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Welcome to the November edition of CanChild Today! In this issue, we are excited to present a new webinar on the clinical research process that has been prepared with a family audience in mind - we invite you to share this resource widely. Additionally, we congratulate our CanChild colleagues on recent successes, and highlight recent publications by CanChild scientists and international collaborators.
Please feel free to share CanChild resources and this newsletter with family, friends and colleagues. They can subscribe to the CanChild Today e-Newsletter for free by registering here. Our past issues are archived on the CanChild website, and can be accessed here!
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New Resources!
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Clinical Research: How Does it Work? (Webinar)
Presented by Peter Rosenbaum
CanChild, in partnership with NeuroDevNet, is pleased to offer a one-hour webinar that provides attendees with the essential understanding required to identify a credible research study, read a study with a critical eye, and assess research for personal relevance.
This webinar has been presented with a parent and family audience in mind.
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Exergames for Youth with Cerebral Palsy (Infographic)
By NeuroDevNet
The "Exergame" is a recumbent bike combined with fun and engaging computer games that are geared towards youth. The system is tailored to the needs of youth with cerebral palsy but can be enjoyed by anyone.
Benefits of the Exergames include improved physical fitness and an opportunity to socialize through interacting with other players both on-screen and via the headset that is part of the gaming system.
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Get Involved in Research!
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CP-NET Research Database
The CP-NET Research Database project is collecting information to better understand how many kids are affected by cerebral palsy (CP) in different parts of Ontario and what causes CP with the goal of improving care and treatments.
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Awards & Recognition!
Congratulations to Peter Rosenbaum, recipient of an OACRS Tribute Award in the category of Advocacy!
The award, which honours the enormous impact Peter has made for children with disabilities and their families across the globe, was presented during the 2015 OACRS Conference on November 2nd.
Congratulations to Cheryl Missiuna and the Partnering for Change team, authors of one of the top five most downloaded Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy articles in 2014!
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Recent Publications by CanChild Members
Children with poor motor coordination can experience challenges in performing daily tasks at home and at school, and are at increased risk for experiencing mental health problems. This prospective study evaluates a cohort of normal birth weight (NBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children to a) determine if poor motor coordination in childhood is associated with increased odds of developing major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adulthood, and b) examine if ELBW status provides a moderating effect between these associations. It finds that poorer motor coordination in childhood is linked to increased odds of developing MDD and GAD in adulthood; however, this association appears to be stronger in NBW individuals than in ELBW survivors. The study highlights the importance of screening for motor deficits in all children, and for identifying and treating any associated mental health problems at an early age. Authors: Poole KL, Schmidt LA, Missiuna C, Saigal S, Boyle MH, Van Lieshout RJ; J Affect Disord. 2015 Oct 28;190:294-299. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2015.10.031. [Epub ahead of print]
Allergic disorders in children are increasingly common, with North American estimates indicating that 13% of children have asthma and 4% of children experience food allergy. Furthermore, previous studies suggest a relationship between these disorders and mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. This study examines the associations of asthma and food allergy with symptoms of depression and anxiety at 14 years of age (adolescence) and at 21 years of age (young adulthood) to determine if condition-specific associations exist. It finds that while the presence of asthma is linked to an increased prevalence of symptoms of depression during adolescence, these symptoms are not present in young adulthood, indicating that depressive symptoms have been resolved. However, the presence of food allergy is linked to increased symptoms of anxiety during both adolescence and young adulthood, indicating that symptoms of anxiety persist. Health professionals working with adolescents should be mindful of the increased risk of mental health disorders in young people with asthma and food allergy and screen for symptoms of depression and anxiety. Authors: Ferro MA, Van Lieshout RJ, Scott J, Alati R, Mamun AA, Dingle K.; J Asthma. 2015 Nov 5:1-26. [Epub ahead of print]
Sleep positioning systems can be prescribed to provide comfort and to help reduce or prevent hip migration, which is common among children with cerebral palsy (CP). This review evaluated evidence from randomized control trials looking at the effectiveness of these systems for children with CP in reducing or prevent hip migration in comparison to typical care strategies. Sleep patterns and quality, quality of life of the child and family, pain, physical function and any adverse effects were evaluated as secondary objectives. A comprehensive search for studies found no randomised control trials evaluating the effectiveness of sleep positioning systems in reducing or preventing hip migration, and two small trials comparing children's quality of sleep when using and when not using a system. Overall, the review found that the quality of current evidence concerning the effectiveness of sleep positioning systems for children with cerebral palsy is very low, and more research is needed to help families and health professionals make informed decisions about whether to use this intervention. Authors: Blake SF, Logan S, Humphreys G, Matthews J, Rogers M, Thompson-Coon J, Wyatt K, Morris C.; Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Nov 2;11:CD009257. [Epub ahead of print]
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