bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Achievements of young children on items of the Griffiths scales: 1980 compared with 1960
Authors: HANSON R. , SMITH J. ALDRIDGE
Published: April 2006

Summary
Changes are described in the achievements of children aged 2–8 years on the Griffiths Scales of Mental Development (Extension) between iy60 when the extended scale was introduced and 1980. Satisfactory performance was achieved on the majority of test items at a considerably younger age than in 1960. Two hundred and seventeen children were tested between 1978 and 1982 and compared with 1397 children in the original “1960” sample. The mean general quotient of 111·7 for the total 1980 sample is significantly higher than the mean of 100–4 for the I960 children. Although the numbers of “1980” children are relatively small, findings are in agreement with other recent studies which have found average quotients for normal children to be significantly higher than the original norms. Within the overall change in mean score, social class differences were significant. When subscales and different age groups were examined separately, hand‐eye coordination and the latter half of the 2nd year were least changed. The importance for clinicians of the ceiling effect of the Griffiths scales is discussed. The present study suggests that for many normal children in their 5th and 6th years the test does not extend far enough for them to reach their true ceiling, making the test of limited use with a significant proportion of children past their 4th birthday.
A study of the sudden infant death syndrome by age
Authors: MACARTHUR BARTON A. , BARTHOLOMEW SHEILA E. M.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Data from 201 infants in South East Scotland certified at death as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) were analysed to determine whether the cases in the younger age groups at death (4–19 weeks) differed from those in the older group (19–52 weeks) on a number of background, developmental and medical variables frequently associated with SIDS in research findings. Some of the findings of the study wore contrary to much of the research on SIDS in general. While some factors commonly associated with SIDS were found in both groups the “typical” pattern presented in SIDS in the literature was more strongly associated with the older group. Marked differences between the two age groupings at death raise questions concerning those aspects of causation and aetiology that may go undetected if this distinction is not made during the analysis of SIDS information.
Bedwetting: a new approach to treatment in a mentally handicapped boy
Authors: CARR JANET
Published: April 2006

Summary
Lifelong nocturnal enuresis in a 9‐year‐old boy with Down's syndrome was tackled using progressive lifting, in which he was lifted and potted at a time in the early evening when he was found to be reliably dry. The programme was designed for the boy to be lifted progressively later in the evening until all‐night dryness was achieved. However, all‐night dryness began to occur 4 months after the start of the programme and lifting was at only half an hour beyond the original lime when it was discontinued. Four months after this the boy was completely dry. Possible reasons are discussed.
Accelerated development of object permanence in Down's syndrome infants
Authors: PASNAK CAROL F. , PASNAK ROBERT
Published: April 2006

Summary
Six infants with Down's syndrome, aged 3–19 months, were taught to solve object permanence problems. The instruction took place in the infants' homes and in a child development centre, and was conducted both by parents and by a child psychologist. Object permanence tasks ranging over stages 3–6 of the sensorimotor period of intelligence were utilized in the intervention, which lasted for up to 8 months. The infants were able to progress rather rapidly on these tasks. When the instruction was terminated most had mastered multiple visible displacements, which index the fifth stage of sensorimotor intelligence.
Establishing a Parent to Parent service
Authors: HORNBY GARRY , MURRAY RAY , JONES ROBIN
Published: April 2006

Summary
A Parent to Parent service has been established in Auckland to provide assistance to parents of children with disabilities. Parents who themselves have children with special needs undergo training to prepare them to support other parents. The Auckland scheme is a telephone counselling service which has been set up through cooperation between parents and professionals in the field of special education. Steps in the establishment of the scheme are described, the training course is outlined and various issues regarding the scheme are discussed. After 3 years of operation the Auckland Parent to Parent Service is well established and has developed a model of operation which has been used to set up similar schemes in various other centres around New Zealand. It is intended that this article be of assistance to other groups considering setting up Parent to Parent schemes.
Toddler's diarrhoea: individual variation with environmental change
Authors: DUTTON PHILIP V. , FURNELLD JAMES R. G.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Growing evidence suggests that environmental influences are relevant to the aetiology, maintenance and treatment of the common complaint of toddler's diarrhoea. Two presented cases demonstrate systematic fluctuations in frequency of diarrhoea by individual subjects, concurrent with changes of environment.
A preschool severely disabled boy and his powered wheelchair: a case study
Authors: DOUGLAS JO , RYAN MARTINA
Published: April 2006

