Active clinical trials for "Learning Disabilities"

A pilot randomized controlled trial will be adopted. A total of forty adolescents with intellectual and physical disabilities will be randomly allocated into either intervention group receiving a 4-week laughter yoga programme (8 sessions) or control group receiving routine care in a 1:1 ratio based on computer-generated random schedule. The aim of this pilot study is to preliminarily evaluate the effects of a 4-week laughter yoga programme (8 sessions) on the mood, anxiety and loneliness among adolescents with intellectual and physical disabilities in a special school in Hong Kong. Hypotheses for primary outcomes of this study are as follows: H.1 Participants receiving the 4-week laughter yoga programme (8 sessions) (intervention group) will have a greater improvement on mood level than the participants receiving routine care provided by the special school as usual (control group). H.2 Participants receiving the 4-week laughter yoga programme (8 sessions) (intervention group) will have a greater reduction on anxiety than the participants receiving routine care provided by the special school as usual (control group). H.3 Participants receiving the 4-week laughter yoga programme (8 sessions) (intervention group) will have a greater reduction on loneliness than the participants receiving routine care provided by the special school as usual (control group).

Hippocampus and medial temporal lobe (MTL)-dependent memory is impacted by a wide range of psychiatric and neurologic conditions. These cognitive limitations often result in limited functional abilities for patients. Currently available pharmacologic and behavioral treatments are somewhat controversial and have minimal evidence-based effectiveness. Recently, deep brain stimulation was used to modulate MTL activity and subsequently improve memory performance. However, such implantable devices require neurosurgery with major associated health risk. At present, there are no publications reporting non-invasive neurostimulation targeting MTL regions to improve memory. The central hypothesis of this project is that non-invasive, low intensity focused ultrasound pulsation (LIFUP) can selectively increase regional MTL activity and thus be used as a cognitive neural prosthetic capable of improving memory performance. The aims of this study focus on whether LIFUP can increased blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) activation in the entorhinal cortex and functionally associated regions, whether this increased activation is greater using short train or long train LIFUP parameters, and whether this LIFUP-induced activation, when applied during learning, results in improved memory.

The best match between any person with disability and the assistive technology (AT) only can be gotten through a complete assessment and a monitoring of the needs, abilities, priorities, difficult and limitations that he/she finds in his/her life. Without this analysis, may be the risk that the AT doesn't adapt to the expectation of the person. Like this, the user, in few time, could abandon the AT device, with the unnecessary spends of resources. Therefore, is important that any project focused in the development of new innovating AT for people with disabilities includes the perspective of outcome measures as an important phase of the research. In this sense, the incorporation of the assessment, implementation process and outcome measures is vital to get the transferability during the whole project and to get the general perspective from the final user. The protocol presents a project that aims to improve the independence, participation and functional mobility of people with disabilities. The sample is formed by people with disabilities that will participate from the first stage of the process, with an initial assessment of their abilities and needs, a complete implication during the test of technology, and in the final application of outcome measures instruments. Only with this perspective and active participation of the users is possible to carry on a user-centered approach. That fact will allow to define and to generate technological solutions that really adjust to the expectations, needs and priorities of the people with disabilities, avoiding that the AT be abandoned, with the consequent health and social spending.

The present project aims at identifying very early electrophysiological risk markers for language impairments. The long-term goals of the study include the characterization of learning developmental trajectories in children at high risk for language impairments. In this project, all the infants of the Medea BabyLab cohort are followed-up until school age. Since these infants have complete information on early electrophysiological markers, the final goal of the project is the characterization of their learning developmental trajectories and the construction of a multi-factor prognostic model that includes the neurophysiological processes underlying basic-level skills as potential biomarkers for predicting later reading and spelling skills.

By longitudinal, prospective research in children and adolescents with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and their parents to explore the beneficial effects of participating in a standardized intervention program in order to treat and reduce the consequences of early brain damage. By using elements from international programs based on psychoeducation and parent training, the investigators aim to help parents to better understand and respond to the neurodevelopmental disabilities of their children, and thereby improving behavioral problems and self-regulation deficits.

