The relationship between place BANA reactivity and clinical parameters in subjects with mental disabilities

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether subjects institutionalized with mental retardation have a relationship between periodontal clinical parameters and the presence of the BANA-positive periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Bacteroides forsythus in their subgingival plaques. Fifty institutionalized subjects (25 patients with Down syndrome and 25 subjects with mental retardation) were matched with respect to age and sex. Periodontal clinical parameters (Bleeding on Probing, BOP; Papillary Bleeding Score, PBS; and Probing Depth, PD) were obtained from 6 reference teeth (3, 8, 14, 19, 24, 30). In addition, subgingival plaque samples taken from the same 6 teeth were analyzed for the presence of the BANA-positive species, by means of the chairside BANA test. In both the patients with Down syndrome and the group with mental retardation, the presence of BANA-positive plaques was significantly associated with bleeding on probing (p < 0.05) and increased probing depth (p < 0.01, Chisquare). Analysis of these data indicated that the BANA test could be used in combination with clinical criteria to diagnose a periodontopathy anaerobic Infection in institutionalized subjects.

Development of a novel fMRI compatible visual perception prototype battery to test older people with and without dementia

Background: Visuoperceptual deficits in dementia are common and can reduce quality of life. Testing of visuoperceptual function is often confounded by impairments in other cognitive domains and motor dysfunction. We aimed to develop, pilot, and test a novel visuocognitive prototype test battery which addressed these issues, suitable for both clinical and functional imaging use. Methods: We recruited 23 participants (14 with dementia, 6 of whom had extrapyramidal motor features, and 9 age-matched controls). The novel Newcastle visual perception prototype battery (NEVIP-B-Prototype) included angle, color, face, motion and form perception tasks, and an adapted response system. It allows for individualized task difficulties. Participants were tested outside and inside the 3T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were analyzed using SPM8. Results: All participants successfully completed the task inside and outside the scanner. Functional magnetic resonance imaging analysis showed activation regions corresponding well to the regional specializations of the visual association cortex. In both groups, there was significant activity in the ventral occipital-temporal region in the face and color tasks, whereas the motion task activated the V5 region. In the control group, the angle task activated the occipitoparietal cortex. Patients and controls showed similar levels of activation, except on the angle task for which occipitoparietal activation was lower in patients than controls. Conclusion: Distinct visuoperceptual functions can be tested in patients with dementia and extrapyramidal motor features when tests use individualized thresholds, adapted tasks, and specialized response systems.

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Access to multimedia technology by people with sensory disabilities /

"March 13, 1998."

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Pathways to employment for people with learning disabilities : a national strategic plan from the delegates to the pathways to employment for people with learning disabilities /

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Consumer owned/controlled housing for people with developmental disabilities, single family housing : report prepared for the Illinois Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities /

"August, 1995."

Older people with hearing impairment: A literature review of the spouse's perspective

Spouses of older people with hearing impairment frequently urge their hearing impaired partners to seek help for their hearing difficulties. Only a minority of individuals with hearing impairment are self-motivated, with the majority of clients, especially older clients, presenting at audiology clinics under the persuasion or influence of their spouse or significant other. This highlights the important role that spouses play in initiating aural rehabilitation and indicates that spouses of older people with hearing impairment may become so frustrated with their partners' hearing loss that they are often the primary reason why the hearing impaired person presents for audiological services. To date, however, the number of studies addressing the effect of hearing loss on significant others is limited. Those studies that have investigated the effect of hearing impairment on families are commonly focused on the person with the impairment and most commonly, the significant other has merely been used as a proxy to describe the perceived problems of his or her spouse. Further, there has been no systematic indepth investigation of the needs of spouses of older people with hearing impairment, including the effect of retirement and the increase in time spent together, with the majority of studies focusing primarily on younger spouses of workers affected by noise-induced hearing loss. The cumulative effect of experiencing many years of hearing difficulties with a partner may also influence the extent to which older spouses are affected by hearing impairment. The primary purpose of this article is therefore to critically review the existing literature on the effects of hearing impairment on spouses. It will also provide a rationale for the importance of this topic as a clinical issue and suggest some future directions for research in this area.

Outcomes of hearing aid fitting for older people with hearing impairment and their significant others

As hearing impairment affects communication. it seems intuitive that both the person with hearing impairment and the significant other (SO) will experience effects as a result of the impairment and subsequent rehabilitation. The present study examined the effect that hearing impairment and aural rehabilitation has on the person with hearing impairment and the SO's quality of life (QOL). Ninety-three people with hearing impairment completed a measure of hearing-specific QOL (Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly) and health-related QOL (Short Form-36), while 78 SOs completed a modified version of the Quantified Denver Scale and the Short Form-36. prior to and 3 months following hearing aid fitting. The results emphasize the significant impact of hearing impairment on both the person with hearing impairment and the SO. The results also demonstrate the effective role that hearing aids play in reducing Such negative effects for both parties.

The employment of people with mental illness

People with a mental illness are among the most socially and economically marginalised members of the community. They experience high levels of unemployment and nonparticipation in the labour force. Unemployment has a number of negative effects including the loss of purpose, structure, roles and status and a sense of identity which employment brings. Employment enables social inclusion in the wider community and is an important way that people with a mental illness can meaningfully participate in the wider community. Australia has a mental health strategy, which guides the ongoing reform of mental health services. However, specific strategies to address the social and economic marginalisation of people with a mental illness have not been addressed. A recovery-oriented approach is recommended, which integrates the key sectors involved. To date there has been little intersectoral collaboration between the various sectors such as mental health services, housing, and vocational services. People require more role-specific assistance to enable them to participate in socially valued roles implicit with citizenship. There is a need to formulate improved pathways to assistance and more evidence-based forms of assistance to re-establish career pathways. This report aims to: 1) collect relevant overseas and Australian evidence about the employment of people with mental illness; 2) identify the potential benefits of employment; 3) describe patterns of labour force participation in Australia among people with mental illness; 4) identify how mental illness can cause barriers to employment; 5) outline the type of employment restrictions reported by people with mental illness; 6) identify the evidence-based ingredients of employment assistance; 7) identify relevant policy implications; and 8) suggest strategies to improve employment outcomes and career prospects for people with mental illness.

Measuring outcomes of a communication program for older people with hearing impairment using the International Outcome Inventory

The main objective of this study was to describe the outcomes of a communication education program for older people with hearing impairment using the International Outcome Inventory - Alternative Interventions (IOI-AI) and the version for significant others (IOI-AI-SO). Ninety-six people aged 58 to 94 years participated in an interactive group education program for two hours per week for five weeks. The IOI-AI was administered at one to two weeks after the last educational session and 29 significant others also completed the IOI-Al-SO at this time. Overall, positive results were obtained using both questionnaires, and satisfaction with the program was particularly high. Findings also compared favourably to reports of outcomes for other audiological interventions (i.e., another communication training program and hearing aid fitting). Principal components analysis of the IOI-AI revealed a somewhat different factor structure than the original IOI-HA. The two versions of the 101 applied in this study are recommended as simple and effective measures of the outcomes of alternative interventions.