Summary
A detailed account of the progress of a preschool child learning to steer a powered wheelchair via a mouth‐operated joystick is described. Some problems were encountered during learning, but the positive effect on emotional, intellectual and behavioural development was noted.
Monitoring the developmental examination schedule in an inner city health district
Authors: RONA R. J. , ALLSOP M. , MORRIS R. W.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Returns of scheduled school entry examinations, from 838 primary school children in West Lambeth Health Authority, were analysed to assess the possible association of a child's home language background, age, sex, behaviour, and examiner with the results of the developmental examination. To allow for variation in social character‐istics between participating schools, a ward index of deprivation based on the 1981 census was assigned to all the children in the schools of each ward. Variables representing development were most consist‐ently associated with the child's behaviour during the examination and with the examiner. A child's home language background was associ‐ated only with the auditory memory test. The child's ability to concen‐trate during the test situation was closely related to his performance. With respect to the examiners, it is suggested that community health services need to consider schemes of ongoing in‐service training and careful calibration of the tests.
A move from hospital to community: evaluation of community contacts
Authors: FIRTH HUGH , SHORT DAVID
Published: April 2006

Summary
A small‐scale evaluation was made of the activities and social contacts of a group of young mentally handicapped people in one project, leaving hospital to a house in the community. The results are consistent with other recent work in suggesting that residential provision in small homes for people with severe or profound intellectual or multiple handicaps is likely to lead to increased family contact, increased participation in activities outside of the residence, and an increased frequency and duration of contact with non‐handicapped people. The study suggests that many of these benefits of life in the community are dependent in various ways upon the staff employed. The nature of the young people's social contacts is examined and conclusions are drawn about specific issues, including staff selection and training, and attention to the maintenance as well as the provision of social contact.
Mentally handicapped school leavers: where do they go?
Authors: THOMPSON ANGELA M.S.
Published: April 2006

Summary
This study presents the findings of a population‐based study of severely educationally subnormal (ESN(S)) and moderately educationally subnormal (ESN(M)) school leavers in the borough of Trafford over a 4‐year period. The ESN(S) school leavers attended adult training centres (ATCs), day centres or remained at home. Some later obtained part‐time places at these centres. The numbers varied from year to year and the trends are examined. The numbers of ESN(S) pupils outside the borough were small and there were only 10 such leavers during the 4 years. Most of these (five) needed continuous inpatient care at the hospital attached to their residential school. Three of the 10 leavers were accommodated in a bungalow project in the borough. Almost half of the ESN(M) school leavers made use of government schemes to help youth unemployment. A large group progressed to further education, usually on the life skills course. The numbers entering open employment were small (23 out of 214) and of these the largest single number went into their families' businesses or worked in shops. The combined benefits of the special school, government youth training schemes and the courses of further education designed for the ESN(M) group arc reflected in the small number of pupils who became unemployed after leaving school (13 out of 214). This proportion (6%) is less than the 8% total unemployed school leavers in the borough.
Outcome of behaviour problems in the preschool setting
Authors: McGUIRE J. , RICHMAN N.
Published: April 2006

Summary
A sample of 2–4‐year‐old children attending four local authority day nurseries and 10 nursery school classes was screened for the presence of behaviour problems using the Preschool Behaviour Checklist which is completed by nursery staff. The screening was repeated 20 months later on 79% (300) and 66% (109) of the original nursery school and day nursery samples respectively. Initially, 11% of the former and 35% of the latter were rated as showing significant difficulties. Problems persisted in 10% of the original nursery school and 58% of the original day nursery children. The appearance of new cases did not differ significantly between the two groups. Factors associated with persistence and with development of problems are discussed.
Partnership with nursing mothers: an interim strategy for combating childhood enteric diseases in Nigeria
Authors: ELEGBE I. A. , JUBA A.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Five hundred and fifteen homes of nursing mothers in Ile‐Ife, Nigeria, who had earlier brought their children for treatment of diarrhoeal diseases at the IUTHC infant child welfare clinics were visited between January 1982 and June 1984. The mothers' perceptions as to causes, prevention and control of childhood enteritis were elicited: 49.7% of the mothers attributed the cause of the disease to evil spirits; and 9.5% believed enteritis in children to be due to contamination of children's feeds. Modern medicine was perceived to be the ideal method for treating this disease by only 7.4% of the mothers, while 88.8% opted for any of the traditional methods. In order to reduce the devasting effects of enteric diseases among children born to mothers in tropical countries of Africa and Asia, it is imperative that all health workers understand the cultural and social perceptions of their clients towards the disease in question. Illiteracy, and unsanitary and unhygienic environmental conditions were found to be the main factors precipitating enteritis. Implications and strategies for minimizing diarrhoea and other childhood enteric diseases are discussed in the text.
Computer microtechnology for a severely disabled preschool child
Authors: DOUGLAS J. , REESON B. , RYAN M.
Published: April 2006

