Biomedical subjects

Kimberly A Kerns

Publications and source records attributed to Kimberly A Kerns.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

The effect of reinforcement variables on inhibition in children with ADHD.

Behavioral inhibition, often cited as a central deficit in children with ADHD, has been shown to change in response to reinforcement. In this preliminary investigation, children with ADHD (n= 20) and matched controls (ages 7 to 12) completed a new version of the stop signal paradigm, the Fire Fighter Game, a measure of inhibition of a prepotent motor response, under three conditions: (1) no reinforcement; (2) immediate reinforcement; and (3) delayed reinforcement. In all conditions, the stop signal reaction time (SSRT) of children with ADHD was consistently longer than controls. Both groups improved significantly with reinforcement, and there was no strong evidence that immediate reinforcement was more effective than delayed reinforcement. However, it appeared that the reason for the changes in SSRT in response to reinforcement differed between the groups. Children in the control group responded faster on go trials, whereas children with ADHD improved their ability to inhibit responding with shorter stop delays. The relevance of these findings is discussed in terms of current theories of ADHD.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2005

The children's size-ordering task: a new measure of nonverbal working memory.

We present a new measure of nonverbal working memory for children, entitled the Children's Size-Ordering Task (CSOT). Two separate studies were conducted to test the utility of and partially validate this measure. Three specific hypotheses were investigated, namely that: (1) CSOT performance would correlate with age; (2) the CSOT would correlate with established measures of working memory; and (3) children with ADHD would exhibit weaker performance on the CSOT relative to typically developing community control children. Participants across both studies included 50 children with ADHD and 50 control children matched by age and gender. Collectively, the results of both studies supported all three hypotheses. These findings lend support to the CSOT as a valid and effective measure of nonverbal working memory.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Assessing multitasking in children with ADHD using a modified Six Elements Test.

The study was designed to investigate whether children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) demonstrate a deficit in multitasking, measured by their performance on a modified Six Elements Test designed for use with children (C-SET). The C-SET was administered to 38 children, aged 7-13. The subjects comprised two groups: an ADHD sample (n = 19) and a community control sample (n = 19). The results show that the ADHD group performed significantly worse on the C-SET, in that they attempted fewer tasks than the control group. However, they did not commit more rule breaks. These findings suggest that children with ADHD did not have problems with retrospective memory, as they were as able to remember the rules as the control group. Rather, the ADHD children appeared to have a specific deficit in monitoring their ongoing behaviors and generating useful strategies for task completion, as indicated by the decreased number of tasks attempted compared to the control group. The number of tasks tried on the C-SET correlated significantly with a measure of working memory, but not with a measure of response inhibition. C-SET total tasks tried also correlated with all subscales of the Conner's Parent Rating Scale-Revised (Short Version). The C-SET appears to be a useful measure of rule-governed multitasking behavior in children.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Time reproduction in children with ADHD: motivation matters.

The primary goal of this study was to examine whether children with ADHD have a true deficit in subjective time sense, or whether their impairment reflects a motivational deficit. Thirty children with ADHD and 30 matched control children completed two versions of a time reproduction paradigm ("Regular" and "Enhanced") in which motivational level was manipulated by the addition of positive sham feedback and the prospect of earning a reward. A secondary goal was to investigate performance on measures of working memory and behavioural inhibition, and how those constructs relate to time reproduction in the context of Barkley's (1997a) model of ADHD. Children with ADHD performed significantly better on the motivating 'Enhanced' versus the Regular time reproduction paradigm, although they continued to perform significantly worse than controls on both tasks. Control children exhibited no reliable change in performance between versions of the task. Significant group differences were also observed on the working memory and behavioural inhibition tasks. We discuss the impact of motivation, working memory, and behavioural inhibition on time reproduction performance.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Prosthetic systems for addressing problems with initiation: guidelines for selection, training, and measuring efficacy.

In this paper we address the practical considerations for rehabilitation of problems with initiation. A variety of rehabilitation strategies for clients who have problems with initiation are discussed, as are our recommendations for the use of an external cueing system with these clients. Available external cueing systems are reviewed, including those that have been shown to be effective for prospective memory deficits. We identify important factors involved in selecting a particular external cueing device, and we provide guidelines for training to both respond to and program external cues. Finally, we discuss ways to monitor the efficacy of rehabilitation of problems with initiation. Throughout we provide an illustrative case example describing implementation of an external cueing system with a client who has difficulties with initiation, other aspects of executive function, and anterograde amnesia.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The assessment of parent needs following paediatric traumatic brain injury.

The paediatric version of the Family Needs Questionnaire was administered to parents of children with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) a year or more post-injury. Parents of diabetic children (DIAB) and parents of orthopaedically (ORTHO) injured children were included as control groups. Parents rated items on their importance and how well these needs have been met. The ORTHO group rated significantly fewer items as important relative to the TBI and DIAB groups (who endorsed a similar number of items). Of those items rated as important, TBI parents' needs were more likely to remain unmet relative to both the DIAB and the ORTHO groups: out of 28 items rated as important, TBI parents report that 19 needs are still unmet. DIAB and ORTHO parents more consistently reported their needs as met. Needs most often rated as unmet for TBI parents include the needs for health/medical information, professional support, community support networks, and the need to be involved in their child's care. These results present important findings for TBI rehabilitation professionals. Future studies need to investigate whether TBI parents' needs are unmet because of the lack of community resources, or if available resources do not adequately target the needs of the TBI parents.

Adolescent↗