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The Kids researchers honoured at Public Health Association AwardsTwo The Kids researchers working to improve the health & wellbeing of Aboriginal children & their families have both been honoured at the PHAA Awards.
Research
Caregiver-reported meaningful change in functional domains for individuals with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy: A convergent mixed-methods designTo investigate how caregivers of children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy and severe developmental impairments describe meaningful change for functional domains and why it is important.
Research
What I Wish I Had Known: Examining Parent Accounts of Managing the Health of Their Child With Intellectual DisabilityAppropriate support for the health of children with an intellectual disability by parents and healthcare professionals is pivotal, given the high risk of chronic conditions. However, there is limited research that has collected important insights from parents on their learnings for supporting their child's evolving healthcare needs.
Research
Perspectives on the essential skills of healthcare decision making in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilityInvolvement in healthcare decisions is associated with better health outcomes for patients. For children and adolescents with intellectual disability, parents and healthcare professionals need to balance listening to a child's wishes with the responsibility of keeping them safe.
Research
qPCR assay optimisation for a clinical study comparing oral health risk in Rett syndromeThis study aimed to validate qPCR assays for specific microbiota, for use on dental plaque samples stored on Whatman FTA cards to compare relative oral health risk in Rett syndrome.
Research
The development, content and response process validation of a caregiver-reported severity measure for CDKL5 deficiency disorderCDKL5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD) is a severe X-linked developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. Existing developmental outcome measures have floor effects and cannot capture incremental changes in symptoms. We modified the caregiver portion of a CDD clinical severity assessment (CCSA) and assessed content and response-process validity.
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Diagnostic services for developmental coordination disorder: Gaps and opportunities identified by parentsAffecting one in 20 children, Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder impacting a child's ability to learn motor skills. Despite its high prevalence, DCD is under-recognized and under-diagnosed, causing unnecessary frustration and stress for families who are seeking help for their child. This study aimed to understand how parents procure diagnostic services and their perspectives on needed supports and services to improve early identification and diagnosis of DCD.
Research
Siblings of Individuals With Neurodevelopmental Conditions: Perspectives on Risk, Resiliency and Future Research DirectionsSiblings of individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs) are at increased genetic and environmental risk for poorer psychosocial and neurocognitive outcomes compared to control groups of siblings of individuals without NDCs.
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Does somatosensory discrimination therapy alter sensorimotor upper limb function differently compared to motor therapy in children and adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trialBesides motor impairments, up to 90% of the children and adolescents with unilateral cerebral palsy (uCP) present with somatosensory impairments in the upper limb. As somatosensory information is of utmost importance for coordinated movements and motor learning, somatosensory impairments can further compromise the effective use of the impaired upper limb in daily life activities.
Research
A Co-Designed Online Education Resource on Gastrostomy Feeding for Parents and Caregivers to Support Clinical CareChildren with complex needs and severe disability may undergo gastrostomy insertion to support feeding difficulties. Parent education programs are critical components of clinical care pathways but there is little information on parent-reported educational needs. This study describes the collaborative process that yielded a resource to assist parents considering gastrostomy tube placement for their children, and the evaluation of the resource.