Summary
The developments and considerations essential to providing microtechnological aids for a preschool severely disabled child confined to a bed in a hospital ward are described. This single case report illustrates the needs of a quadriplegic boy dependent on a ventilator via a tracheostomy. Provision of a computer, a variety of specially designed switches and software together with a self‐driven powered wheelchair maximized expression of his developmental needs. The decision‐making process of providing the equipment is described as well as the problems encountered. His development in language and cognitive skills is discussed in the context of his change in experience and competence as he learned to control the technological aids.
Preschool language intervention: a follow‐up study
Authors: URWIN SHELAGH , COOK JOHN , KELLY KAREN
Published: April 2006

Summary
A follow‐up study was undertaken of 38 children who had attended a preschool language unit with detailed assessments of 25 by speech therapists and an educational psychologist. The subjects were assessed in a number of areas (language, learning and social skills) using standardized tests and rating schedules completed by teachers and parents. The initial results are presented in terms of group characteristics. At a mean age of 8–3 years the children were still making progress in all areas of development. Although some 16% of the children were attending specialist schools or classes (language unit, physically handicapped unit, schools for children with severe speech and language problems), the majority (84%) were within the mainstream of education. A continuing language difficulty was apparent on standardized tests. Reading and spelling were slightly depressed, but not significantly so. However, parents and teachers saw the children as differing little from their peers. The conclusion is reached that preschool intervention can prevent later educational failure.
Reasons for non‐attendance at a child guidance clinic
Authors: NIMGAONKAR V. L. , FARRELL M. P.
Published: April 2006

Summary
A consecutive group of children (n = 19) referred to a child guidance clinic who failed to attend an initial interview were followed‐up. These ‘non‐attenders’ did not differ from a matched group of ‘attenders’ with respect to duration or nature of their problems, waiting period for the appointment, type of referring agencies or socio‐demographic variables, but were more likely to be living with their natural parents. Disinclination among the parents was the main reason for absenteeism and could be related to ignorance about the clinic. The problems leading to referral persisted in most cases and had not received further treatment.
Decreasing gestational age and birthweight in spastic diplegia
Authors: WILD N. J. , ROUSSOUNIS S. H. , DEAR P. R. F.
Published: April 2006

Summary
Over a 4‐year period a significant fall occurred in the mean birthweight and mean gestational age of prematurely born children who subsequently developed spastic diplegia. This coincided with a considerable improvement in perinatal mortality in the unit in which they were delivered. However, although the number of premature deliveries remained stable, the disorder did not become less common. No specific aetiological factors were identified, but the 24 affected children frequently had a history of adverse prenatal or perinatal factors. We conclude that high standards of obstetric and neonatal care prevent the subsequent development of spastic diplegia in low birthweight infants. However, these factors have also improved the survival of very low birthweight infants who have a much higher risk for the disorder and this has prevented a significant reduction in its frequency.
Childhood dysgraphia. Part 1. An illustrated clinical classification
Authors: O'HARE A. E. , BROWN J. K.
Published: April 2006

Summary In this paper we propose a clinical neurological classification of childhood dysgraphia (medical model). The subject is introduced by briefly considering the childhood learning disorders as a whole, and subsequently dysgraphia will be considered in particular with description and illustration of the different types. In our second paper we report a detailed neuropsychological study which we made of 66 children with dysgraphia. In view of the differing definitions used between professionals, this first paper is an attempt to define the terms used in our classification so that subsequent statistical analysis of individual factors in aetiology and neurology can be interpreted.
Evaluation of a staffed ordinary house for children with severe learning difficulties
Authors: BEAIL NIGEL
Published: April 2006

Summary The concept of living in an ordinary house in an ordinary street is becoming well accepted by those providing services to people with mental handicaps. Numerous examples have been described, but little in the way of service evaluation has been done. It is important to demonstrate that the quality of life is better in ‘smaller units’ and that institutional patterns of care are not being reproduced in the community. An observational study of small homely units for adults with mental handicaps has been carried out and has shown that the quality of life is better. This paper reports an observational study of the quality of care in a small staffed house for children with severe learning difficulties. The rate and content of naturally occurring interaction patterns were observed. The Child Management Practices Questionnaire was also administered. The results show that these children are enjoying a better standard of care than that found in hospital studies. However, some management practices were found to be institutionally orientated. For example, there was restricted access to some areas of the house, a lack of personal possessions and staff served and supervised meals rather than eating with the children. The implications of the findings are discussed in relation to recent policy trends and alternative forms of care in the community.
Early infant feeding practice: Socioeconomic factors and health visiting support
Authors: WHILE ALISONE.
Published: April 2006

