Giriş ve Amaç: Sosyal ve iletişimsel kısıtlılık ile tekrarlayıcı ve kısıtlı davranışlarla karakterize bir nörogelişimsel bozukluk olan Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu’nun (OSB) sıklığı dünyada giderek artmaktadır. OSB tanısı konan çocuğun tipik gelişim gösteren yaşıtlarına göre gereksinimlerinin daha fazla olması, bu gereksinimleri karşılama sorumluluğunu da arttırmakta ve bu durum ailelerin hayatını zorlaştırabilmektedir. Bu araştırmada, okul öncesi dönemde OSB tanısı konmuş çocuğu olan ailelerin yaşadıkları deneyimlerin ve tanının yaşamlarına etkisinin derinlemesine incelenmesi hedeflenmiştir. Yöntem: Bu amaçla OSB tanısı konmuş çocuğu alan 19 anne ile yarı yapılandırılmış bireysel görüşmeler yapılıp, sonrasında veriler tematik analiz yöntemiyle kodlanmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmanın sonucunda, OSB tanısının aile ilişkileri, sosyal yaşam ve iş hayatı üzerinde yarattığı olumsuz etkiler ortaya konmuştur. Ayrıca, OSB tanısı konmuş çocuğun ve ebeveynlerinin günlük hayatta, okul hayatında ve sağlık hizmeti alırken yaşadıkları zorluklar belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Bu çalışmanın bulguları, OSB tanısı konmuş çocuğu olan ailelerin deneyimlerini ve yaşadıkları zorlukları derinlemesine anlama olanağı verdiğinden, alanda hizmet verenler ve politika yapıcılar tarafından dikkate alınmasının yararlı olacağı düşünülmektedir.

Background. Excessive screen viewing and background TV exposure are common problems all over the world. Therefore, intervention studies have gained importance. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of family-based, developmental pediatrics clinic setting counseling in reducing screen time in typically developing children and to compare them with neurodevelopmental disorders. Methods. Children (aged 24-62 months) who were exposed to screen viewing for at least 2 hours/day were included. Parents were given three counseling sessions to reduce excessive screen time. Parents reported daily screen time, co-viewing, background TV exposure, the duration of reading books and playing with their child. Results. The study included 105 children (median age: 34 months IQR:28-41). Before counseling, the screen viewing time and the percentage of co-viewing among typically developing children (n=22) and children with a neurodevelopmental disorder (n=83) were similar. There was a statistically significant decrease in screen time in both groups after the intervention. A higher impact was shown in the neurodevelopmental disorder group. The increase in percentages of co-viewing, as well as the increase in the time spent playing with their children, were statistically significant in the neurodevelopmental disorder group. Conclusions. The study demonstrated that three pediatric office-setting counseling sessions including media use recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics are effective to decrease screen time for children who are either typically developing or with a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Objectives: To examine sleep and behavior problems in children with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) compared to nondiabetic controls in a bridging country between east and west and to evaluate the interaction of sleep on behavior problems, maternal sleep, and maternal depressive symptoms. Methods: The study included children with T1DM (4–12 years old) and age/sex-matched healthy controls. Parents completed the Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), Children Behavior Checklist/4–18 (CBCL/4–18), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and a study-specific sociodemographic questionnaire. Clinical parameters regarding T1DM were collated from medical records. Results: Participants included 75 children with T1DM and 49 controls. Based on CSHQ results 65.3% of all participants in both groups had sleep problems. Children with T1DM slept less and had higher daytime sleepiness problems than controls (p=0.024, p=0.008, respectively). No association was found between CSHQ or sleep duration and mode of diabetes treatment (pump, multiple daily injections) or glycemic control. CSHQ correlated with maternal PSQI (r=0.336 p=0.004) and BDI (r=0.341 p=0.004) in children with T1DM, but there was no association amongst controls. Children with T1DM had higher internalizing problems compared to controls. CSHQ and BDI correlated with internalizing, externalizing, and the total scores of the CBCL/4–18 in children with T1DM (R²=0.260 p<0.001; R²=0.207 p<0.001, R²=0.381 p<0.001 respectively). In controls, only BDI was associated with internalizing, externalizing, and the total scores of the CBCL/4–18. Conclusions: Children with T1DM should be evaluated for sleep pattern and quality at follow-up, to identify those at risk for behavior problems and improve maternal life quality. Large longitudinal studies are necessary to assess the effect of new diabetes treatment modalities on sleep.