The present study investigated the neuropsychological predictors of auditory/verbal and visual/written arithmetic performance in a large sample of children with learning disorders. In addition, the efficacy of a cognitive based arithmetic problem solving model (Dinnel, Glover, & Halpain, in press; Dinnel, Glover, & Ronning, 1984) in accounting for neuropsychological functioning in arithmetic performance was considered. Subjects were from a small midwestern school district, and were identified as learning disabled in accord with state (i.e., Rule S-1) and federal guidelines (i.e., PL-94-142). Specifically, subjects' scores on the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Battery (HRNB) (Reitan, 1969) for older children and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) (Wechsler, 1974) were used to predict performance on the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT) Arithmetic subtest, and WISC-R Arithmetic subtest. Analyses were conducted with criterion measures considered separately and as a composite. In an attempt to examine the utility of the Dinnel et al., (in press; 1984) model, a simple index was formed using the criterion measures. This index was then predicted using the HRNB and WISC-R variables. Neuropsychological variables were found to account for some 31%, and 36% of the variability in visual/written and auditory/verbal arithmetic performance, respectively. However, neuropsychological variables accounted for some 87% of the shared variance when arithmetic measures were considered as a linear composite. Neuropsychological variables predicted a mere 12% of the variability associated with the index designed to test the Dinnel et al. (in press; 1984) arithmetic problem solving model. These data offered some support to Dinnel and others' (Dinnel et al., in press; 1984) formulations accounting for arithmetic performance under visual/stimulus conditions. However, the present findings indicated a more complex neuropsychological underpinning for overall arithmetic problem solving. Moreover, the neuropsychological constructs predicting arithmetic scores varied as a function of the stimulus/performance modes required for problem solving.Auditory-verbal attention and short-term memory, remote verbal memory, symbolic language integration, mental flexibility, and nonverbal abstract reasoning were the common neuropsychological constructs underpinning both auditory/verbal and visual/written arithmetic performance. Verbal facility, verbal abstract reasoning, nonverbal short term memory, and nonverbal concrete concept formation were uniquely implicated in auditory/verbal arithmetic performance. Visual/written arithmetic performance was uniquely related to nonverbal attention and intermediate nonverbal memory functions. In overview, it would seem that neuropsychological measures would be clinically useful in identifying deficits underlying poor arithmetic performance. / Department of Educational Psychology

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2001. / Title from title page screen, viewed March 14, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Mark E. Swerdlik (chair), David L. Wodrich (co-chair), Valeri Farmer-Dougan, Alvin House. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [106]-117) and abstract. Also available in print.

Hensikt: Hensikten med studien var todelt. Den ene delen tok sikte på å belyse hvordan manved screeningkunne finne ut om personer med kognitiv svikt oppfyller helsekravene for fortsatt å kunne kjøre bil. Den andre delen så på ergoterapeutens rolle og kunnskapsgrunnlag i slike førerkortvurderinger. Metode:Tverrsnittsstudie hvor den ene delen varbygd på data fra 99 pasientjournaler med fokus på to nevropsykologiske tester(NorSDSA og UFOV)og en praktisk kjøretest(P-Drive). Den andre delen varbygd på data fra en webbasert spørreundersøkelse sendt ut til 1857 norske ergoterapeuter. Resultat:UFOV hadde signifikant korrelasjon med utfall i praktisk kjøretest, høy sensitivitet og høy PPV, slik at ved en ikke-godkjent UFOV er det grunn til å fortsette med praktisk kjøretest. NorSDSA hadde lav sensitivitet, men høy spesifisitet som indikerer atde som får godkjent på NorSDSA bør fortsette med en praktisk kjøretest.I praktisk kjøretest var det skår på kjørehandlingene «Løser problem, «Reaksjon» og «Oppmerksomhet mot venstre» som hadde størst sammenheng med resultatet av førerkortvurderingen. Det varfå ergoterapeuter i Norge som haddeførerkortvurderinger som sittarbeidsområde. Informantene i undersøkelsen opplevde at de kunne haen sentral rolle i å vurdere helsekravene for førerkort, men at de mangletbåde kunnskap, gyldige og pålitelige metoder og nasjonale retningslinjer for slike vurderinger. Konklusjon:Fra et folkehelseperspektiv, er utfordringentidlig å identifisere sjåfører med økt risiko, uten unødig begrense andre. Studien viser at det er behov for både å gjennomføre nevropsykologiske tester samt praktisk kjøretesti vurdering av helsekrav for personer med kognitiv svikt.Det er behov for mer forskning på området, og dessutenbehov for å utarbeide nasjonale retningslinjer.Ergoterapeutene oppfattet sinrolle i førerkortvurderinger som sentral med spesielt praktisk kjøretestsom et viktig bidrag. / Aim: The aim of thestudy was dual. First, itsought to determine whether individuals with cognitive impairments meet health requirements fordrivingsafety. Second, itexaminedthe role of occupational therapists and their knowledge of driver assessments. Method:For part 1, across-sectional study was applied, based partly on data from 99 patient records,focusing on two neuropsychological tests (NorSDSA and UFOV) and on-roaddriver performancetest(P-Drive). The second part wasbased on data from an online survey sent to 1.857 Norwegian occupational therapists. Result:UFOV had significant correlation with outcome in P-Drive, high sensitivity, and high PPV. A failed UFOV indicates a reason to continue with an on-roadtest. NorSDSA had low sensitivity but high specificity and high PPV. Passing NorSDSA indicates a reason to continue with an on-road test. The items in P-Drive that had the highest correlation with the result of the driving assessment were problem solving,reaction, and attention to the left.Few occupational therapists in Norway were involved in driving assessment. Survey participants felt that they might play a central role in assessing the health requirements for driving but lacked the knowledge, valid and reliable methods, and national guidelines for driving assessments. Conclusion: From a public health perspective, the challenge is to identify at-risk drivers as early as possible, without unnecessarily restricting other drivers. This study shows a need for conducting neuropsychological tests and for a practical driving test to assess people with cognitive impairment. This area requires further study, just as there is a need for national guidelines.Occupational therapists perceived a central role for them in driving assessment. They believed they could contribute most effectively through a driving test. / <p>ISBN 978-91-86739-50-8</p>

