Health Professionals
Food For The Brain
Food for the Brain
Parent and Teacher Conners Ratings of Behaviour in Focus Group at Baseline and Follow-up
This analysis involves the completed ratings of those children who participated in the Food for the Brain Schools Campaign at Chineham Park School in Basingstoke between September and December 2006, and whose scores were 60 or above on eating behavioural rating measured, indicating room for improvement.
Those items marked with * were significant at the 0.05 level
Those items marked ** were significant at the 0.01 confidence level.
Those items marked *** were significant at the 0.001 confidence level.
Parent and Teacher Conners Ratings of Behaviour in Focus Group at Baseline and Follow-up
This analysis involves the completed ratings of those children who participated in the Food for the Brain Schools Campaign at Chineham Park School in Basingstoke between September and December 2006, and whose scores were 60 or above on eating behavioural rating measured, indicating room for improvement.
Those items marked with * were significant at the 0.05 level
Those items marked ** were significant at the 0.01 confidence level.
Those items marked *** were significant at the 0.001 confidence level.
The overall score for ADHD symptoms (attention deficit hyperactive disorder)
improved dramatically with parents rating an 18% improvement and teachers a 9%
improvement.
On self-tests children with scores above 60 children showed less emotional problems, less learning problems, better attention and less hyperactivity and impulsivity.
THE TOVA TEST
The Test of Variables of Attention- Visual (TOVA) (Greenberg & Waldman, 1993) was used to provide a baseline, then later a follow up assessment, of nine focus group children’s attention and impulsivity. The T.O.V.A. is a computerized Continuous Performance Test (CPT), individually administered which was devised to assess normal and clinical population’s attention and impulse control. The test measures inattention (omissions); impulse control (commissions) and response times. Also time variability is measured. The test has accepted reliability and validity and is being used more frequently in research at the present time. The test also provides an ADHD score. The test is not used for the diagnosis of ADHD but gives an indication of whether an individual’s score lies within or outside normal limits.
Based on pre-test scores seven of those tested had a score that would have suggested ADHD and three had scores that were within normal limits.
Post test scores indicated that out of the nine tested only four remained in the ADHD classification and five has scores within normal limits. Of the four that had scores within the ADHD classification, two individuals had significantly reduced that score, one individual did not complete the test and one had a higher score.
Although the numbers do not really justify a statistical analysis, the results would indicate a significant improvement between pre and post testing on impulsivity scores which would suggest that the children are becoming less impulsive and becoming more effective in managing aspects of their own behaviour. Similarly, here was a significant improvement between pre and post testing scores in terms of response variability which would suggest that the children are becoming more consistent in their behaviour
On self-tests children with scores above 60 children showed less emotional problems, less learning problems, better attention and less hyperactivity and impulsivity.
THE TOVA TEST
The Test of Variables of Attention- Visual (TOVA) (Greenberg & Waldman, 1993) was used to provide a baseline, then later a follow up assessment, of nine focus group children’s attention and impulsivity. The T.O.V.A. is a computerized Continuous Performance Test (CPT), individually administered which was devised to assess normal and clinical population’s attention and impulse control. The test measures inattention (omissions); impulse control (commissions) and response times. Also time variability is measured. The test has accepted reliability and validity and is being used more frequently in research at the present time. The test also provides an ADHD score. The test is not used for the diagnosis of ADHD but gives an indication of whether an individual’s score lies within or outside normal limits.
Based on pre-test scores seven of those tested had a score that would have suggested ADHD and three had scores that were within normal limits.
Post test scores indicated that out of the nine tested only four remained in the ADHD classification and five has scores within normal limits. Of the four that had scores within the ADHD classification, two individuals had significantly reduced that score, one individual did not complete the test and one had a higher score.
Although the numbers do not really justify a statistical analysis, the results would indicate a significant improvement between pre and post testing on impulsivity scores which would suggest that the children are becoming less impulsive and becoming more effective in managing aspects of their own behaviour. Similarly, here was a significant improvement between pre and post testing scores in terms of response variability which would suggest that the children are becoming more consistent in their behaviour