This study investigated environmental and family factors associated with daily television (TV) watching time among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) children. The sample included 225 participants (65 ASD, 160 TD) aged 3 to 6 years. Data were obtained through caregiver-reported questionnaires assessing socioeconomic status (SES), indoor play spaces, family interaction during holidays, and daily electronic device usage time excluding television watching time. Regression analysis identified non-television electronic device usage time (p < .001) and indoor space availability (p = .012) as significant factors associated with TV watching time, while SES (p = .095) and family interaction during holidays (p = .072) demonstrated marginal associations. The final regression model demonstrated modest explanatory power (adjusted R² = .11). Children with ASD watched slightly less TV daily (M = 1.88, SD = 1.57 h) than TD children (M = 2.03, SD = 1.26 h). Greater family interaction during holidays was associated with lower TV watching time among children with ASD, suggesting a potential role of structured family engagement in supporting healthier TV watching habits. Lower SES and limited indoor play spaces were associated with longer TV watching time. These findings support existing WHO recommendations regarding limiting screen exposure in young children. This study highlights the potential importance of family involvement and environmental factors in shaping TV watching behaviours, particularly among children with ASD, and supports the need for targeted strategies to encourage healthier media habits.

BackgroundNeurological disorders such as stroke, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis frequently cause sensorimotor impairments, limiting independence and quality of life. Pressure garments (PGs), originally designed for burn and vascular conditions, have gained interest in neurorehabilitation for enhancing proprioceptive input and neuromuscular modulation. However, their scope and effectiveness remain unclear.ObjectiveTo map current literature on the application of PGs in neurological disorders and evaluate their effects on sensorimotor function.MethodsA scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases and grey literature were searched up to February 2025. Included studies involved PGs used in neurological conditions and reported at least one sensory or motor outcome.ResultsTwenty-three studies were included, covering stroke (n = 7), cerebral palsy (n = 12), multiple sclerosis (n = 3), and Parkinson's disease (n = 1). PGs showed potential benefits in improving proprioception, motor control, and postural stability, especially in stroke and cerebral palsy. However, evidence for spasticity reduction and long-term outcomes was inconsistent. Studies varied in garment type, intervention protocols, and outcome measures, with common methodological limitations.ConclusionPGs may serve as useful adjuncts in neurorehabilitation to enhance sensorimotor function. However, further high-quality studies with standardized protocols are needed to clarify their clinical utility.RegistrationOSF https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/H9B27.

This study examined whether spirometrically measured forced vital capacity (FVC) is associated with one-breath endurance in typically developing children and adolescents, and whether this association differs by task. A total of 971 participants aged 8-17 years completed sustained /a/ and repeated /ka/ to exhaustion after maximal inspiration. FVC was measured concurrently by spirometry. A unified long-format regression model showed that endurance was longer for sustained /a/ than for repeated /ka/, and that age and FVC significantly predicted performance in both tasks. However, the FVC - endurance association was stronger for sustained /a/ than for repeated /ka/, whereas age effects were larger for repeated /ka/. No adjusted sex difference was observed for sustained /a/, whereas females showed longer repeated /ka/ endurance despite smaller FVC. Age- and sex-stratified values and capacity-adjusted residual flags support task-specific interpretation of one-breath endurance and may improve clinical interpretation of paediatric speech-breathing function. By separating respiratory capacity from task-specific endurance, this approach may help clinicians distinguish predominantly capacity-limited from coordination-limited patterns of reduced speech-breathing endurance.