No description available.

Submitted by Hellen Luz (hellencrisluz@gmail.com) on 2018-02-26T19:14:41Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_CorrelacaoMedidasQuantitativas.pdf: 4931104 bytes, checksum: 89eb8efff7aef9a8c3382319a847ac48 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Edisangela Bastos (edisangela@ufpa.br) on 2018-03-08T15:47:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_CorrelacaoMedidasQuantitativas.pdf: 4931104 bytes, checksum: 89eb8efff7aef9a8c3382319a847ac48 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-08T15:47:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_CorrelacaoMedidasQuantitativas.pdf: 4931104 bytes, checksum: 89eb8efff7aef9a8c3382319a847ac48 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-10-17 / Atualmente, com o aumento na expectativa de vida das populações humanas, as doenças neurodegenerativas, de comum ocorrência com o avançar da idade, tornaram-se fonte de serias preocupações. Deste modo, tem sido fomentado em todo o mundo a investigação de novos meios de diagnóstico precoce de transtornos neurocognitivos associados a doenças como a de Alzheimer e de Parkinson, assim como a melhoria do entendimento dos métodos de diagnóstico clinico neurológico atualmente disponíveis. Neste sentido, este trabalho propõe investigar a existência de possíveis correlações entre os resultados de exames utilizados na investigação clínica neurológica de pacientes diagnosticados com transtorno neurocognitivo associado a essas importantes doenças neurodegenerativas (doenças de Alzheimer e Parkinson). Os resultados mostram que a medida da espessura da camada de fibras nervosas da retina perimacular, realizada por tomografia de coerência óptica, é um parâmetro que pode não diferir de modo relevante entre grupos de pacientes e sujeitos saudáveis. Por outro lado, a medida da amplitude dos sinais espectroscópicos gerados por metabólitos encefálicos, realizada por espectroscopia de prótons em ressonância magnética, revela alterações encefálicas que variam de região para região. Além disso, a medida neuropsicológica de funções cognitivas, realizada pela aplicação da bateria automatizada CANTAB, revela que diversos aspectos dessas funções estão prejudicados nesses pacientes. Finalmente, a Análise de Componente Principal mostra que, considerando o conjunto de variáveis obtidos pelas medidas tomográficas e neuropsicológicas, é possível observar uma correlação entre várias dessas variáveis. Deste modo, conclui-se que correlacionando os resultados obtidos por diferentes abordagens pode agregar potencial na interpretação dessa casuística, o que não seria possível se considerarmos tais dados de modo isolado. / Currently, with the increase in life expectancy of human populations, neurodegenerative diseases, commonly occurring with the advancing age, have become a source of serious concern. Thus, research into new ways of early diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as the improvement of the understanding of currently available clinical neurological diagnostic methods, has been promoted throughout the world. In this sense, this work proposes to investigate the existence of possible correlations between the results of exams used in clinical neurological investigation of patients diagnosed with neurocognitive disorder associated with these important neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases). The results show that the measurement of the thickness of the nerve fiber layer of the perimacular retina, performed by optical coherence tomography, is a parameter that may not differ significantly between groups of patients and healthy subjects. On the other hand, the measurement of the amplitude of the spectroscopic signals generated by encephalic metabolites, performed by magnetic resonance proton spectroscopy, reveals encephalic changes that vary from region to region. In addition, the neuropsychological measure of cognitive functions, performed by the automated CANTAB battery, reveals that several aspects of these functions are impaired in these patients. Finally, Principal Component Analysis shows that, considering the set of variables obtained by tomographic and neuropsychological measurements, it is possible to observe a correlation between several of these variables. Thus, it is concluded that correlating the results obtained by different approaches may add potential in the interpretation of this casuistry, which would not be possible if we consider such data in an isolated way.

No description available.

