Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by difficulties with communication, social interaction, and restricted and repetitive behaviours. For children with this disorder, the ability t...Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by difficulties with communication, social interaction, and restricted and repetitive behaviours. For children with this disorder, the ability to engage with people and activities, and to participate in everyday occupations is compromised. Animal assisted therapy has been proposed as an intervention modality to facilitate development of an individual’s social behaviours such as engagement and attention. In spite of the increasing evidence showing the positive impact animal assisted therapy can have for children on the autism spectrum, there remain no universal standards or formalised guidelines for ethical practice with either the clients or the therapy dogs involved. The proposed pilot randomised control trial aims to determine the impact of canine assisted occupational therapy on the on-task behaviours and overall goal attainment of children on the autism spectrum, as well as consider the impact that being involved within therapy sessions has on the therapy dog.展开更多
Objective： To develop an appropriate mass screening system to evaluate hearing loss for primary school children, especially in rural areas. Methods： In Jiangsu Province, at a rural primary school-Longdu Primary Scho...Objective： To develop an appropriate mass screening system to evaluate hearing loss for primary school children, especially in rural areas. Methods： In Jiangsu Province, at a rural primary school-Longdu Primary School, 317 of 479 rural students （from Grade 1 to Grade 6, over 50 students for each grade） were screened by, using the Chinese Hearing Questionnaire for School Children（CHQS）. Two weeks later, they accepted transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions （TEOAEs） test. At the same time, all participants were given a ＇gold standard＇ audiological assessment that comprised of otoscopy, pure tone, and tympanometry. After eight weeks, 103 out of the 317 students accepted the second TEOAEs and ＇gold standard＇ test to confirm the results. Results： There was no statistical difference in the results of two ＇gold standard＇ test （χ^2 = 0.14, 0.5 〈 P 〈 0.75）. Compared with the ＇gold standard＇ results, the hit rate, sensitivity, specificity of the CHQS was 57%±2.78%, 61% ± 10.18%, 57% ± 2.89% respectively（α= 0.43, β = 0.39）. Youden Index J, LR＋, LR-, PV＋ and PV- was 0.18 ± 0.11, 1.42, 0.68, 0.10, 0.95 （Az 〈 0.54, EF = 0.75-0.95）. While a higher system accuracy was obtained by TEOAEs [HR = 97 ± 0.71%, Sen = 69± 7.8%, Spe = 98 ± 0.52%（α= 0.02,β= 0.31）, Youden Index J = 0.67±0.08, LR＋ = 34.5, LR- = 0.32, PV＋ = 0.71, PV- = 0.99 （Az = 0.85, EF = 0.97）]. Conclusion： TEOAEs got a high efficiency and specificity values with reasonable sensitivity. However, CHQS needs substantial modifications to improve its sensitivity in evaluating heating loss.展开更多
文摘Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by difficulties with communication, social interaction, and restricted and repetitive behaviours. For children with this disorder, the ability to engage with people and activities, and to participate in everyday occupations is compromised. Animal assisted therapy has been proposed as an intervention modality to facilitate development of an individual’s social behaviours such as engagement and attention. In spite of the increasing evidence showing the positive impact animal assisted therapy can have for children on the autism spectrum, there remain no universal standards or formalised guidelines for ethical practice with either the clients or the therapy dogs involved. The proposed pilot randomised control trial aims to determine the impact of canine assisted occupational therapy on the on-task behaviours and overall goal attainment of children on the autism spectrum, as well as consider the impact that being involved within therapy sessions has on the therapy dog.
基金Demonstration program of social development (BS2004560) and International Cooperation Promotion Program(BZ2005046)
文摘Objective： To develop an appropriate mass screening system to evaluate hearing loss for primary school children, especially in rural areas. Methods： In Jiangsu Province, at a rural primary school-Longdu Primary School, 317 of 479 rural students （from Grade 1 to Grade 6, over 50 students for each grade） were screened by, using the Chinese Hearing Questionnaire for School Children（CHQS）. Two weeks later, they accepted transiently evoked otoacoustic emissions （TEOAEs） test. At the same time, all participants were given a ＇gold standard＇ audiological assessment that comprised of otoscopy, pure tone, and tympanometry. After eight weeks, 103 out of the 317 students accepted the second TEOAEs and ＇gold standard＇ test to confirm the results. Results： There was no statistical difference in the results of two ＇gold standard＇ test （χ^2 = 0.14, 0.5 〈 P 〈 0.75）. Compared with the ＇gold standard＇ results, the hit rate, sensitivity, specificity of the CHQS was 57%±2.78%, 61% ± 10.18%, 57% ± 2.89% respectively（α= 0.43, β = 0.39）. Youden Index J, LR＋, LR-, PV＋ and PV- was 0.18 ± 0.11, 1.42, 0.68, 0.10, 0.95 （Az 〈 0.54, EF = 0.75-0.95）. While a higher system accuracy was obtained by TEOAEs [HR = 97 ± 0.71%, Sen = 69± 7.8%, Spe = 98 ± 0.52%（α= 0.02,β= 0.31）, Youden Index J = 0.67±0.08, LR＋ = 34.5, LR- = 0.32, PV＋ = 0.71, PV- = 0.99 （Az = 0.85, EF = 0.97）]. Conclusion： TEOAEs got a high efficiency and specificity values with reasonable sensitivity. However, CHQS needs substantial modifications to improve its sensitivity in evaluating heating loss.