BACKGROUND:Communication decline in dementia creates substantial challenges for caregivers struggling to maintain meaningful connections. Communication partner training (CPT) has emerged as a critical intervention; however, no comprehensive analysis has mapped the evolution of this research domain. OBJECTIVE:To conduct the first bibliometric analysis mapping the evolution of CPT research in dementia caregiving over four decades, identifying its intellectual foundations, geographic distribution, and emerging research directions. METHODS:We analyzed 1280 Web of Science-indexed publications (1981-July 2025) using performance metrics and VOSviewer science mapping to delineate trajectories, clusters, and networks. RESULTS:Publication output increased markedly after 2010, with the USA contributing to 42.3% of articles. The most-cited publications addressed broad caregiving challenges rather than CPT specifically, demonstrating that specialized communication interventions have evolved from foundational caregiving frameworks. Five thematic clusters emerged: (1) communication-centered interventions, (2) non-pharmacological symptom management, (3) psychological burden and cultural adaptation, (4) stress and institutional care transitions, and (5) digital platforms. Geographic analysis revealed a concentration in high-income Anglophone countries, with limited representation from low- and middle-income countries. Many regions with rapidly aging populations and high projected dementia burden, such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America, contribute relatively few publications to this corpus. The field has evolved from foundational work on general caregiving challenges to increasingly specialized communication interventions and recent digital innovations. CONCLUSIONS:This exploratory mapping reveals that CPT research has evolved from embedded components within general caregiving interventions into increasingly specialized programs, predominantly delivered face-to-face, with an emerging interest in technology-enhanced delivery. Future priorities include expanding research in underrepresented regions, developing culturally adapted interventions, and exploring hybrid delivery models to ensure equitable global access to communication support for dementia care. These priorities can guide funders, clinicians, and policymakers in targeting investments toward contextually relevant, scalable CPT models, particularly in low- and middle-income settings where communication support is underdeveloped.

PURPOSE:This study examined the characteristics and differences in the verbal and behavioral strategies employed by Chinese-speaking parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and parents of typically developing (TD) children. METHODS:Ten-minute video recordings of parent-child interactions were analyzed, involving 34 children with ASD (Mage = 4.77 years, SD = 1.46; 29 boys) and 31 TD children (Mage = 4.84 years, SD = 1.43; 15 boys) alongside their parents. Verbal and behavioral samples were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using EUDICO Linguistic Annotator (ELAN) and Computerized Language Analysis (CLAN) software to evaluate grammatical, syntactic, pragmatic, semantic, and non-verbal functions. The Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to compare the interactive strategies between the two parental groups. RESULTS:Parents in the ASD group demonstrated a significantly shorter mean length of utterance (MLU), greater reliance on gestures and labeling, and a higher frequency of behavioral directives compared to parents in the TD group (all ps < 0.01). In contrast, parents of TD children exhibited a significantly higher frequency of expansions, general responses, and questions, facilitating richer language input and reciprocal conversational engagement. CONCLUSION:These findings suggest that parent-mediated interventions for Chinese-speaking children with ASD should prioritize balancing developmentally appropriate simplified input with responsive interaction strategies rather than merely increasing linguistic complexity to better support child-initiated communication and joint engagement. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS:What is already known on this subject Previous research has established that parent-child interaction plays a central role in early language intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Parents tend to adapt their communication to children's reduced responsiveness by using shorter utterances and more directive strategies. Responsive parental behaviors, such as expansions and contingent responses, are consistently associated with better language outcomes. However, most evidence comes from Western language contexts, and parental communication strategies in Chinese-speaking families remain under explored. What this study adds to existing knowledge This study extends existing evidence by characterising the structure of parental communication strategies in Chinese-speaking parent-child interactions involving children with ASD. It demonstrates that, despite comparable amounts of overall linguistic input, parents of children with ASD show a systematic imbalance between adaptive scaffolding (shorter utterances, gestures and labeling) and responsive strategies (expansions, questions and imitations). The findings further identify a culturally specific pattern of increased gesture use in Chinese-speaking ASD families, highlighting language- and culture-dependent adaptations not captured in Western-focused research. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? The findings have direct implications for speech and language therapy practice with Chinese-speaking families. Intervention should focus on calibrating parental interaction patterns rather than increasing the quantity of language input. Speech-language therapists should support caregivers in maintaining developmentally appropriate scaffolding, such as simplified utterances, gestures, and labeling, while reducing excessive behavioral directives and strengthening responsive strategies, including expansions, imitations, and child-led questioning. These results inform culturally responsive caregiver coaching and support the integration of parent-mediated approaches into routine clinical service delivery.