Summary A survey of health visitor and child health clinic records revealed an association between place of residence and socioeconomic factors and early infant feeding practice. Bottle feeding was associated with poor social circumstance while breast feeding was associated with higher social classes and their socioeconomic attributes. Health visiting home support was limited in its extent and there was no statistical evidence of positive discrimination towards bottle‐ or breastfeeding families. However, breast‐feeding parents made significantly greater use of the child health clinics and so sought more health professional support in the early months of their infants’ lives.
Developmental outcome of high‐risk neonates in North Staffordshire
Authors: MALI MONIRA , TYLER PATRICIA , BROOKFIELD DAVID S. K.
Published: April 2006

Summary The findings of the developmental outcome of a 2‐year follow‐up study (1982–1983) on 92 2 12‐year‐old children born in North Staffordshire District are reported. They were assessed by the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales and all came from a defined geographical area. The babies were all cared for in the Neonatal Unit at the North Staffordshire Maternity Hospital. The group comprised infants weighing less than 1500 g and those of more than 1500 g who required ventilatory support for more than 48 hours. Nine (9.8%) children had major disabilities, including two with severe hearing impairment and two with visual impairment. Disabilities were not attributable to a congenital abnormality or illness acquired after discharge from the neonatal unit.
Meeting the needs of young deaf‐blind children and their parent. Prt 1.
Authors: ANDREW ANN K.
Published: April 2006

Summary In this paper the writer looks at the population of ‘deafblind’ children, stressing the individuality of the child and the special problems created, not only in management, but also in diagnosis and assessment. The inherent dangers of inappropriate and hasty judgements which may lead to misinterpretation of the child's attempts to communicate are also discussed.
Effects of a tactile stimulation/range‐finding programme on the development of VLBW‐neonates during the first year of life
Authors: HELDERS PAUL J. M. , CATS BERNARD P. , DEBAST SYLVIA
Published: April 2006

Summary To investigate long‐term effects of a hospital‐based neonatal intervention programme, we performed a follow‐up study on the development of very low birthweight neonates who were subjected to a tactile stimulation/range‐finding programme. At corrected ages up to 1 year we evaluated weight‐for‐length gain, length, head circumference, psychomotor development, ankle mobility, tactile responses, motor behaviour and physical/neurological status. Significant differences between groups were found in weight‐for‐length gain in the girls and on items ‘inspects own hands’ and ‘playing with feet to mouth’ of he psychomotor development profile. These results suggest that our programme influences growth and enhances the infant's adaptive behaviour.
Preschool language intervention—a follow‐up of some within‐group differences
Authors: COOK JOHN , URWIN SHELAGH , KELLY KAREN
Published: April 2006

Summary A more detailed study was made of the children who had been followed‐up by Urwin, Cook & Kelly (1988) 4–8 years after leaving a preschool language group. Children were independently allocated into groups according to their speech and language diagnosis prior to entry to the Unit. There were two major dimensions—receptive/expressive versus expressive only, and phonology versus non‐phonology. Comparisons were made between the groups as indicated by children's performance at follow‐up for measures of ability, achievement, language and social functioning. Conclusions are drawn about the long‐term effects of the early language difficulty and preschool intervention. Attention is also drawn to differences in perceiving the effects of language difficulty between the specialist professionals on the one hand and parents and teachers on the other.
Chronic solvent abuse. 1. Cognitive sequelae
Authors: ZUR JUDITH , YULE WILLIAM
Published: April 2006

Summary Twelve adolescent males with a history of chronic solvent abuse were compared with 12 delinquent controls on a battery of neuropsychological tests. Toluene was the active constituent most commonly abused. Solvent abusers tended to have lower overall intelligence test scores. On the Bexley Maudsley Automated Screening Test, the solvent abusers scored significantly lower on tests involving visual processing, especially the Symbol Digit Coding test. These results are cautiously interpreted as indicating that chronic solvent abuse carries an increased risk of cognitive impairment.
Chronic solvent abuse. 2. Relationship with depression
Authors: ZUR JUDITH , YULE WILLIAM
Published: April 2006

Summary Twelve adolescent males with a history of chronic solvent abuse were compared with 12 delinquent controls on a structured interview concerning their history of solvent abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, and on a self‐report inventory of depression. Solvent abusers had histories of severe social and emotional deprivation, and reported higher rates of depression. This was particularly true of the most chronic abusers of solvents. These findings do not reflect any referral bias and it is concluded that the association between chronic solvent abuse and depression is a real one. Psychological, social work and psychiatric services need to take the presentation of chronic solvent abuse more seriously.
Patterns of take‐up of the Family Fund, the characteristics of eligible non‐claimants and the reasons for not claiming
Authors: LAWTON D. , QUINE L.
Published: April 2006

Summary This paper examines application to the Family Fund by families with severely handicapped children and attempts to find out whether eligible families have basic knowledge of the fund, what motivates them to apply and why some eligible families do not apply. Five local registers are used to investigate levels of take‐up and a Kent survey of families with severely subnormal children is used to examine the characteristics of non‐claimants. The Kent survey is also used to investigate whether extra publicity promotes application and to identify reasons for non‐take‐up.
Early language development and severe visual impairment
Authors: McCONACHIE HELEN
Published: April 2006

