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This study investigated the effectiveness of a 20-week Simulated Developmental Horse-Riding Program (SDHRP) by using an innovative exercise equipment (Joba®) on the motor proficiency and sensory integrative functions in 60 children with autism (age: 6 years, 5 months to 8 years, 9 months). In the first phase of 20 weeks, 30 children received the SDHRP in addition to their regular occupational therapy while another 30 children received regular occupational therapy only. The arrangement was reversed in the second phase of another 20 weeks. Children with autism in this study showed improved motor proficiency and sensory integrative functions after 20-week SDHRP (p < .01). In addition, the therapeutic effect appeared to be sustained for at least 24 weeks (6 months).

SI, NDT, and PM improved sensorimotor function among children with mild mental retardation. The choice of sensorimotor approaches should be determined on the basis of the child's particular needs because each approach may have an advantage in certain aspects of sensorimotor function.

This study measured health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and their parents. A convenience sample of 369 children with DCD (144 girls; mean age: 11.2 ± 3.66 years) and 360 children with typical development (146 girls; mean age: 11.4 ± 4.09 years) was enrolled. The Bruininks—Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition was used to classify the DCD group into five levels of motor abilities. The HRQOL of the children was assessed with the Child Health Questionnaire-Parent Form 50, and the HRQOL of the parents was assessed with the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Although the two groups had comparable physical health, the DCD group had significantly lower HRQOL in all psychosocial domains. The degree to which HRQOL is reduced is related to motor proficiency. Compared to parents of typically developing children, parents of children with DCD had significantly lower HRQOL ( p < .05 for both SF-12 and BAI). HRQOL of the parents was unassociated with the motor proficiency of the children. DCD significantly affects multiple HRQOL domains in both the child with DCD and the parents.

Abstract.[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the P300 in electroencephalography (EEG) and the reaction time in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) during an auditory oddball task when sitting on a classroom chair or therapy ball.[Subjects] Fifteen ADHD children with a mean age of 8.6 ± 2.1 years and 14 healthy children with a mean age of 8.7 ± 2.0 years were used as subjects in this study.[Methods] All subjects were asked to sit on a chair or therapy ball and perform simultaneously the auditory oddball task. A portable 40-channel EEG system and a sound operating system were employed to record and analyze the EEG and button reaction time signals.[Results] When seated on the chair, the ADHD group had a significantly longer reaction time than the control group. ADHD children seated on a therapy ball showed a significant improvement in reaction time compared with when seated on the chair. In the parietal lobe, the ADHD group had a significantly delayed P300 latency during chair seating compared with the control group. The ADHD group showed a significantly shorter P300 latency time when seated on a therapy ball.[Conclusion] The therapy ball has a significant advantage for enhancing the attentional ability in children with ADHD.

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BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the effects of table tennis training (TTT) versus standard occupational therapy (SOT) on visual perception and executive functions in school-age children with mild intellectual disabilities and borderline intellectual functioning.Subjects and methodsChildren (n=91) were randomly assigned to intervention with either SOT (n=46, 20 females, mean age =10.9±3.9 years) or TTT (n=45, 21 females, mean age =10.6±3.6 years), while another 41 (18 females, mean age =10.7±4.0 years) served as controls. Both the SOT and TTT programs were administered 60 minutes per session, three times a week, for 16 weeks. The Test of Visual Perceptual Skill–third edition (TVPS-3) was used to evaluate visual perception, and executive functions were assessed by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test 64-card version (WCST-64) and the Stroop test.ResultsAt postintervention, the two intervention groups significantly outperformed the control group on all measures of visual perception and executive functions. Participants in the TTT group had significantly greater before–after changes on all measures of the TVPS-3, WCST-64, and the Stroop test compared to the SOT and controls.ConclusionTable tennis could be considered a therapy option while treating cognitive/perceptual problems in children with mild intellectual disabilities and borderline intellectual functioning. Implications for clinical professionals and recommendations for further research are discussed.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to make a comparison of dynamic balance ability between dual and simple task conditions. [Subjects and Methods] Nine children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (9.00 ± 2.12 years) and 10 healthy children (9.67 ± 2.75 years) were recruited. Each group was asked to do an obstacle crossing alone and the obstacle crossing combined with a stimulus response task. The Qualisys motion capture system was used to capture full-body motion. The parameters measured included crossing speed, step width, and reaction time.[Results] Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had greater problems than controls in performing the primary balance task while concurrently completing the auditory reaction time task and showed greater variability in step width and a longer reaction time. The balance scores assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children test were significantly worse in the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder group and were significantly correlated to the crossing reaction time and variance of crossing speeds.[Conclusion] The attention deficit hyperactivity disorder group preferred to complete the obstacle crossings before responding to the stimulus. This resulted in a longer reaction time for the secondary task and also changed the gait strategy.