Information and communication technology (ICT) is increasingly integrated into autism spectrum disorder (ASD) interventions to improve accessibility and personalized service delivery. However, the fast-growing literature remains conceptually fragmented, underscoring the need for a systematic mapping of research trends. This study examined the global research landscape, technological evolution, and thematic domains of ICT-based ASD interventions using bibliometric methods. A bibliometric analysis of peer-reviewed English-language journal articles was conducted using the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection (1971-January 2026). To ensure high thematic precision, the search strategy was restricted to the title field. Performance analysis and science mapping, including bibliographic coupling and keyword co-occurrence networks, were conducted using Harzing’s Publish or Perish and VOSviewer. A total of 398 publications from 57 countries published between 1971 and January 2026 were identified, with research output increasing markedly after 2015 and peaking in 2024. Publications were heavily concentrated in high-income regions, particularly the United States (45.98

Background: The use of pressure garments in post-stroke upper limb rehabilitation is controversial, with quantitative studies often conflicting with clinical observations and patient experiences. Occupational therapists, as key implementers, provide essential insights into their real-world effects. Objective: To explore occupational therapists’ perspectives, experiences, and decision-making when using three pressure garment designs (dorsal-double-layered and single-layered, both with 10% circumferential reduction, and placebo) in stroke rehabilitation. Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with six occupational therapists from an 8-week randomised controlled trial. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Four main themes and 13 subthemes were identified: (1) Therapeutic effects of the pressure garment, reflected in oedema control, influence on muscle tone, enhancement of sensory input, and improvement of motor function; (2) Real-world challenges in clinical practice, where patient adherence was the central issue, addressed through therapists’ guidance and feedback strategies; (3) Assessing patient suitability, involving a comprehensive framework of clinical presentation, personal goals, rehabilitation timing, and willingness to cooperate; (4) Evaluation and recommendations for the pressure garment, where therapists critically reviewed existing designs and proposed future intelligent, user-friendly improvements. Conclusion: Therapists’ reasoning links technology to patient outcomes, offering practice-based evidence to resolve research inconsistencies and guide clinical practice, research, and product development.

Background: Prolonged exposure to both occupational and recreational noise can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. This study aimed to determine annual noise exposure (ANE) levels among Malaysian young adults using the Noise Exposure Questionnaire and to examine differences in ANE by gender, race, and medical background. Methods: A culturally modified Noise Exposure Questionnaire was validated and distributed to 205 healthy young adults (mean age = 22.9, SD = 3.0). ANE values were computed based on participants’ reported frequency and duration of exposure, combined with predetermined mid-intensity levels for each activity. Test-retest reliability was assessed in 20 randomly selected participants after a 3-month interval. Results: The median ANE was 71.4 dBA (95% confidence interval [CI] = 70.5, 72.1). A total of 16.5% (n = 34) of participants exceeded the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health-recommended limit of 79.0 dBA. Subgroup analyses using bootstrap CIs suggested a possible difference in ANE between males (73.8 dBA, 95% CI = 71.7, 76.1) and females (70.5 dBA, 95% CI = 69.2, 71.3), with the wider interval in males reflecting the smaller male sample (n = 49). ANE estimates were comparable between racial groups (Chinese: 70.8 dBA, 95% CI = 69.7, 71.7; Malay: 71.9 dBA, 95% CI = 66.9, 77.5), though the considerably wider CI in the Malay subgroup (n = 25) limits the interpretability of this comparison. ANE was similarly comparable between participants with (70.9 dBA, 95% CI = 69.7, 71.9) and without (71.5 dBA, 95% CI = 69.0, 73.3) a medical background. Approximately 85% of participants reported never using hearing protection during motorized vehicle use, amplified events, and musical instrument playing. Test-retest reliability showed a moderate intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3 = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.22, 0.82), though the wide CI warrants cautious interpretation. Conclusion: Recreational and daily lifestyle habits among young adults may contribute to elevated noise exposure, increasing the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. These findings underscore the importance of promoting hearing health awareness and safe listening practices among youth to mitigate preventable hearing loss.