Summary Some blind children show an early facility with expressive language in advance of their true level of comprehension; children who have severely impaired vision, but use visually‐directed reaching, do not. Inspection of developmental assessments of 40 blind and very severely visually impaired children with no other disability, seen at the Wolfson Centre, London, confirmed these patterns. However, a considerable number of blind children showed a lag in expressive speech relative to comprehension, which might mean first words appearing as late as 2 years of age. Later assessments of this group of children showed mixed outcomes. Further prospective research is indicated as a basis for counselling parents.
Pregnancy and antenatal care: the attitudes and experiences of Asian women
Authors: WOOLLETT ANNE , DOSANJH‐MATWALA NEELAM
Published: April 2006

Summary Asian women living in the East End of London were interviewed in English or in their own language to assess their attitudes to and experiences of pregnancy and antenatal care and to consider some factors which may influence their experiences, especially their fluency in English. In some respects Asian women's experiences were similar to those of non‐Asian women reported in other studies, e.g. similar levels of nausea and lack of tie‐up between nausea and negative reactions to pregnancy. However there were also some differences, e.g. Asian women expressed greater concern about the sex of the child and about eating ‘cool’ foods to counterbalance the hot state of pregnancy. Asian women were good patients: they attended antenatal clinics, read the leaflets provided and about half attended antenatal classes, although some were keener than others to seek information about pregnancy and childbirth and only a quarter bought books or watched videos. Less than half of the women were living in extended families and receiving support from in‐laws in the traditional way. Those living in nuclear families received support from friends, neighbours and especially husbands. There were considerable individual differences in women's reactions and experiences. Women who spoke little or no English were less knowledgeable and had lived for a shorter time in the UK than women who were fluent in English. Leaflets in languages women can read and link workers at clinics helped some women.
Motor/learning difficulties and the family
Authors: CHESSON ROSEMARY , MCKAY CHRISTINA , STEPHENSON ELIZABETH
Published: April 2006

Summary The work reported here, which has as its central concern family dynamics and relationships, is part of a wider study of 31 children with motor/learning difficulties. All the children were attending an Occupational Therapy Department and had been assessed as having motor/learning difficulties. Descriptions of family background, structure and composition are provided and findings on conjugal, parent/child, sibling and extended family relationships presented. Characteristic patterns of family interaction are identified and factors affecting family cohesion discussed.
The incidence of twins in care*
Authors: BROADBENT BARBARA ANNE
Published: April 2006

Summary The birth of twins, triplets or more is usually a reason for great celebration. Evidence suggests, however, that in some circumstances a multiple birth creates serious difficulties for parents and may cause enormous stress within a family. One crude indicator of family breakdown is the reception of children into Local Authority care: during 1988, the author attempted to establish the incidence of twins in care (or on social workers’ caseloads where preventive work was being done) by gathering figures from Directors of Social Services in Local Authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Whilst analysis of the figures at first suggests that there is no over‐representation of ‘multiples’ in Local Authority care, it is suggested that the results of the first survey should be treated with caution. The majority of Local Authorities have not so far identified twins, etc., on their records (nor, indeed, has the Department of Social Services) and so identification had to be done on a ‘common surname and date of birth’ basis, where that was possible. Many single twins would thus be missed. Only 36% of Local Authorities were able to provide complete figures for sets of twins in care. Reliable data for the incidence of twins on social workers’ caseloads (children not in care) proved impossible to collect. Information about multiples should be much easier to obtain in the future. Many Local Authorities are now installing or operating computer systems. Over half of those Directors who could not provide figures at the moment indicated that they would be able to do so on a future occasion.
The correspondence between temperament and peer interactions for normally developing and mildly delayed preschool children
Authors: GURALNICK MICHAEL J. , GROOM JOSEPH M.
Published: April 2006

Summary The correspondence between temperament characteristics based on the Behavioural Style Ouestionnaire and the peer relations of normally developing and mildly developmentally delayed preschool‐age children was examined in this study. Measures of the peer relations of 64 3‐ and 4‐year‐old boys were obtained through an analysis of children's social interactions in a series of specially designed playgroups. Maternal temperament ratings were found to be similar for the younger (3‐year‐olds) and older (4‐year‐olds) normally developing children as well as for the mildly delayed group (4‐yearolds). Multiple regression analyses indicated that maternal‐rated temperament dimensions of persistence and activity level were associated in a logical pattern with both the positive and negative aspects of children's peer relations. Issues related to the construct validity and situation‐specificity of the temperament measure were discussed.
Social life of school children with Down's syndrome
Authors: SLOPER PATRICIA , TURNER STEPHEN , KNUSSEN CHRISTINA , CUNNINGHAM CLIFF
Published: April 2006

