Diagnosing Apraxia of Speech on the Basis of Eight Distinctive Signs

This paper reports the results of a study on the use of a fixed number of specific signs to differentially diagnose Apraxia of Speech (AoS) from aphasia or dysarthria. This was done with a diagnostic instrument for AoS that was developed in the Netherlands in 2012, the Diagnostic Instrument for Apraxia of Speech (DIAS; Feiken & Jonkers, 2012). There were 8 signs identified as specific to AoS, namely: inconsistency of errors, number of errors with consonants versus vowels, difference between sequencing and alternating diadochokinesis, groping, initiation problems, syllable segmentation, cluster segmentation, and articulatory complexity. The DIAS was administered to 30 individuals with AoS, 10 individuals with aphasia, 10 individuals with dysarthria, and 35 control individuals. Results showed that a differential diagnosis could be made in 88% of the cases using a minimum of 3 out of 8 specific signs of AoS as criteria. With the exception of 2 patients with aphasia no other group exhibited the presence of 3 or more signs of AoS. It was concluded that the presence of 3 signs is sufficient to differentially diagnose AoSfrom aphasia and dysarthria, despite the fact that there is a large amount of variability in the presence of signs of AoS itself in the different individuals

Central Sensitisation and functioning in patients with chronic low back pain: protocol for a cross-sectional and cohort study

Contains fulltext : 218544.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Effectiveness and feasibility of We12BFit!:improving physical fitness and lifestyle physical activity in children with developmental coordination disorder in a paediatric rehabilitation setting-a small sample field study

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness and feasibility of We12BFit!, a family-focused intervention aimed at increasing physical fitness (PF) and motivation for physical activity (PA) in 7-year-old to 12-year-old children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). DESIGN: A single-arm mixed methods small sample field study. SETTING: Rehabilitation centres and schools for special education in The Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty children with DCD diagnosis. INTERVENTIONS: We12BFit! consists of We12BFit!-PF and We12BFit!-Lifestyle PA. During We12BFit!-PF, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscle strength and anaerobic power were trained in small groups (10 weeks 2*60 min/week). We12Bfit!-Lifestyle PA, which addresses motivation for PA in children and parents, was added in week 6 of We12BFit!-PF and ended 12 weeks after We12BFit!-PF. OUTCOME MEASURES: The 20-Metre Shuttle Run Test (20mSRT), Muscle Power Sprint Test and Hand Held Dynamometry were performed before and after We12BFit!-PF and after We12BFit!-Lifestyle PA (T0-T1-T2). Parents and coaches were interviewed and trainers participated in a focus group to assess motivation for PA, perceived effectiveness, and feasibility of the intervention. RESULTS: Attendance rates of participants were 88% (We12BFit!-PF) and 89% (We12BFit!-Lifestyle PA). From T0 to T1, significant improvements were found in VO2peak, number of runs on the 20mSRT and mean anaerobic power. From T1 to T2, improvements were maintained. No changes were found after We12BFit!-Lifestyle PA in time spent on moderate to vigorous activity and metabolic equivalent of task; parents observed their child improved in qualitative aspects of activities and participation. Feasibility of We12Bfit! was confirmed, although some adaptations were recommended. CONCLUSIONS: We12BFit! resulted in significant improvements and maintenance of CRF and anaerobic power in a small group of children with DCD and seemed to improve motivation for PA. The group aspect of We12BFit!-PF, the high intensity and positive motivational climate of We12BFit!-PF may have improved children's self-efficacy. We12BFit! seems feasible to improve PF and PA in children with DCD. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR6334

Risk factors in early life for developmental coordination disorder:a scoping review

AIM: To perform a scoping literature review of associations between risk factors in early life and developmental coordination disorder (DCD). METHOD: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (January 1994-March 2019) were searched to identify studies on early risk factors and motor impairment or DCD. The effect of single and multiple risk factors was assessed. Level of evidence was evaluated following the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine guidelines. Meta-analysis on the effect of preterm birth was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-six studies fulfilled inclusion criteria; 35 had evidence level 3, one had level 4. Highest evidence was available that preterm birth and male sex in term-born children were associated with DCD. The odds ratio of preterm birth was 2.02 (95% confidence interval: 1.43-2.85). Low to moderate evidence was available that parental subfertility, maternal smoking during pregnancy, postnatal corticosteroid treatment in infants born preterm, extra corporeal membrane oxygenation, retinopathy of prematurity, abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging scans at term age, and accumulating perinatal or neonatal risk factors were associated with motor impairment. INTERPRETATION: Limited information on early risk factors of DCD is available. Only preterm birth and male sex were consistently associated with an increased risk of DCD

We12BFit!-Improving lifestyle physical activity in children aged 7-12 years with developmental coordination disorder:Protocol of a multicentre single-arm mixed-method study

INTRODUCTION: Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are less physically active than their typically developing peers. No substantiated interventions are available to address this issue. Therefore, this study aims to describe the design and rationale of (1) a family-focused intervention to increase motivation for physical activity (PA) and, indirectly, lifestyle PA in children aged 7-12 years with DCD and (2) the methods to examine its preliminary effectiveness and feasibility. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This intervention is the second part of a more comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment called We12BFit! The intervention was developed using the steps of treatment theory which includes the concept of targets, mechanism of action and essential ingredients. The content of the intervention is based on the transtheoretical model of change (TTM). In the intervention, the motivation for PA will be targeted through application of behaviour change strategies that fit the stages of the TTM. The modes of delivery include: pedometer, poster, parent meeting, booklet and coaching. At least 19 children with DCD, aged 7-12 years, will be included from two schools for special education and two rehabilitation centres. The intervention will be evaluated using a single-arm mixed-method design. Effectiveness will be assessed at three instances by using ActiGraph accelerometers accompanied by an activity log. Feasibility will be assessed using interviews with the participants and coaches. This evaluation may add to our understanding of motivation for PA in children with DCD and may eventually improve the rehabilitation programme of children with DCD. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the University Medical Center of Groningen (METc 2015.216). We will disseminate the final results to the public through journal publications and presentations for practice providers and scientists. A final study report will also be provided to funding organisations. PROTOCOL VERSION: 4, 12 April 2018. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR6334; Pre-results