OBJECTIVE:Referrals to speech and language pathology are infrequent for people with Parkinson's disease (PD), despite speech and communication being often affected and greatly impacting their quality of life. This study investigated the knowledge, self-competence and challenges faced by speech and language pathologists (SLPs) in Malaysia when managing PD cases. DESIGN:Participants self-administered an online-survey in a cross-sectional study design. The survey consisted of 14 questions on current practices of SLPs with their patients with PD, self-perceived competence when assessing and managing PD and perceived barriers for catering to patients with PD. Inferential statistics were run on self-perceived competence across domains and their relationship with demographic/current practice factors. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse perceived barriers. SETTING:The survey was administered in English through Google Forms. PARTICIPANTS:54 Malaysian SLPs with at least one active case of PD in their caseload were invited via email and WhatsApp Messenger. These contacts were obtained from the Speech-Language Therapists Association of Malaysia (SPEAK), and snowball sampling was encouraged to recruit additional SLPs through other social networks. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES:To quantify Malaysian SLPs' self-perceived competence levels (assessed on 5-point Likert scales) in assessing and managing five key domains in patients with PD: speech, language, oro-motor skills, cognition and swallowing; and to identify the frequency and types of barriers encountered in clinical practice with patients with PD through structured multiple-choice questions. Secondary outcomes included quantifying current service delivery patterns (frequency of PD referrals, stage at referral, caseload size), multidisciplinary consultation patterns and confidence levels in managing rehabilitation risks associated with PD, all measured through structured survey items with categorical or ordinal response options. RESULTS:Most participants had 1-5 patients with PD in their active caseload, referred at a middle or advanced stage of the disease. The majority of participants felt competent in assessing and managing motor speech and language in patients with PD. Conversely, most of them did not feel competent in assessing and managing cognition in these patients, regardless of demographic factors or current practices. This difference was significant. Most participants also reported facing barriers such as health conditions or comorbidities, family expectations on the therapy outcome and the unavailability of a multidisciplinary approach. CONCLUSION:The study reveals that SLPs working in Malaysia feel competent in working with motor speech and language in individuals with PD. However, it highlights a need for additional training to address cognitive assessment and management as a crucial tool to boost functional communication in people with PD. The study also reveals a need for promoting a multidisciplinary approach.

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a relatively common cancer in Malaysia, particularly in men, but there is little research exploring its impact from the perspective of patients. This study sought to highlight experiences from the perspectives of male patients receiving treatment for NPC in Malaysia in relation to swallowing and communication. Nine males with NPC (age range 49–73) were recruited from a single hospital in Malaysia. Individual interviews were conducted by a trained undergraduate research assistant and guided by a semi-structured interview guide. Transcribed data from the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four key themes were identified: patients reported difficulties in swallowing which led to a loss of pleasure when eating, and a deterioration in intelligibility which led to a change in behaviour in talking and societal withdrawal. Most of the patients reported resorting to religion or finding support through shared experiences with other cancer patients. Male Malaysian patients of NPC in our study report life-changing swallowing and communication difficulties and consequent quality of life. This study highlights the need to inform intervention and to help manage the psychosocial sequelae. Speech and language pathology services are crucial for addressing swallowing and communication challenges in patients with NPC.

Background Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare, but allied health professionals’ (AHPs) perspectives on AI integration remain underexplored, especially in Malaysia. This study examined AHPs’ perceptions and preparedness regarding AI in Malaysian Health Practice. Specifically, it addressed: (1) AHPs’ current perceptions of AI technologies’ integration in Malaysian practice, (2) Preparedness of AHPs to integrate AI technologies into their professional roles, and (3) demographic and professional factors influencing AHPs’ perception and preparedness toward AI integration. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Shinners AI Perception questionnaire (14), disseminated via Google Forms through LinkedIn, Facebook, WhatsApp, and professional association mailing lists. Participants included speech therapists, occupational therapists, nutritionists, clinical psychologists, dietitians, audiologists, physiotherapists and counselors practicing in Malaysia. A total of 211 AHPs (86% female, M = 33.5 years, SD = 7.26; M years of practice = 9, SD = 7) participated between November 2024 and March 2025. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Spearman correlations. Results A majority (58.2%) of respondents believed AI could improve clinical decision-making, 61.5% agreed it could enhance patient care delivery, and 59.1% felt it could improve population health outcomes. Responses were mixed on AI's impact on professional roles and costs. However, 67.6% reported feeling inadequately trained to work with AI-specific tools in their practice, and only 34.3% were aware of existing ethical frameworks in their workplace. Conclusions AHPs in Malaysia recognize AI's potential benefits but report insufficient preparedness, ethical awareness and training opportunities. Addressing these gaps through education, institutional frameworks, and national policy initiatives is essential for effective AI integration in Malaysia's healthcare system.