The research entails the early identification of neuropsychological learning disabilities in grade 1 learners. The researcher used the definition, criteria and characteristics of the DSM-IV for the identification of neuropsychological learning disabilities. The section of Learning Disabilities or Disorders includes Reading Disorders, Mathematic Disorder, Disorder of Written Expression and Learning Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Learning Disabilities are diagnosed when the learner’s achievement on individually administrated, standardized tests in reading, mathematics or written expression is substantially below that expected for age, schooling and the level of intelligence. The learning problems, such as unsatisfied reading, mathematical or writing skills, significantly interfere with the learner’s academic achievement. Mathematic Disorder and Disorder of Written Expression most commonly occur as early as in the beginning or first grade, when formal reading instruction usually begin. Neuropsychological learning disabilities have a negative influence on the learner’s scholastic achievement, social development and emotional functioning. The research is focused on the grade 1 learners only. There is no differentiation regarding gender. In the literature study, the researcher observed five important components regarding neuropsychological learning disabilities, namely:- -- Definition, criteria and characteristics; -- Classification; -- Causes; -- The localization of the cortical areas of the brain associated with neuropsychological abilities; and -- The Neurofeedback. The Neurofeedback is based on the tenents that brain electrical activity reflects mental status and that the activity can be trained. The researcher also observed in the literature study certain risk factors regarding neuropsyhological learning disabilities, namely phonological awareness, analysis, synthesis, word recognition and syntax. The researcher considered these components in conjunction with the compilation of the neuropsychological test battery. The researcher could determine the follow findings with the assistance of the neuropsychological test battery:- -- The developmental delays which are present. -- The brain areas in which the cognitive abilities, associated with the developmental delays, are located. -- The limited functioning of brain wave activities which are associated with the cognitive abilities and developmental delays. -- The early idenitification of neuropsychological learning disabilities in grade 1 learners. The researcher found that the Neurofeedback programme is a useful contribution for the early identification of neuropsychological learning disabilities in grade 1 learners. / Thesis (PhD (Learning Support, Guidance and Counselling))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

The growing numbers of people suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia related diseases are expected to accelerate, and the cost for these diseases in Swedish healthcare is high. There are many ongoing research projects in the dementia diagnostics field which aim to detect cognitive impairment at an earlier stage, which would result in reduced costs in healthcare and improved life quality for sufferers. This work aims to investigate if it is possible to classify cognitive impairment based on a person’s eye movements. More specifically, it will explore the possibility of automating an established picture description task that is widely used in traditional dementia diagnostics. In order to do this, eye tracking data was collected during numerous conductions of this task. The eye tracking data was then parsed in to eye movement features and Binary Logistic Regression was used to classify these eye movements. The results showed that the average accuracy of the classification reached 73%. The results did not confirm that eye tracking technique can be used to automate neuropsychological test with an accuracy high enough, but to use a machine learning approach for detecting deviances in eye movement patterns appears to be a promising approach. Furthermore, this work analyzes the possibilities for practically implementing eye tracking techniques in Swedish healthcare in order to detect cognitive impairment at an earlier stage. Provided that an eye tracker can detect cognitive impairment with an accuracy equal to or higher than a medical professional can maintain, the study argues that automated neuropsychological tests at health clinics could be the key to detect cognitive impairment at an earlier stage. / Antalet personer som lider av alzeimers och andra demensrelaterade sjukdomar förväntar att öka med accelerande fart och kostnaden for dessa sjukdomar för svensk sjukvård är hög. Det finns idag många pågående forskningsprojekt inom demensdiagnostik där man analyserar personers ögonrörelser för att kunna detektera kognitiva svårighetet i tidigt stadie. Forskningen görs för att minska på kostnaden och öka livskvaliten för de som insjuknar. Detta arbete syftar till att undersöka om det går att använda maskininlärning för att klassificera kognitiv svårighet baserat på en persons ögonrörelser. Mer konkret vill man undersöka om en automatisering av en etablerad bildbeskrivningsuppgift, som idag används flitigt inom demensdiagnotistik. Det har äarför samlats in data som representerar personers ögonrörelser under tider de utför olika demenstester. Med hjälp av datan har man sedan tagit fram olika synfunktioner och använt binär och logistisk regression för att klassifisera dessa ögonrörelser. Det genomsnittliga resultatet visade att modellen klassificerade rätt i 73% av fallen. Detta resultat kan inte bekräfta att denna teknik kan användas för att automatisera neuropsykologiskt tester med tillräckligt hög noggrannhet. Daremot ser det lovande ut att kunna ända maskininlärning för att detektera avvikelser i ögonrörelser, hos personer som lider av kognitiva svårigheter. Vidare analyseras också möjligheten att praktiskt implementera tekniken där man analysera ögonrörelser i svensk sjukvård. Resultatet visar att om det är m jligt att utforma en modell som diagnotiserar bättre än vad en professionell läkare gör, så går det att argumentera for att automatiska, neuropsykiska tester skulle kunna vara en nyckel för att detektera kognitiva svårigheter i tidigt stadie.