Objective/BackgroundThe purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of standard earmuffs and noise-cancelling (NC) headphones in controlling behavioural problems related to hyper-reactivity to auditory stimuli in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).MethodsTwenty-one children with ASD aged 4–16 years (16 boys and 5 girls), after a 2-week nonwearing baseline period, were asked to use standard earmuffs and NC headphones for 2 weeks, in a random order. Parents or teachers rated participants’ behaviours that were related to their reaction to auditory stimuli.ResultsFour participants refused to wear either the earmuffs or the NC headphones. It was found that the T-score on the Goal Attainment Scaling was significantly higher during the earmuff period than that in the baseline period (Z = 2.726, p = .006). The behaviours of 5 children with ASD improved during the NC headphone period as compared with those in the baseline period; there were no differences in the T-scores on the Goal Attainment Scaling between the NC headphone period and the baseline period (Z = 1.689, p = .091) and between the earmuff and NC headphone periods (Z = −0.451, p = .678).ConclusionThis study demonstrated the effectiveness of standard earmuffs and NC headphones in helping children with ASD to cope with problem behaviours related to hyperreactivity to auditory stimuli, therefore, children with ASD could use earmuffs to help to deal with unpleasant sensory auditory stimuli.
Background/ObjectiveMotor coordination impairment is common in children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between motor coordination, cognitive ability, and academic achievement in Japanese children with neurodevelopmental disorders.MethodsThirty-four school-age (6–12 years old) children with neurodevelopmental disorders and 34 age-matched typically developing (TD) children were recruited in this study. Correlations between the scores of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (M-ABC2) and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children — Second Edition (K-ABCII) that assesses cognitive abilities, and academic achievement were analyzed.ResultsThe children with neurodevelopmental disorders obtained a lower total score and all component scores on M-ABC2 compared to the TD children. In children with neurodevelopmental disorders, M-ABC2 Manual Dexterity score was significantly correlated with K-ABCII Simultaneous Processing (r = .345, p = .046), Knowledge (r = .422, p = .013), Reading (r = .342, p = .048), Writing (r = .414, p = .017), and Arithmetic (r = .443, p = .009) scores. In addition, M-ABC2 Balance score was significantly correlated with K-ABCII Learning (r = .341, p = .048), Writing (r = .493, p = .004), and Arithmetic (r = .386, p = .024) scores.ConclusionThese findings stress that it is essential to accurately identify motor coordination impairments and the interventions that would consider motor coordination problems related to cognitive abilities and academic achievement in Japanese children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Abstract:Background: This study determined factors related to the burnout of long-term care facility employees, including employees' expressed emotion (EE) toward patients.Methods: A survey of 411 long-term care facility employees was conducted. Employee burnout was evaluated with the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). EE levels were evaluated using the Nurse Attitude Scale (NAS). Conclusion: Results indicate that employees' EE of criticism and hostility toward patients is related to burnout.
In industrialized countries, the turnover rate of preschool workers is extremely high and now represents a social problem. Consequently, it has become important to promote stable early care and educational environments for this population. Several factors related to working environments are known to affect turnover intention; however, the specific factors related to turnover intention among preschool workers have not yet been identified. Considering this, the objective of the present study was to determine factors associated with preschool workers’ willingness to continue working.The participants of this study were 1137 preschool workers based in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the participants’ data, with willingness to continue working for 5 years or more set as the dependent variable.Analysis of the results for all subjects clearly showed that male sex, older age, good mental health, high number of social supports, and good work engagement have a positive effect on willingness to continue working. Further, stratifying the participants in terms of age revealed that for preschool workers under 39 years, male sex, good mental health, high number of social supports, and good work engagement act positively in regard to willingness to continue working. Meanwhile, for those over 40 years, it was found that permanent employment and good work engagement act positively in this regard. Thus, work engagement was the only common factor between preschool workers under 39 and over 40.The findings of this cross-sectional study demonstrate that the factors associated with willingness to continue working among preschool workers differ between younger and older professionals. These findings underline the importance of considering age categories when attempting to maximize such professionals’ willingness to continue working.
BackgroundThere has long existed a need for early detection and early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to demonstrate, in a prospective manner, the relationship between behavioral features during the neonatal period and social behavior and sensory issues at 18 months.MethodsParticipants were 105 full‐term infants considered “healthy” by an obstetrician. The behavioral features of the infants were evaluated using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS) between 2 and 7 days after birth. Follow‐up assessments were conducted 18 months later using a Japanese version of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M‐CHAT‐JV) and the Infant / Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP).ResultsSixteen (15.2%) of the 105 infants were M‐CHAT‐JV‐positive. There were significant differences between the M‐CHAT‐JV‐positive and M‐CHAT‐JV‐negative groups in two of the NBAS clusters: orientation and motor. We observed a significant negative correlation between the NBAS orientation cluster and the ITSP “low registration” and “auditory processing” sections, as well as between the NBAS motor cluster and the ITSP “sensation avoiding” and “tactile processing” sections. Logistic regression analysis showed that the NBAS orientation cluster and ITSP low registration were significantly associated with the M‐CHAT‐JV at 18 months.ConclusionsThe results suggest a relationship between the NBAS orientation cluster in full‐term neonates and their social behavior and sensory features at 18 months.
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