Disability and rehabilitation
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The aims were to (i) provide a German translation of the Melbourne Assessment 2 (MA2), a quantitative test to measure unilateral upper limb function in children with neurological disabilities and (ii) to evaluate its reliability and aspects of clinical utility. ⋯ The MA2 showed excellent subscale and moderate to almost perfect score item reliability. Implications for Rehabilitation There is a lack of high-quality studies about psychometric properties of upper limb measurement tools in the neuropediatric population. The Melbourne Assessment 2 is a promising tool for reliable measurement of unilateral upper limb movement quality in the neuropediatric population. The Melbourne Assessment 2 is acceptable and practicable to therapists and patients for routine use in clinical care.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the driving performance of drivers with autism spectrum disorders under complex driving conditions. ⋯ The performances of licensed drivers with autism spectrum disorders appeared to be safer in respect to car-following distance but were poorer in their response to challenging traffic situations. Driver education for individuals with autism spectrum disorders should focus on quick identification of hazards, prompt execution of responses, and effective allocation of attention to reduce lapses in driving. Implications for rehabilitation Drivers with autism spectrum disorders reported significantly more lapses during driving. Drivers with autism spectrum disorders were observed to be poorer in traffic scenarios requiring critical response. Driver education for individuals with autism spectrum disorders should focus on managing anxiety and effective attention allocation while driving. Driving simulators can be used as a safe means for training critical response to challenging traffic scenarios.