Background: Negative public attitudes promote undesirable stereotypes and stigma in stutterers. Method: To mitigate negative attitudes, 403 respondents combined from 16 international samples filled out the Public Opinion Survey of Human Attributes-Stuttering (POSHA-S) before and after interventions to improve attitudes and were compared to 249 respondents from seven control groups. Investigators aimed (a) to replicate an extreme case of regression to the mean (i.e., "crossover" effect) reported earlier in larger combined samples in which respondents with high pre-scores ended with low post-scores, respondents with low pre-scores finished with high post-scores, and intermediate scorers were unchanged; and (b) to identify individual POSHA-S items related to overall attitude change and among the high and low scorers. Results: As in previous studies, stuttering attitudes improved in the intervention group but not in the control group. Intervention and control respondents demonstrated "crossover" but less than the earlier samples due to lower pre-post correlations. Item contributions to pre-post change and differences among the three change groups were inconsistent; however, high agreement items by respondents were less likely to vary than low agreement items. Conclusion: The "crossover" effect was replicated, and future research should explore its presence in other measures or conditions.

BACKGROUND:To examine the relationship between affiliate stigma, stress and perceived quality of life amongst parents of children with Down syndrome (DS). METHOD:Seventy-eight parents of children with DS completed the Affiliate Stigma Scale (ASS), Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) and Care-related Quality of Life (CarerQol) scales. RESULTS:Pearson correlations revealed that parents did not feel stigmatised for having a child with DS (M = 30.51, SD = 10.47) and reported a low caregiver burden (CBI Total M = 19.73, SD = 12.72). The relatively lower caregiving burden, challenges and future barriers in the DS group explained its lesser stigma, higher quality of life and greater happiness compared to the ASD and CP groups. CONCLUSION:Healthcare professionals who provide rehabilitation services to children with DS need to be more aware of the needs of families and caregivers and educated about how to best support them.

Introduction Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, with upper limb dysfunction being among its most common effects. Compression therapy has recently gained growing interest as an adjunct to other rehabilitation interventions for managing upper limb dysfunction among stroke survivors. However, the evidence for its effectiveness remains inconsistent and equivocal. Therefore, this systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of compression therapy in managing upper limb dysfunction in patients with stroke.Method A systematic search of databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PEDro, OTseeker, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform) will be conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies and relevant grey literature on compression therapy on upper limb dysfunction after stroke. Two reviewers will independently screen, select and extract data, with discrepancies resolved through discussion or involvement of a third reviewer. Outcomes of interest include clinical measures of upper limb function, activity, participation and safety (ie, adverse effects). Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 for randomised studies, the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Interventions for non-randomised studies. The certainty of evidence across types of compression therapy and outcomes will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Data will be narratively synthesised, and a meta-analysis will be performed if feasible. The review will be reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and will be conducted from September 2025 to December 2025.Ethics and dissemination This systematic review does not require ethical approval as only secondary data will be used. This review will synthesise the body of evidence on the effectiveness of compression therapy in managing poststroke upper limb dysfunction. Results will then be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication to inform research and clinical practice.PROSPERO registration number CRD42024625815.

