https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/4988 2026-04-12T18:47:59Z 2026-04-12T18:47:59Z Baldacchino, Tiziana Agius, Kristina https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/5133 2017-08-04T08:13:25Z 2014-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The effectiveness of social communication groups in mainstream schools Authors: Baldacchino, Tiziana; Agius, Kristina Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 10-week Social Communication Group (SCG) programme involving six children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The sessions were carried out at the mainstream school attended by the children. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the programme in enhancing specific social communication skills in each participant, as opposed to previous research on social skills groups where results were more general. The children’s social communication skills were rated pre- and post-therapy by the first author, parents and Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) to allow comparison. Feedback forms filled in by the LSAs and the first author’s own observations allowed ongoing evaluation of each child’s performance throughout sessions. Questionnaires given pre- and post-therapy to the parents and LSAs were expected to provide evidence of generalisation of social communication skills at home and at school. Qualitative and quantitative data obtained from this small group study indicated that this method of intervention was effective in enhancing the social communication skills of children with ASD. Although all the participants showed an improvement in their overall performance, specific objectives targeted through structured activities that were motivating and repetitive elicited a higher percentage improvement. Factors such as the children’s primary language, pre-therapy status and their understanding at conversational level seemed to have an impact on their individual improvement. Generalisation of skills acquired during therapy was limited since it depended on the commitment of parents and LSAs in implementing the goals of the programme at home and at school.

2014-12-01T00:00:00Z Galdes, Martina Gatt, Daniela https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/5132 2018-04-02T11:52:16Z 2014-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Speech and language skills of Maltese children with bilateral cochlear implants : three case studies Authors: Galdes, Martina; Gatt, Daniela Abstract: The purpose of this study was to document the speech and language skills of three Maltese children with bilateral cochlear implants. One child was simultaneously implanted and had a hearing age (HA) of 2;10 years at the time of testing, another was sequentially implanted and had a HA of 3;06 years, while the third child was sequentially implanted and had a HA of 5;03 years. Maltese standardised speech and language assessments were used to gather information on the children’s speech and language skills, with data being collected during their speech and language therapy sessions. Following data transcription and analysis, the participants’ speech and language abilities were compared to those of their HA- and chronological age (CA)-matched peers using available norms for Maltese children. Additional information regarding the children’s speech and language history prior to and post-implantation was also collected, providing a holistic overview of the participants’ speech and language development. Results indicated that the children presented with speech and language delay when compared to their CA-matched peers. Variations across the participants were found in specific language skills. Similarities in language patterns were also noted, including expressive abilities in advance of receptive skills. These findings extend the limited data on the speech and language skills of Maltese children with cochlear implants, with comparison to norms for typically-developing children being a novel approach to research in this area.

2014-12-01T00:00:00Z Grech, Chanelle Farrugia Debono, Roberta https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/5129 2018-03-06T07:16:40Z 2014-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The lived experience of persons with an amputation Authors: Grech, Chanelle; Farrugia Debono, Roberta Abstract: This paper presents an exploratory study of Maltese persons living with an amputation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four participants. Three of the participants had a lower limb amputation, while the fourth had an upper limb amputation. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used in the analysis phase. The three core superordinate themes that emerged from the data revolved around the emotional reactions towards the amputation, the numerous changes it brought to the participants’ lives, and the support which enabled amputees to cope with their situation. The study highlights the range of emotions experienced by the participants on having an amputation and the changes in their lifestyle. Support from family, friends, health professionals and other amputees was identified as a factor that helped participants cope and adapt to their new condition.

2014-12-01T00:00:00Z Velliou, Eirini G. Brito Dos Santos, Susana Fuentes-Garí, Maria Misener, Ruth Pefani, Eleni Panoskaltsis, Nicki Mantalaris, Athanasios Pistikopoulos, Efstratios N. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/5101 2017-05-31T08:23:19Z 2014-12-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Key environmental stress biomarker candidates for the optimisation of chemotherapy treatment of leukaemia Authors: Velliou, Eirini G.; Brito Dos Santos, Susana; Fuentes-Garí, Maria; Misener, Ruth; Pefani, Eleni; Panoskaltsis, Nicki; Mantalaris, Athanasios; Pistikopoulos, Efstratios N. Abstract: The impact of fluctuations of environmental parameters such as oxygen and starvation on the evolution of leukaemia is analysed in the current review. These fluctuations may occur within a specific patient (in different organs) or across patients (individual cases of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia). They can be experienced as stress stimuli by the cancerous population, leading to an alteration of cellular growth kinetics, metabolism and further resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, it is of high importance to elucidate key mechanisms that affect the evolution of leukaemia under stress. Potential stress response mechanisms are discussed in this review. Moreover, appropriate cell biomarker candidates related to the environmental stress response and/or further resistance to chemotherapy are proposed. Quantification of these biomarkers can enable the combination of macroscopic kinetics with microscopic information, which is specific to individual patients and leads to the construction of detailed mathematical models for the optimisation of chemotherapy. Due to their nature, these models will be more accurate and precise (in comparison to available macroscopic/black box models) in the prediction of responses of individual patients to treatment, as they will incorporate microscopic genetic and/or metabolic information which is patient-specific.

2014-12-01T00:00:00Z