The sophisticated language of science can be a barrier to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning, especially for children who have specific language impairment (SLI). The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to test vocabulary and grammar interventions embedded in a small-group inquiry-based science instruction for their potential to ameliorate language deficits that impede science learning. Participants will be 54 preschoolers or kindergartners with SLI. Proximal and distal probes will reveal their mastery of taught and generalized language and science concepts.

Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which a person shows difficulties in reading, written narration, and/or mathematics. 30 to 50 percent of children with SLD experience difficulties in fine motor skills, such as handwriting skills, and also during self-care activities and activities that require sorting. This study will evaluate children with SLD and healthy ages within fine motor skills, handgrip strength, and hand-forearm anthropometric measurements. Our study will show the impact of the fine motor skills of children with SLD on their quality of life and participation in daily life activities. In light of our current knowledge, no study has been found that comprehensively examines the fine motor functions of children with SLD. Therefore, normative data on the upper extremity functions of children with SLD will be presented to the literature. In this context, our work will shed light on the development of new treatments and assessment methods for clinicians and researchers working with children with SLD.

Background: It is asserted that 85% of disabled children live in resource poor countries with few available disability services. Measurements have shown an increase in disability prevalence from 2% to 4% over the past three decades in Malawi. A recent prevalence study in Mzuzu city, found 19.7% disability prevalence with associated social and psychological burden of care; marriage disruptions and divorces among parents of disabled children due to stigma and cultural misconceptions about disability. Studies have shown a link between parenting children with intellectual disabilities and parental psychological health problems and overall Quality of life. However, with interventions, these negative impacts are not as severe as once thought. Research Objectives: This study aims to design a Malawi specific Psychosocial Training Intervention for parents with intellectually disabled children and assess the impact of the Intervention in reducing psychological distress among these parents in Malawi. Methodology: This study will use mixed methods design. It will employ an explanatory sequential design, where by qualitative data collection and analysis builds to quantitative data collection and analysis; and final interpretation. The study will be conducted within catchment areas of two disability organisations that are operating in Mzuzu and Lilongwe. On sample size for the quantitative part, calculation using 5% level of statistical significance, power of 90% and effect size of 0.4 [effect size found in recent meta-analysis for similar intervention, gives 81 participants in each arm of the intervention. Questionnaire with social-demographic data in section one; and "Self-Reported Questionnaire will be administered at baseline, 6 & 12 months follow-up. Quantitative data will be coded on a computer, cleaned and analyzed using STATA. Mann-Whitney test will be used to measure the impact of the intervention. Qualitative data will be analysed using content analysis with the help of Nvivo. All ethical consideration will be followed to ensure that subjects are treated with respect; allow for their right to refuse participation in the study; and conducting interviews in privacy. Dissemination: Findings will be disseminated through Continous profesional development (CPD) sessions at the two clinic sites; Research Dissemination Conferences in Malawi and Sub-region; and three manuscripts submission for publication in peer reviewed journals.

People with learning disabilities (LDs) experience high levels of health problems, including cerebral palsy, other problems associated with posture, movement and function, and injury (falls are the commonest cause of injury in this population, and poor balance/coordination are a contributory factor). The aim of this project is to investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of lycra splinting garments (LSGs), worn to improve posture, movement and function, for adults (16 years and over) with LDs who fall. This project aims to investigate the clinical and cost effectiveness of LSGs to prevent future falls of adults with LDs, to inform practice and guidelines within local and national (National Health Service - NHS) adult services. Falls and fall injury are a serious problem for people with LDs (people with LDs experience similar rates of falls as the elderly in the general population but at a younger age), whereby interventions are warranted. Lab based 3D movement analysis will be conducted with adults with LDs who fall during two visits to perform simple tasks (e.g. walking) (once prior to being provided with LSG, and once 6 weeks after wearing the LSGs at home).

In this study the investigators focus on a subset of at-risk students who find the language of science to be a barrier to the learning of science. These are the nearly 3 million children in the U.S. who have a learning disability called specific language impairment (SLI). Children with SLI present with deficits in spoken grammar and vocabulary and they are 3.9 to 8.1 times more likely to have reading deficits than children in the general population. Specific Aim #1: To determine whether science-relevant language intervention enhances the learning of science concepts in young children who have SLI. Specific Aim #2: To determine whether science-relevant language intervention facilitates generalization of science concepts and practices in young children who have SLI