ABSTRACTBackground and ObjectivesSome families faced difficulties accessing speech therapy in some areas of Malaysia and/or during the COVID‐19 lockdown. Therefore, parent‐mediated intervention could be one of the ways to solve this issue, as it has been proven to effectively improve communication skills among children with communication disorders. Hence, a Mandarin parental guidebook comprising a series of language stimulation activities was developed to explore the perception of parents of children with communication disorders, ranging from 3 to 6 years old, regarding the feasibility of (1) conducting speech–language home programs and (2) using a home‐based parental guidebook as a tool to deliver a speech–language home program.Design, Setting and ParticipantsSemistructured interviews were conducted with nine Malaysian parents of child (ren) with communication disorders, who fulfilled the inclusionary criteria. Parents had attempted the speech–language home program by using the guidebook prior to the interview. The participants were subjected to 45‐min to 1‐h interviews. The interviews were audio‐ or video‐recorded for verbatim transcription. Thematic analysis was used for data interpretation.ResultsFour main themes were identified: (1) ‘Golden Period’: a guidebook to deliver speech–language home program, (2) perception of the speech–language home program among parents of children with communication disorders, (3) challenges faced by parents when practicing speech–language home program and (4) suggestions for improvements: parent's needs. The themes informed the perspective of parents towards the user experience of the parental guidebook, the feasibility of the speech–language home program and their recommendations. Overall, participants conveyed positive responses on the parental guidebook.ConclusionsMalaysian parents face difficulties in accessing speech therapy because of limited numbers of SLTs, geographical barriers, financial constraints, availability of facilities and so forth. Findings could assist SLTs in adopting a family‐centred approach in their service delivery, thus increasing the cost‐effectiveness of their service delivery.

RATIONALE:Stroke often results in extensive neurological damage, leading to a wide range of rehabilitation needs and challenges, with upper extremity dysfunction being particularly prevalent. Although pressure garments have been used in the rehabilitation of children with cerebral palsy to reduce muscle tone, their therapeutic effects have not been thoroughly investigated in the field of stroke. AIMS:To determine the effects of pressure garments with varying designs on stroke patients' sensorimotor function and quality of life. SAMPLE SIZE ESTIMATE:A total of 165 participants is required (55/group) with an effect size of 0.125, power of 0.80, alpha level of 0.05, and adjusted for a dropout rate of 20%. METHODS AND DESIGN:This is a multicenter, double-blind, prospective randomized controlled, three-group trial. At three hospitals in Shandong, China, 165 patients within 1-12 months of stroke are randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive Dorsal-Double-layered 10% circumferential reduction (DD-10, intervention), Single-layered 10% circumferential reduction (S-10, intervention), or Single-layered 0% circumferential reduction (S-0, placebo) pressure garments. Pressure garments are worn for 3 hours in the morning, 3 hours in the afternoon, and 8 hours at night daily for 8 weeks. During the first 4 weeks, patients also receive 30-min occupational therapy sessions. STUDY OUTCOMES:The primary outcome is the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity to assess motor control. Secondary outcomes are the Box and Block Test (BBT) for assessing dexterity, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) for assessing muscle tone, Visual Analogue Scale for assessing pain, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) for assessing self-perceived upper extremity function, and 36 Item Short Health Survey (SF-36) for assessing quality of life. Measurements are taken at Time 1(Baseline), Time 2 (Week 4), and Time 3 (Week 8). DISCUSSION:The expected outcome of this study is that it can determine the design of pressure garments best suited to improve sensorimotor function and the quality of life of stroke patients. It can also extend the clinical value of pressure garments and help healthcare professionals make more targeted treatment choices for stroke patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06587308.

A substantial number of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience difficulties in performing visual-motor integration (VMI) related tasks and visual perception skills. Given the documented challenges in VMI and visual perception among children with ASD, limited research on VMI and visual perception in young children with ASD underscores the need for further investigation. We aimed to investigate the differences in performance on VMI and visual perception and their relationships between preschool children with ASD and typical development (TD). We recruited a total of 110 preschool children, including 60 with ASD and 50 TD children, with an average age of 60.7 months. Results revealed that children with ASD consistently showed lower performance in both visual-motor integration and visual perception compared to TD children. Notably, four-year-old autistic children showed an apparent difference in the spatial relationship scores from TD peers. However, four-year-old children with ASD had similar performance in VMI and visual perception tests compared to TD children. For five-year-olds with ASD, performance in VMI and VP was significantly lower than that of TD peers, except in the visual closure test. For children with ASD, VMI was significantly correlated with sequencing and complex processes in visual perception (e.g., sequential memory and visual closure), in addition to basic processes such as visual discrimination, visual memory, and spatial relationships. These findings highlight the need for occupational therapy interventions aimed at improving the VMI and visual perception abilities of preschool children with ASD.