Summary Frequency of participation in organized activities and informal play contacts with other children were investigated for a group of 118 children with Down's syndrome. Measures were based on mothers’reports. As part of a study of child and family functioning, a wide range of child, parent and family variables was measured and the relationships of these to the extent of the children's social contacts were investigated in multivariable analyses. Family variables of social class, parental education, marital relationship, and achievement and recreational orientation were found to be significantly related to the measures of the child's social life. In addition, children at the lower end of the 10 range in this sample were likely to have fewer informal play contacts. These results point to the influence of the family in stimulating and maintaining the children's social activities.
Night waking in 1‐year‐old children in England
Authors: SCOTT G. , RICHARDS M. P. M.
Published: April 2006

Summary A national sample of 1500 mothers of 1‐year‐old children received a postal questionnaire concerned with the sleeping patterns of their children. The response rate was 69%. Seventeen per cent of mothers reported that their 1‐year‐old presented a moderate or severe sleep problem and 26% said their child woke at night on at least five nights a week. While these two measures correlated, 10% of those who reported their infant woke on at least five nights a week did not consider this to be a problem. Neither sex of infant, social class, method of infant feeding or numbers of house moves were associated with sleep problems. The pattern of results strongly suggest an association between night waking and other sleeping difficulties and stress for mothers. This was indicated by the association we found with complaints about housing, overcrowding, more negative attitudes toward motherhood, lower assessments of maternal well‐being, lack of practical support from partners, the use of more negative adjectives to describe their baby and more frequent feelings of being dominated by their baby. While these associations may be explained by the stresses of living with a night‐waking baby, it is also likely that a mother who is feeling somewhat depressed and negative toward her baby is more likely to see night waking as significant and as a problem. There were class differences in how parents coped with a shortage of space. Middle‐class parents were more likely to put a baby in with a sibling while working class parents more often had the baby in their own room. Middle‐class parents were more likely to leave a night‐waking baby to cry.
Scene schemata and scripts in children's understanding of hospital
Authors: EISER CHRISTINE , EISER J. RICHARD , JONES BRYONY A.
Published: April 2006

Summary In a first study, 90 children (aged 3‐5 years) were shown a photograph of a hospital scene, and then asked to identify which of 12 separate items were present in the original scene. Children made more plausible than implausible errors, suggesting that they had well‐organized schemata for hospital scenes. In a second study, we investigated children's knowledge of hospital‐related routines and activities. A total of 152 children (aged 3‐5, 6‐8 and 9‐10 years) were shown five photographs of hospital and five photographs of school, and asked to arrange each set to ‘tell a story’. Children in different age groups showed relatively high agreement in their orderings, and also in selecting the ‘most important photograph’. The data suggest that children's knowledge of hospital is organized around rudimentary schemata and scripts, which enable them to make very plausible inferences about hospital scenes and activities.
Mutual support for families of children with eye cancer
Authors: WEBB BRYONY
Published: April 2006

Summary For parents to be told that their child has been diagnosed as having retinoblastoma is totally devastating. Retinoblastoma is a cancerous condition of the eye which occurs mostly in children, usually before the age of 3 years. To be confronted with the problem of sight loss and cancer is a tremendous shock. In appreciation of this, the staff of Moorfields Eye Hospital in London were well aware of the need and desire of parents to form a self‐help group for mutual support during this traumatic period in parents’lives. The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of forming a self‐help group for families with children affected by retinoblastoma and to describe how the Retinoblastoma Society was established.
A visual assessment of a young multiply handicapped girl and an associated teaching programme
Authors: DUNETT JENEFER
Published: April 2006

Summary An attempt to obtain a visual assessment of a five‐year‐old girl with severe learning difficulties using a picture test of visual acuity failed because the girl was unable to name or match any of the pictures. A teaching programme was then undertaken by the girl's class teacher, after which the girl was successfully retested some 4 months later.
The treatment of childhood nocturnal enuresis in the community
Authors: STREET EDDY , BROUGHTON LOUISE
Published: April 2006

Summary The nature of childhood nocturnal enuresis and its psychological treatment are briefly reviewed and the major features relevant to providing a community service are identified. A treatment system is outlined, based on criteria for inclusion, particular treatment packages, specifiable number of contacts and predetermined definitions of success. The operation of this treatment system by a small multidisciplinary team in a community clinic setting is described and data to demonstrate the running and efficacy of the service are presented.
Staff accuracy in predicting the concerns of parents of chronically ill children
Authors: BRADFORD ROGER
Published: April 2006

