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Biomedical subjects

A P Lonton

Publications and source records attributed to A P Lonton.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

The characteristics of patients with encephaloceles.

Some of the intellectual, physical and family characteristics of 72 patients with encephaloceles were examined. Their numbers reached a peak in the 1960s and have declined dramatically since then. 70% of the patients were female. Many of the children had additional problems including hydrocephalus (34%), severe visual impairments (34%), inability to walk (21%), and urinary incontinence (13%). Their mean IQ was 65.2, and the males tended to be more physically and intellectually disabled than the females.

Child↗
PubMed1989

Conductive education--magic or myth?

Subjective reports on the results of conductive education (CE) in 18 groups of children in English schools, and in 16 children who had been to Hungary were examined. Although many improvements seem to be indicated, rigorous scientific methods were not used, and the verdict on CE must remain open. The newly established Foundation for Conductive Education in Birmingham may help to resolve current uncertainty.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1986

The integration of spina bifida children--are their needs being met?

After eleven years of vigorously promoting integration, the majority of Sheffield Children's Hospital spina bifida patients are now successfully integrated. A parallel study in Greater Manchester confirmed that parents, teachers and the spina bifida children are overwhelmingly in favour of integration. A large number of children were transferred from special to ordinary schools, and very few had to be transferred back to segregated schooling. The parents found substantial social and educational advantages in integration, together with good levels of involvement with their child's education. The most important areas in need of greater funding were considered to be: non-teaching support for toiletting, visiting specialists, particularly physiotherapists, and in-service education of teachers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Gender and spina bifida--some misconceptions.

1367 survivors (997 myelomeningoceles, 207 meningoceles, 81 lipomas of the cauda equina and 82 encephaloceles) were included in this study of sex differences. Contrary to widespread opinion, very few differences were observed. Myelomeningocele patients had significantly lower IQs, smaller heads and thinner brains. However, these differences were small and clinically inconsequential. There were no significant differences in degree of physical handicap. Any differences which were found tended to reflect research findings from the nonhandicapped population. Likewise, the males and females with meningoceles, lipomas and encephaloceles were remarkably similar in their intellectual and physical handicap characteristics. Sex differences in patients with neural tube malformations are of minimal significance and only likely to affect clinical decisions in the area of genito-urinary problems.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

The employment of adults with spina bifida.

Information on employment was obtained from 157 adults with spina bifida aged 18-26 years. Ninety were given an additional interview, 43% had been employed at some time, but only 19% currently. They mainly did routine, non-manual work for average working hours, but below average pay. They enjoyed their jobs, principally for the social contact, and were well accepted by employees and work-mates. Unfortunately, job retention was poor. The 81% who were unemployed largely hoped to find a job, but suitable ones were not available. They considered that they should have more help to find jobs. Their days were mainly spent at home or at day centres. They had no doubts that being unemployed had many disadvantages, of which the principal one was lack of social contact, but financial hardship was also mentioned.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Spina bifida adults.

Questionnaire data were obtained from 137 spina bifida adults aged 18-25 years and additional more sensitive information was obtained by interviewing 35 of them. Although 52% had attended college, many found the courses of little relevance to finding employment. 45% had been employed at some time, but only 23% were presently employed. Employability was significantly related to degree of handicap, and job retention was significantly higher in males. 14% lived away from home, but many more wished to do so. Only 3% were married and 24% had a boyfriend / girlfriend . The most common health problems were of the urinary tract (38%) and pressure sores (26%).

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1981

The integration (mainstreaming) of spina bifida children into ordinary schools.

In 1976, an aggressive policy of integrating spina bifida children into ordinary schools was mounted in Sheffield. Analysis of the school placement pattern of 1235 patients, aged 2-29 years, showed an increase from 25% to 64% integrated for children born in 1968 and 1976, respectively. However, about a half of this 39% increase was attributable to selective non-treatment. The major deterrents to integration were found to be low intelligence and wheelchair dependency. Only 4% of children with IQs below 70 were in ordinary schools. 91% of children with IQs below 45 were in mentally handicapped schools. 88% of children with IQs between 46 and 70 were in physically handicapped schools. 18% of children with wheelchairs only were integrated, and this reduced to 8% if they also had valves and were incontinent. On the other hand, neither incontinence nor valve dependency on their own were major problems with respect to ordinary schooling.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

The relationship between intellectual skills and the computerised axial tomograms of children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

Cranial CT-scans of 467 patients were graded in degrees of severity of hydrocephalus. The patients were aged from 2-22 years and had spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus or related disorders. Even large increases in the degree of hydrocephalus were found to have an insignificant effect upon verbal IQ, but there was a small but statistically significant effect upon performance scale IQ on the WISC. The abilities most affected were those involving the use of motor and perceptuo-motor skills. Assymetrical or other abnormal scans were found to be associated with lower IQ. Children with valves were only found to be substantially inferior in skills to those without valves when their ventricles were either very large, or abnormally small. The highest proportion of children with valves was found in the group with the smallest ventricles. Very small ventricles are known to be associated with an increased rate of valve complications, and this paper shows that there are psychological disadvantages also.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Lacunar skull deformity related to intelligence in children with myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus.

It has been suggested that the presence of lacunar skull deformity in infants with myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus is indicative of later lowered intelligence and therefore is a useful criterion in early selection for treatment. In the present study, retrospective investigations were made of the clinical records and skull X-rays of 169 surviving children who had been admitted immediately after birth with myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus to the Children's Hospital, Sheffield. Adequate X-rays were available for 131 of the children, of whom 97 per cent exhibited some degree of lacunar skull deformity. At five years of age or older, the 131 children were tested on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. The differences in mean IQ between the various degrees of severity were not large, and it was found that 82 per cent of children with the most severe degree of lacunar skull deformity had IQs above 70. These findings do not support the use of lacunar skull deformity as an important measure in selection for treatment of children with myelomeningocele and hydrocephalus.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