PurposeThis study aims to explore the current practices and challenges faced by speech-language pathologists in three Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam) in assessing and treating multilingual children with developmental language disorder.MethodA survey was designed and administered to 110 speech-language pathologists across Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The survey contained 60 questions on current practices and knowledge of existing resources for assessing and treating multilingual children with developmental language disorder. Data were analysed to identify relationships between practices and demographic variables including country of origin, years of service, and speech-language pathologists' multilingual status.ResultCurrent practices reveal little knowledge and/or use of standardised tests for developmental language disorder across countries, but relatively high self-perceived competence when working with multilingual clients for Indonesia and Malaysia. However, several challenges were perceived across the board in practice with multilingual children, including socioeconomic challenges (i.e. costs involved for families and social status), insufficient training on the relevant topics, and limited access to appropriate tools and resources in their current practice.ConclusionFindings suggest the need for training and appropriate assessment tools to ensure the adoption of evidence-based service delivery for multilingual caseloads, minimising misclassification of developmental language disorder and boosting confidence levels in speech-language pathologists in Southeast Asia.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have predominantly investigated the impact of having a child who stutters (CWS) on parents and their associated parent-child relationship. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the perceptions of stuttering held by siblings living with CWS in Malaysia. AIMS:To explore the experiences of fluent siblings of Malaysian CWS. METHODS & PROCEDURES:A total of 10 fluent siblings were recruited (mean age = 13.40 years, SD = 3.23, age range = 7-18 years, four females) and semi-structured interviews were used to explore their perceptions towards their siblings who stutter, their emotional reactions towards their siblings, the strategies they use during communication breakdowns and how stuttering affects their relationships with their siblings. All interviews were performed using Zoom to allow data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. To avoid parental bias, all interviews were conducted without the parent's participation in the interviews. Interviews were conducted in both Bahasa Malaysia (Malaysia's native language) and English (the second most spoken language in Malaysia), depending on the participants' preferred languages. Each interview lasted between 20 and 25 min (mean = 22.8, SD = 2.56). Audio recordings were de-identified and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to explore the lived experiences of these siblings. OUTCOMES & RESULTS:Four main themes were identified: (1) how siblings perceive the speech of CWS; (2) the communication strategies used by siblings to repair communication breakdown; (3) the feelings that fluent siblings have about stuttering and how they cope with it; and (4) how the stuttering makes the siblings' relationships closer. CONCLUSIONS & IMPLICATIONS:This study's findings provide multiple perspectives on the perceptions and attitudes of siblings around stuttering. In addition, the study offers useful insights about the needs of these siblings and techniques for meeting those needs. These results have the potential to contribute to the existing knowledge base and assist speech-language pathologists and other healthcare professionals in working effectively with CWS and their families. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS:What is already known on the subject There is much research on caregivers' perceptions, reactions and emotions around their CWS. However, the experiences of fluent siblings living with CWS are rarely heard in research or clinical discussions. Currently, there are no studies related to the impact on fluent siblings and their perspectives conducted in Malaysia. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge This study explored the experiences of fluent siblings living with CWS. The findings provide an insight into how siblings perceive the CWS's speech, their communication strategies to repair communication breakdown, their feelings about stuttering and coping mechanisms, as well as how the stuttering brings them closer to one another. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? This study provides a variety of perspectives on siblings' beliefs and attitudes towards CWS. This can assist speech-language pathologists in providing holistic support to families of CWS. A deeper knowledge of how stuttering affects siblings is crucial to ensure a more effective family-centred approach to therapy and even more sibling support during the clinical process.