Summary The parents of 54 children with a chronic physical illness completed the Survey of Parental Satisfaction. Comparisons were made between the actual rate of parental satisfaction with information and emotional support, the magnitude of emotional problems experienced and opportunity to discuss concerns with medical, paramedical and nursing staff estimates of the same problems. Results demonstrated a large variability both within and between staff groups in accuracy. Overall, staff underestimated the magnitude of emotional problems experienced, whilst overestimating the opportunities available for parents to discuss concerns. All staff underestimated parental satisfaction with information. The results highlighted the need for staff training to increase both awareness and accuracy in identifying psychological morbidity.
Home‐based teaching: what are we asking of parents?
Authors: McCONACHIE HELEN R.
Published: April 2006

Summary Professional services for young children with disabilities generally expect parents (usually mothers) to carry out teaching or therapy exercises at home. Their advice often implies structuring the work into special daily sessions. In this study, parents were asked to carry out play sessions, and managed 62% of the available days. Reasons for missing sessions were primarily shortage of time or child illness. Mothers were more likely to carry out sessions where their child was of lower ability, and fathers less likely. Discussion concentrates on the need for professionals to vary their expectations and approach with individual parents’philosophies and energies.
The age dependence of stereotyped behaviours in blind infants and preschoolers
Authors: TRÖSTER HEINRICH , BRAMBRING MICHAEL , BEELMANN ANDREAS
Published: April 2006

Summary As part of a research programme on early intervention and family care for blind infants and preschoolers, the Bielefeld Parents'Questionnaire for Blind and Sighted Infants and Preschoolers was given to 85 parents of congenitally blind children. All 85 children (from 5 to 72 months) in the sample were totally blind and had no further serious disabilities. A comparison of five age groups of blind infants and preschoolers indicated that the repertoire of stereotyped behaviour patterns depended on age. After expanding from the first to the second year of life, the range of different stereotyped behaviours decreased from the age of 3 years up to school enrolment. The amount of stereotyped behaviours showed a similar course. Among the individual stereotyped behaviours, only the frequency of eye poking and body rocking increased from the first to the second year of life and then maintained a relatively high level across the entire preschool age range. The situational and person‐specific conditions under which stereotyped behaviours could typically be observed also appeared to change with the child's age. While in the first years of life, monotony and arousal situations dominated among the elicited stereotyped behaviours, the 4‐ to 6‐year‐old blind children increasingly exhibited stereotyped behaviours in situations in which they were confronted with cognitive and concentrative demands. Various possible explanations of the age dependence of stereotyped behaviour patterns in blind infants and preschoolers are discussed.
Facial deformity in childhood: severity and psychological adjustment
Authors: LANSDOWN RICHARD , LLOYD JULIA , HUNTER JANET
Published: April 2006

Summary This study examines the hypothesis that severe facial deformities may be less of a psychological burden than those that are more mild. Twenty‐seven experimental children and 12 controls, plus 26 siblings of the experimental group and 12 control siblings, were assessed using tests of intelligence, self‐concept and ratings of behaviour. The results provided some support for the hypothesis being considered.
Transient diplegia in children who fail to thrive
Authors: YOUNG J. A. , CRAIG M. A.
Published: April 2006

Summary We describe a group of eight children seen over a 4‐year period. After a few months of apparently normal health and development, the children developed feeding difficulty, failed to thrive and had mild diplegia. No other underlying pathology was demonstrated. After a period of careful attention to feeding in the stimulating environment of a child development centre, the feeding difficulty, developmental delay and diplegia all disappeared, but, by school age, the children showed learning or behavioural difficulty. It is suggested that these children suffered a subtle neurological insult during the intra‐uterine period and that this predisposed them to the neurological difficulty and failure to thrive. It is important to distinguish this small group of children from those in whom nonorganic failure to thrive is found and parental neglect is suspected.
Changes in self‐concept, cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength of children with spina bifida aged 8 to 13 years in response to a 10‐week physical‐activity programme: a pilot study
Authors: ANDRADE CARLA‐KRYSTIN , KRAMER JOHN , GARBER MALCOLM , LONGMUIR PATRICIA
Published: April 2006

Summary The purposes of this study were to document the self‐concept, cardiovascular endurance and isometric muscular strength of children with spina bifida, and to examine the changes in these variables in response to a structured 10‐week exercise programme. Eight children trained for about 1 hour a week for 10 weeks, while the five control‐group children did not participate in the physical‐activity programme. The exercise group improved significantly on five of eight criterion means, while the control group showed no significant improvements. This programme represents an initial attempt to delineate the essential elements in a physical‐activity programme to enhance physical fitness and self‐concepts of children with spina bifida, and provides a framework for further study.
A psychiatric residential centre for children and adolescents: a pilot study of its patients’characteristics and improvement while resident
Authors: MOORE LUCY M. , O'CONNOR TAMARA W.
Published: April 2006

