| 1. |
- Barnevik Olsson, Martina, et al.
(författare)
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Autism before diagnosis : crying, feeding and sleeping problems in the first two years of life
- 2013
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 102:6, s. 635-639
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim To chart early registered regulatory problems (RP) in a representative group of young children with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods The target group comprised 208 preschool children with ASD, whose records from the Child Health Centres (CHC) were reviewed regarding numbers of consultations for excessive crying, feeding and sleeping problems. The records from an age- and gender-matched comparison group were obtained from the same CHCs as those of the index children Results Significant differences between the ASD and comparison groups were found for each domain studied and when domains were collapsed. Two or more consultations had occurred in 44% of the children in the ASD group and in 16% of the comparison group (p<0.001). No correlations were found with regard to gender, later severity of autism, cognitive level or degree of hyperactivity. Conclusion Regulatory problems (RP) were much more common in children who later received a diagnosis of ASD. Children with many RP in infancy require attention from CHC and paediatric services and need to be followed with regard to development and family support.
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| 2. |
- Billstedt, Eva, 1961, et al.
(författare)
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Cognitive functioning in a representative cohort of preschool children with febrile seizures
- 2020
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 109:5, s. 989-94
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim To analyse cognitive functioning in 4-5-year-old children who had experienced febrile seizures (FS) and to assess the importance of complex, recurrent and early vs late onset FS. Methods The sample consisted of 73 children, screen positive for FS, drawn from the general child population of 4-year-old children attending their health check-up at child healthcare centres in Gothenburg, Sweden. They were assessed as regards general cognitive ability, visual memory and attention and were contrasted with age norms and with results obtained in 20 children without FS from the same healthcare centres. Results Of the 73 children, two had a previously diagnosed intellectual disability (ID) (one mild, one moderate) and two further children tested within the study had results corresponding to mild ID. Children with early onset of FS (before age 12 months)-who often had recurrent FS-had lower full-scale, verbal and processing speed IQ than those who had later onset of FS. Conclusion Children with early onset of FS and particularly those with recurrent FS may be at increased risk for poorer verbal and processing speed functioning and therefore at risk of developing cognitive, executive dysfunctions. They would probably benefit from neuropaediatric and neuropsychological follow-up.
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| 3. |
- Ek, Ulla, et al.
(författare)
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Cognitive and behavioural characteristics in blind children with bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia.
- 2005
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253. ; 94:10, s. 1421-1426
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: To describe cognitive and behavioural characteristics in a group of blind children with bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). Methods: Data from records, parents, teachers, and repeated developmental assessments of 13 blind children with ONH born in 1988–1998 were analysed. All children had neuroimaging and/or hormonal evidence of midline malformations. They were all blind and able to communicate with speech. Results: Severe mood swings and temper tantrums were common, especially during the first years of life. Later in life, sluggish tempo, low frustration tolerance and a narrow range of interests were common. Autism had been diagnosed in 6/13 children, autistic-like condition (ALC) was found in another three. The behaviour of the remaining four children was not within the autism spectrum. Eight children had cognitive capacities within the normal or near-normal range; five had mental retardation. Autism/ALC was found in all cognitive subgroups. All children exhibited fluent speech and, of these, 12 had started to talk at the expected age, but had clear deficiencies in communicative ability. Conclusion: These children had a common pattern of behavioural characteristics including autism spectrum disorders independent of intellectual capacities.
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| 4. |
- Ek, Ulla, et al.
(författare)
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Cognitive strengths and deficits in schoolchildren with ADHD.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992). - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 96:5, s. 756-761
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Few studies provide detailed analyses of the various aspects of the entire cognitive profile of children with ADHD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cognitive test data were analysed for 10- to 11-year-old children with (1) ADHD, (2) subthreshold ADHD and (3) milder attention and/or learning problems, and compared with normative data. RESULTS: Thirty-two had ADHD and 10 met the criteria for subthreshold ADHD, prevalence rates of 5.4% and 1.6%, respectively. On a group level, children with ADHD/subthreshold ADHD, and those with milder attention and/or learning problems had almost identical cognitive profiles for the 13 subtests comprising the WISC III, with particularly low results on the arithmetic, coding, information and digit span subtests (ACID profile). When analyzed individually, a complete or incomplete ACID profile (three of four subtests) was equally common in children with ADHD/subthreshold ADHD and in children with milder problems, found in about 1/5. The relative strengths of both groups were in areas demanding logical thinking, reasoning and common sense. CONCLUSION: The specific ACID profile is as common in children with ADHD as in those with minor attention and/or learning problems. The cognitive weaknesses reflected in the ACID profile might play a role as an underlying factor in various developmental disorders.
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| 5. |
- Ek, Ulla, et al.
