Neuropsychology of Children in Africa: Perspectives on Risk and Resilience (Specialty Topics in Pediatric Neuropsychology)

Increasingly, global humanitarian efforts are focusing on improving the lives of children. And among the developing world, the African nations are particularly affected by extreme weather conditions, devastating pandemics, and armed conflict. Neurocognitive science offers significant avenues toward bringing needed aid to the continent while creating a template for helping children worldwide. The studies in __Neuropsychology of Children in Africa__ clearly illustrate how the brain develops and adjusts in the face of adversity. Contributors span assessment approaches and public health risk factors, and represent established topics and emerging lines of research, including biocultural constructs and genomic technologies. Together, these chapters argue for methodology that is culturally sensitive, scientifically rigorous, consistent, and sustainable. And although the focus is pediatric, the book takes a lifespan approach to prevention and intervention, modeling a universal framework for understanding neurocognitive development. Included in the coverage: * Assessment of very young children in Africa in the context of HIV. * Psychosocial aspects of malnutrition among African children. * Assessment of neuropsychological outcomes in pediatric severe malaria. * Neurodisability screening using the Ten Questions questionnaire. * The neuropsychology of sickle cell disease in West African children. * Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy for African children. As a guide to current findings or a springboard for new studies, __Neuropsychology of Children in Africa__ is a necessary reference for researchers, policymakers, and diverse professionals in global aid organizations, and across the discipline. Front Matter....Pages i-xx An Introduction to the Neuropsychology of African Children Within a Co-constructivist Paradigm....Pages 1-16 Approaches to Assessment of Very Young Children in Africa in the Context of HIV....Pages 17-36 Acknowledging Methodological Complexity in Assessing Children in HIV-Affected Communities in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa....Pages 37-68 Cognitive, Motor, and Behavioral Development of Orphans of HIV/AIDS in Institutional Contexts....Pages 69-93 Factors Contributing to the Psychosocial Adjustment of Ugandan Preschool Children with HIV/AIDS....Pages 95-115 Examining the Psychosocial Adjustment and School Performance of Ugandan Children with HIV/AIDS....Pages 117-138 Screening for Neurodisability in Low-Resource Settings Using the Ten Questions Questionnaire....Pages 139-153 Language Development in Sub-Saharan Africa....Pages 155-180 Psychosocial Aspects of Malnutrition Among African Children: Antecedents, Consequences, and Interventions....Pages 181-202 Assessing the Effects of Maternal Anemia on Child Development in Benin....Pages 203-214 The Assessment of Skill Learning in African Children....Pages 215-234 The Assessment of Neuropsychological Outcomes in Pediatric Severe Malaria....Pages 235-275 Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CCRT) for African Children: Evidence for Neuropsychological Benefit and Future Directions....Pages 277-297 Measurement of Cognitive Outcomes of At-Risk Children Using Novelty Processing in Rural Kenyan Children....Pages 299-312 The Neuropsychology of Sickle Cell Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa....Pages 313-328 Postscript: Towards a Universal Brain/Behavior Omnibus in the Neuropsychology of African Children....Pages 329-333 Back Matter....Pages 335-347 "Increasingly, global humanitarian efforts are focusing on improving the lives of children. And among the developing world, the African nations are particularly affected by extreme weather conditions, devastating pandemics, and armed conflict. Neurocognitive science offers significant avenues toward bringing needed aid to the continent while creating a template for helping children worldwide. The studies in Neuropsychology of Children in Africa clearly illustrate how the brain develops and adjusts in the face of adversity. Contributors span assessment approaches and public health risk factors, and represent established topics and emerging lines of research, including biocultural constructs and genomic technologies. Together, these chapters argue for methodology that is culturally sensitive, scientifically rigorous, consistent, and sustainable. And although the focus is pediatric, the book takes a lifespan approach to prevention and intervention, modeling a universal framework for understanding neurocognitive development. Included in the coverage: Assessment of very young children in Africa in the context of HIV. Psychosocial aspects of malnutrition among African children. Assessment of neuropsychological outcomes in pediatric severe malaria. Neurodisability screening using the Ten Questions questionnaire. The neuropsychology of sickle cell disease in West African children. Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy for African children. As a guide to current findings or a springboard for new studies, Neuropsychology of Children in Africa is a necessary reference for researchers, policymakers, and diverse professionals in global aid organizations, and across the discipline. " -- Library of Congress ​Increasingly, global humanitarian efforts are focusing on improving the lives of children. And among the developing world, the African nations are particularly affected by extreme weather conditions, devastating pandemics, and armed conflict. Neurocognitive science offers significant avenues toward bringing needed aid to the continent while creating a template for helping children worldwide. The studies in Neuropsychology of Children in Africa clearly illustrate how the brain develops and adjusts in the face of adversity. Contributors span assessment approaches and public health risk factors, and represent established topics and emerging lines of research, including biocultural constructs and genomic technologies. Together, these chapters argue for methodology that is culturally sensitive, scientifically rigorous, consistent, and sustainable. And although the focus is pediatric, the book takes a lifespan approach to prevention and intervention, modeling a universal framework for understanding neurocognitive development. Included in the coverage: Assessment of very young children in Africa in the context of HIV. Psychosocial aspects of malnutrition among African children. Assessment of neuropsychological outcomes in pediatric severe malaria. Neurodisability screening using the Ten Questions questionnaire. The neuropsychology of sickle cell disease in West African children. Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation Thera py for African children. As a guide to current findings or a springboard for new studies, Neuropsychology of Children in Africa is a necessary reference for researchers, policymakers, and diverse professionals in global aid organizations, and across the discipline. Spanning assessment approaches and public health risk factors, including biocultural constructs and genomic technologies, this book shows how the young brain develops and adjusts in adversity. The book takes a lifespan approach to prevention and intervention.