As practitioners dedicated to improving outcomes for children, understanding the nuances of school readiness in those with chronic cholestatic liver disease is crucial. A recent pilot study, Assessment of School Readiness in Chronic Cholestatic Liver Disease: A Pilot Study Examining Children with and without Liver Transplantation, sheds light on this important topic.
This study evaluated children who had undergone liver transplantation (LT) before the age of 2 and those with native liver (NL). Key findings indicate that children in the LT group exhibit greater neuropsychological difficulties, particularly in visual and motor skills, compared to their NL counterparts.
Key outcomes from the study include:
- Children in the LT group had significantly lower scores in visual constructional and visual reasoning abilities.
- LT participants showed higher levels of executive function difficulties, including inattention and inhibition.
- Parental reports indicated that LT children had poorer daily living skills and higher levels of internalizing problems, such as anxiety and low mood.
Based on these findings, here are some practical steps practitioners can take to improve school readiness for children with chronic cholestatic liver disease:
- Early Assessment: Implement comprehensive early assessments using psychometric measures to identify children at risk of neuropsychological difficulties.
- Targeted Interventions: Develop tailored interventions focusing on visual and motor skills to address specific deficits observed in LT children.
- Parental and Teacher Collaboration: Encourage regular communication between parents, teachers, and healthcare providers to ensure consistent support and address behavioral and emotional challenges.
- Ongoing Monitoring: Continuously monitor cognitive and emotional development to adjust interventions as needed, ensuring the child receives appropriate support throughout their early school years.
By integrating these data-driven strategies into your practice, you can significantly enhance the educational and developmental outcomes for children with chronic cholestatic liver disease.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Assessment of School Readiness in Chronic Cholestatic Liver Disease: A Pilot Study Examining Children with and without Liver Transplantation.