(författare)
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Self-esteem in children with attention and/or learning deficits : the importance of gender
- 2008
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 97:8, s. 1125-1130
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Our objective was to analyze self-esteem in children within a spectrum of attention disorders, that is, besides attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also children with subthreshold ADHD and even milder attention deficits and/or learning problems.Methods: From a population-based group of 10–11-year-old children in a Swedish municipality those with ADHD/subthreshold ADHD (n = 30) and those with milder attention and/or learning problems (n = 64) were targeted for the study. The children completed the 'I think I am' scale, reflecting physical appearance, scholastic competence, mental well-being, relationships to parents and to others and global self-esteem. Data from boys and girls were compared and related to the parents' and teachers' ratings on the two dimensions of the Conners' 10-item questionnaire (impulsive-restless behaviour and emotional lability) and to the children's cognitive levels.Results: Significant gender differences were found, girls reporting lower self-esteem concerning mental well-being and poorer relationships with parents and peers. However, children with ADHD/subthreshold ADHD did not report significantly lower global self-esteem when compared to a reference population.Conclusion: Self-esteem in children with attention, behaviour and/or learning problems has to be carefully evaluated, especially in girls, and measures are needed to prevent a trajectory towards adolescent psychopathology.
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| 6. |
- Engman, Mona-Lisa, et al.
(författare)
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Prenatal acquired cytomegalovirus infection should be considered in children with autism
- 2015
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 104:8, s. 792-795
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) in a representative sample of children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods: In a representative group of 115 preschool children with autism spectrum disorder, of whom 33 also had intellectual disability, the dried blood spots from the newborn metabolic screening were analysed for CMV DNA using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction. Results: One of the 33 children with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability - 3% of that group - had congenital CMV infection. The corresponding prevalence in newborn infants in Sweden is 0.2%. None of the 82 children without intellectual disability had congenital CMV. Conclusion: The finding lends some further support for congenital CMV being one of the many aetiologies underlying autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability. The rate of 3% of congenital CMV in children with autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability has implications for the medical work-up. The finding of congenital CMV also indicates the need for repeated hearing assessments in the child. There is a need for similar studies with much larger samples.
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| 7. |
- Eriksson, Mats Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Rare copy number variants are common in young children with autism spectrum disorder
- 2015
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 104:6, s. 610-618
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimSeveral studies have suggested that rare copy number variants (CNVs) are an important genetic contributor to autism spectrum disorders. The aims of the study were to use chromosomal microarray to investigate the presence of rare copy number variants in a population-based cohort of well-characterised young children with autism spectrum disorders and to relate the genetic results to neurodevelopmental profiles and medical conditions. MethodsWe performed chromosomal microarray on samples from 162 children who had been referred to the Stockholm Autism Centre for Young Children in Sweden after being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder between 20 and 54months of age. ResultsPathogenic aberrations were detected in 8.6% of the children and variants of uncertain significance were present in another 8.6%. CNVs were more frequent in children with congenital malformations or dysmorphic features as well as in the subgroup with intellectual disability. ConclusionOur results support the use of chromosomal microarray methods for the first tier genetic analysis of autism spectrum disorder. However, it is likely in the near future that chromosomal microarray methods will probably be replaced by whole-exome and whole-genome sequencing technologies in clinical genetic testing.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Fernell, Elisabeth, 1948, et al.
(författare)
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Borderline intellectual functioning in children and adolescents - insufficiently recognized difficulties
- 2010
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992). - : Wiley. - 1651-2227 .- 0803-5253. ; 99:5, s. 748-753
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: To draw attention to groups of children and adolescents with borderline intellectual functioning, especially with respect to their school-situation. Methods: In one study, population-based, children with borderline intellectual functioning at age 10 years were followed until they finished compulsory school when their final certificates could be analysed. In a second study parents of 20 individuals in the upper secondary school for pupils with mild mental retardation were interviewed according to the Vineland adaptive scales and school health records were reviewed. In a third study pupils attending an individual programme in upper secondary school were assessed and we report one representative case. Results: (1) Pupils with borderline intellectual functioning, assessed in grade 4, received significantly lower grades when finishing the compulsory school. (2) In the group of pupils in the upper secondary school for the mildly mentally retarded, compiled data indicated that a considerable number did not fulfil the combined IQ and adaptive criteria for mild mental retardation. (3) The subtle nature of borderline intellectual functioning may delay appropriate measures at school, which our case illustrates. Conclusion: Borderline intellectual functioning seldom attracts attention. Our studies indicate that school and also society at large must be prepared to adapt educational and working conditions for the large minority of individuals with borderline intellectual functioning.
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| 10. |
- Fernell, Elisabeth, 1948, et al.
(författare)
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Bumetanide for autism: Open-label trial in six children
- 2021
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Ingår i: Acta Paediatrica. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 110:5, s. 1548-1553
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: Bumetanide, a diuretic agent, that reduces intracellular chloride-thereby reinforcing GABAergic inhibition-has been reported to improve core symptoms of autism in children. Given the positive results reported from French trials of bumetanide in children with autism, we decided to evaluate its effects in a small-scale pilot study, in advance of a larger randomised controlled study (RCT). Methods: This was an open-label three-month trial of bumetanide on six children (five boys), aged 3-14 years with autism. Ratings according to the Parental Satisfaction Survey (PASS) were used after four and twelve weeks to assess symptom change. Blood electrolyte status was monitored. Results: Improvement in the PASS domain "Communicative and cognitive abilities" was marked or very marked in four children, and two had some improvements. Few negative side effects were reported. Conclusion: Our small cohort responded well to bumetanide, particularly with regard to "Communicative and cognitive abilities". Taken with the evidence from larger-scale RCTs, we suggest that bumetanide should be considered for inclusion in ethically approved treatment/management trials for children with autism, subject to rigorous follow-up in large-scale RCTs.
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