Book series: Clinics in Developmental Medicine

The book provides a review of the state of the art of neurological assessment in the first two years of life and identifies the most appropriate instruments for the follow-up of newborns who are at risk of developing neurological abnormalities.

After a brief description of the neurophysiological basis of development in the first years, the book provides a comprehensive review of the various methods used for the neurological assessment in young infants describing how a combined approach of clinical and instrumental investigations can provide important diagnostic and prognostic information.

The first part of the book describes the most used clinical neurological examinations and their applications in infants with neurological abnormalities, followed by a description of the value of neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques in normal preterm and full term infants in the first two years and the main types of abnormal MR findings of neurophysiological findings (EEG and evoked potentials) in relation to brain lesions.

Other sections include chapters describing techniques assessing specific aspects of cognitive, perceptual and sensory abilities. Special attention is given to hearing, language and communication and to development of vision and visual attention both in normal infants and in those with neonatal brain lesions.

The final chapters are devoted to intervention, describing how the identification of specific profiles of impairment can lead to the development of appropriate plans of early intervention.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 176

Includes the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination

This is the second edition of the manual for this popular and practical tool for the clinical neurological examination of the newborn. It provides a copiously illustrated, step-by-step guide to performing the examination, and greatly extends its uses and potential applications.

• A quick, simplified version of the examination has been added, suitable for use by inexperienced staff and for mass screening programmes.
• Now extended well beyond the neonatal period.
• A new section correlates clinical patterns of neurological findings with the corresponding imaging in newborn infants with brain lesions.
• For researchers, there is a new section explaining in detail the development of an ‘optimality score’ as a means of quantifying data.

The book provides a review of the state of the art of neurological assessment in the first two years of life and identifies the most appropriate instruments for the follow-up of newborns who are at risk of developing neurological abnormalities. After a brief description of the neurophysiological basis of development in the first years, the book provides a comprehensive review of the various methods used for the neurological assessment in young infants describing how a combined approach of clinical and instrumental investigations can provide important diagnostic and prognostic information.

The first part of the book describes the most used clinical neurological examinations and their applications in infants with neurological abnormalities, followed by a description of the value of neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques in normal preterm and full term infants in the first two years and the main types of abnormal MR findings of neurophysiological findings (EEG and evoked potentials) in relation to brain lesions. Other sections include chapters describing techniques assessing specific aspects of cognitive, perceptual and sensory abilities. Special attention is given to hearing, language and communication and to development of vision and visual attention both in normal infants and in those with neonatal brain lesions. The final chapters are devoted to intervention, describing how the identification of specific profiles of impairment can lead to the development of appropriate plans of early intervention.

Downloads

The purchase of this book will include downloadable examination proformas updated 2017:

1. The Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination
2. The Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 148

Neuromuscular Disorders in Children: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Management critically reviews current evidence of management approaches in the field of neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) in children. Uniquely, the book focusses on assessment as the cornerstone of management and highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.

A key section describes the clinical picture, diagnosis standards and natural history of the most frequent neuromuscular disorders in children, including:

• muscular dystrophies
• spinal muscular atrophy
• congenital, metabolic, myotonic and inflammatory myopathies
• myasthenic syndromes
• and hereditary, acquired and inflammatory neuropathies.

Importantly, much of the book is dedicated to the latest management approaches in key clinical systems typically involved in NMDs. These include physical rehabilitation, orthopaedic, respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiac management, as well as psychosocial aspects such as the transition to adulthood and sexual health needs. The latest advances in pharmaceutical therapies and future therapeutic strategies are also discussed.

From the Foreword

“Neuromuscular Disorders in Children… is consistently patient-centred, will help readers learn about the latest classification and treatment options for these diseases, and hopefully influence their attitudes and decisions caring for patients with NMDs. With broad distribution, this book will help to improve the fate and quality of life of many patients suffering from NMDs, as well as their families.”

Rudolf Korinthenberg MD

Professor Emeritus of Neuropaediatrics and Muscular Disorders

Readership

This book will prove a principal resource for all professionals involved in the care of children with NMDs, including neurologists, paediatricians, pneumologists, rehabilitation specialists, cardiologists, orthopaedists, physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists and speech therapists.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine

Elimination disorders (nocturnal enuresis, urinary incontinence and encopresis) are among the most common disorders of childhood. Some disorders are primarily genetically determined, in others environmental factors predominate. Also, the rate of comorbid behavioural disturbances differs greatly from one syndrome to another. Because of this variety and heterogeneity, each disorder requires specific approaches in assessment and treatment. This book provides an evidence-based overview of functional elimination disorders. It draws on the standardisation and terminology suggested by the International Children’s Continence Society. Short case vignettes, photos and line drawings, as well as questionnaires and charts are provided. To enable a quick orientation for clinical purposes, each chapter is followed by summaries, guidelines and diagrams. It will be of interest to all professionals working in the field.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 170

Down syndrome remains the most common recognisable form of intellectual disability. The challenge for doctors today is how to capture the rapidly expanding body of scientific knowledge and devise models of care to meet the needs of individuals and their families. 

This book provides doctors and other health professionals with the information they need to address the challenges that can present in the management of the syndrome.

Chapters written by internationally-respected paediatricians with a special interest in Down syndrome cover Down syndrome comorbidities, such as hearing problems, gastrointestinal disorders, congenital heart diseases, as well as the underlying biology and new developments in molecular genetics. Each chapter is illustrated with informative case scenarios and answers to FAQs from parents and carers.

• The most up-to-date resource on the management of Down syndrome and its comorbidities such as congenital heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders and skin disorders
• Includes chapters on the underlying biology of Down syndrome, antenatal screening, neurological disorders common presentations and adult mental health
• Defines how doctors can work with other health professionals to provide good interdisciplinary healthcare for individuals with Down syndrome
• Contributions from the UK Down syndrome Association and the Down Syndrome Medical Interest offer a unique perspectives on issues from ‘giving the news’ to parents to coping with dementia in Down syndrome

Readership

General practitioners, community paediatricians, paediatric neurologists, neurodevelopmental paediatricians, speech and language therapists, other health and educational professionals, teachers.

Full Book Review

Read the full book review by Arnab Seal published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine Series

This book is concerned with one of the major areas of misdiagnosis in medicine today. It has been estimated that as many as thirty per cent of children typed as ‘epileptic’ when presenting with loss of consciousness, falls or other paroxysmal episodes have, in fact, non-epileptic attacks. The most common of these conditions, the vagalmediated anoxic seizure or fainting fit, is so frequent that it will be encountered by anyone involved in the practice of clinical medicine in its widest sense. These seizures are discussed in depth using original data and extensively reviewing the literature. Many other less common, but nonetheless important, varieties of fits, faints and ‘funny turns’ are self-induced by a Valsalva maneuver, and motor events ranging from day-dreaming to the effects of suffocation and brain swelling.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine N0. 109