The Jooay App: Promoting Participation in Leisure
This newsletter presents the Jooay app, a free app that connects children with disabilities and their families to leisure opportunities.
Epilepsy is a seizure disorder and is characterized by unpredictable seizures. Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages. Many people with epilepsy have more than one type of seizure and may have other symptoms of neurological problems as well. It is also important to note that seizures and epilepsy are not the same. An epileptic seizure is a temporary occurrence of signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal activity in the brain. The abnormal activity is characterized by excessive neuronal activity and/or complex interactions between groups of neurons. With the right tools and therapy, while taking care of emotional health, diet and nutrition, physical activity, sleep, independent living, stress management, social relationship and education, children and adults can improve their outcomes and quality of life.
Newsletters
COACHING in Childhood Disability
Coaching interventions provide education and guidance to individuals. This newsletter describes different types of coaching for children with disability and their families, approaches that are commonly used, and the level of evidence for coaching.
Articles
Towards a better understanding of the detection, causes and management of stroke in newborns and children
Pediatric stroke is often recognized and diagnosed much later after it occurs. This is due in part to its frequently non-obvious symptoms but also to a lack of awareness about pediatric stroke among clinicians.
What is the likelihood for ongoing seizures in children without an apparent cause for their particular epilepsy?
The main aim of this study was to determine what factors predict the seizure outcome of children with epilepsy.
When do children diagnosed with epilepsy continue to have seizures over the long-term?
The main aim of this study was to determine seizure status of children 2 to 17 years of age diagnosed with epilepsy.
Understanding adolescent- onset epilepsy and the risks involved
The authors of this study found a variety of reasons why some patients continued to experience seizures after treatment, or required prolonged use of medication to treat seizures.
How do adolescents with epilepsy view their quality of life?
The primary aim of this study was to gain a greater understanding of how children and adolescents with epilepsy (specifically, epilepsy that does not respond to medical treatment) perceive their quality of life.
Some cases of complex partial epilepsy (CPE) are unresponsive to a single drug treatment
Complex partial epilepsy (CPE) is a developmental disorder defined by recurrent seizures that are localized to one part of the brain and can impair consciousness or awareness
Epileptic seizures may promote spinal cord injuries in patients with spinal instrumentation for scoliosis
Beyond the effects of seizures, spinal instrumentation inserted surgically to treat scoliosis may add pressure to the spine, making injuries even more likely.
Readily available clinical indicators may predict risk of adverse outcome in asphyxiated newborns who experience seizures
Perinatal asphyxia in newborns can lead to a range of disorders including cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, global developmental delay, or epilepsy.
New scoring system may help doctors to predict future neurological deficits in newborns who experience seizures
A scoring system based on certain risk-factors that predispose newborns experiencing seizures to long-term developmental disability will help doctors to identify patients who will benefit from early treatment.
Topiromate may be effective for treating seizures in newborns
Topiramate, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in children older than two years of age, has been shown to be effective for treating seizures, and, moreover, it seems to protect the brain from injury.
Community
READYorNot
This brain-based disabilities project is recruiting participants to help develop and test an e-health intervention to improve the transition of care journey from paediatric to adult health care systems. If you are a teen with a disability, you may be eligible to participate in this study!