Summary This paper describes the history and philosophy of a unique residential treatment unit in Ireland which caters for emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children and adolescents. A pilot study was undertaken to help identify the type of patient seen and who benefited from the treatment.
Do ‘minority’ groups have special needs? Speech therapy and the Chasidic Jewish community in north London
Authors: LAW JAMES , WALLFISH TSILA
Published: April 2006

Summary The paper addresses the issue of whether a paediatric speech therapy service can offer an adequately sensitive service to a specific community, notably the Chasidic Jewish community of north London. Fifteen parents of Jewish children were compared with 20 parents of non‐Jewish children attending the same speech therapy clinic. A questionnaire was administered to both groups. The results indicate that the groups differed in the extent to which they required therapy in their own language, the Jewish group being less concerned than the non‐Jewish group. The groups did not differ in the extent to which they would object to therapists on the grounds of sex or religion. When a test of significance was used, a number of differences were identified in relation to specific responses. The results are discussed in terms of the need for a culturally sensitized service.
Developmental and social factors in Nigerian children's accidents
Authors: PFEFFER KAREN
Published: April 2006

Summary Accidents to children are discussed in terms of developmental and social factors in Nigeria. The types of accidents involving children and age trends in accident incidence are reported. Physical, perceptual, cognitive and social development are discussed. Social factors identified are family variables, the physical environment, and attitudes and folk beliefs.
Locomotor characteristics of obese children
Authors: HILLS ANDREW P. , PARKER A. W.
Published: April 2006

Summary
The gait patterns of 10 obese and four normal‐weight, prepubertal children were used to evaluate characteristics of varying weight groups. Analyses of temporal and distance parameters were conducted on representative gait cycles at slow, normal and fast speeds of walking. Obese subjects showed longer cycle duration (P < 0.001), lower cadence (P < 0.001), lower relative velocity (statures/sec) (P < 0.001) and a longer stance period (P < 0.001) than normal‐weight subjects. Differences were also found in gait symmetry measures, with the obese displaying asymmetry in step length and step factor. In all cases, the right limb was favoured. Obese subjects displayed greatest instability at the slow speed of walking.
What do foster parents think of the natural parents? A comparative study
Authors: CORSER ALISON S. , FURNELL JAMES R. G.
Published: April 2006

Summary
By means of standardized case vignettes and rating scales, this study compared attitudes of short‐term foster parents, professional social workers and parents in the general population respectively towards birth parents of abused children received into foster care. Significant differences arose between the foster parents and comparison groups on dimensions about issues relating to the desirability of foster care, restrictions on contact with birth parents and conditions under which the abused child might return to its family. Wide variation occurred both between individual foster parents and also in the degree of correspondence of views between the foster parents and each of the comparison groups on individual dimensions. Such an anomalous position, if unacknowledged, might affect outcomes of individual foster placements and hold implications for the recruitment, training and support of foster parents.
Independence for the physically disabled
Authors: GORDON NEIL
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe difficulties in giving even relative independence to handicapped children are reviewed. A compromise has to be worked out between too much and too little independence. The personality of the child will be a governing factor, but there are many environmental influences. Not least among these are the attitudes of the parents, and to what extent they accept the handicapped child and encourage self‐reliance. Education must be realistically based on the child's ability and likely potentials on leaving school. Acquiring daily‐living skills may be as important as academic qualifications. More needs to be learnt about the balance between independence and over‐protection, and the success of management for an individual child can only be judged when maturity is reached with adequate self‐confidence, and a maximal ability to compete in the adult world.
Consumer views of health care: a comparison of hospital and home care
Authors: WHILE ALISON E.
Published: April 2006

Summary
A small interview study (n= 40) is described. Families were generally satisfied with their health care experience although they expressed a clear preference for home care as compared with hospitalization. A significant group of parents identified lack of information as a shortcoming of hospital care.
The role of social support and stressors for mothers and infants
Authors: PARKS PEGGY L. , LENZ ELIZABETH R. , JENKINS LOUISE S.
Published: April 2006

Summary
This correlational study of mothers and their 6‐month‐old infants examined the importance of social support and stressors for parenting and infant development. Mothers (n= 79) were primarily White, married, and ranged in socio‐economic status from low to high. All data were collected in mothers' homes when infants were 6 months old. Diversity of sources of social support and diversity of father support were positively related to parenting (quality of stimulation in the home). Diversity of sources of social support buffered the negative relationship of maternal fatigue (stressor) to parenting. Parenting was related to social, hearing‐speech, locomotor, and general development. Additionally, social support and aggravation (people in the mother's said network who make life difficult) were related to infant development, independent of parenting.