present. The comparison group comprised all other employed women not included in the occupational sector being assessed. We performed meta-analyses of cohort-specific estimates and explored heterogeneity. Results Employees had a lower risk of preterm delivery than non-employees [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.81-0.91]. Working in most of the occupational sectors studied was not associated with adverse birth outcomes. Being employed as a nurse was associated with lower risk SGA infants (ORadj, 0.91, 95% CI 0.84-0.99) whereas food industry workers had an increased risk of preterm delivery (ORadj 1.50, 95% CI 1.12-2.02). There was little evidence for heterogeneity between cohorts. Conclusions This study suggests that, overall, employment during pregnancy is associated with a reduction in the risk of preterm birth and that work in certain occupations may affect pregnancy outcomes. This exploratory study provides an important platform on which to base further prospective studies focused on the potential consequences of maternal occupational exposures during pregnancy on child development

Maternal occupation during pregnancy, birth weight, and length of gestation : combined analysis of 13 European birth cohorts

Objectives. We assessed whether maternal employment during pregnancy – overall and in selected occupational sectors – is associated with birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), term low birth weight (LBW), length of gestation, and preterm delivery in a population-based birth cohort design. Methods. We used data from >200 000 mother-child pairs enrolled in 13 European birth cohorts and compared employed versus non-employed women. Among employees, we defined groups of occupations representing the main sectors of employment for women where potential reproductive hazards are considered to be present. The comparison group comprised all other employed women not included in the occupational sector being assessed. We performed meta-analyses of cohort-specific estimates and explored heterogeneity. Results. Employees had a lower risk of preterm delivery than non-employees [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.81–0.91]. Working in most of the occupational sectors studied was not associated with adverse birth outcomes. Being employed as a nurse was associated with lower risk SGA infants (ORadj 0.91, 95% CI 0.84–0.99) whereas food industry workers had an increased risk of preterm delivery (ORadj 1.50, 95% CI 1.12–2.02). There was little evidence for heterogeneity between cohorts. Conclusions. This study suggests that, overall, employment during pregnancy is associated with a reduction in the risk of preterm birth and that work in certain occupations may affect pregnancy outcomes. This exploratory study provides an important platform on which to base further prospective studies focused on the potential consequences of maternal occupational exposures during pregnancy on child developmentAplinkotyros katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta