Empathy Research in the News:  No Relationship Between Contagious Yawning and Empathy 

[Source:  Psych Central]

New research suggests that contagious yawning is not connected with empathy, a finding that refutes earlier hypotheses.

Investigators from the Duke Center for Human Genome Variation discovered contagious yawning may decrease with age and is not strongly related to variables like empathy, tiredness, and energy levels.

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, is the most comprehensive look at factors influencing contagious yawning to date.

The researchers said a better understanding of the biology involved in contagious yawning could ultimately shed light on illnesses such as schizophrenia or autism.

Reading Ability in the News:  Levels of Key Brain Chemicals Predict Children's Reading Ability 

(Medical Xpress)-Reading-impaired young children have higher levels of the metabolites glutamate and choline in their brains, and these higher levels continue to be indicative of difficulties in developing typical reading and language skills, a Yale study has found. The study appears in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Although anatomical and functional brain networks involved in reading disabilities have been well characterized, the underlying chemical bases of these differences in reading development have been poorly understood. This study is believed to be the first to examine neurochemistry in a longitudinal study of children during the critical period when they are considered "emergent readers"-the age at which neurocircuits that support skilled reading and speaking are still developing.

Feel Good Story of the Week: Girl with Cerebral Palsy Learns to Walk with the Help of a Horse

[Fox 12 Oregon]

Four-year-old Abigail Fantz giggles and her curls bounce as she stands straight up on a moving horse. She's held in place by a team of adults, but she's not practicing a circus trick - she is in a unique therapy called hippotherapy (hippo is Greek for horse.)

Abigail has cerebral palsy and can't walk without a walker, but standing, kneeling, and sitting on a pony named Pippin is strengthening her trunk and her left side. Eventually, she'll be able to sit up and stand up straight and eventually walk all on her own.

Autism & Dyslexia in the News:  Irish Researcher Makes Challenging Discovery About Autism and Dyslexia  

[Source:  The Irish Times]

An Irish researcher's studies of how we integrate the inputs from our senses could provide new insights into autism and dyslexia, writes Claire O'Connell.

When you listen to someone talking in a noisy room, you hear what they say. But you most likely look at them too - seeing their mouth move could be the difference between understanding them and not.

And when you type, you not only touch the keyboard, but you see and hear it as you tap out the letters.

Our brains integrate inputs from several senses to figure out the world around us, and Irish researcher Prof John Foxe has been making inroads into understanding how that happens.

Stress Treatments in the News:  Smartphone App Reduces Stress for Anxious People   

[Source:  Medical News Today]

New research published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science suggests playing a science-based app on a smartphone for 25 minutes can reduce levels of anxiety in people who are stressed.

The authors suggest turning scientifically supported interventions into game apps offers a new way to attain measurable mental health and behavioral benefits for people who have high levels of anxiety.

Possible Clues to Autism in the News:  Kids' Sleep, Ear Troubles May Point To Autism    

[Source:  Disability Scoop]

Frequent ear infections and waking up multiple times per night are among a growing list of potential early signs of autism, new research suggests.

Kids who were later diagnosed with the developmental disorder were more likely to have trouble sleeping at 9-months-old, according to findings published in the Journal of Early Intervention. Such children also had a greater number of ear infections than their typically-developing peers.

On the Lighter Side:  A Little OT Humor 

[Source: PediaStaff]

PediaStaff Therapy Placement of the Week:  Mental Health OT, North Carolina  

Congratulations to Aaron B., OTR/L on his new position as a Mental Health OT with PediaStaff's client in North Carolina.

Our client provides therapy services in clinic, community and in home and works with children that have been neglected and/or abused.     This setting is only for the "big of heart."

Aaron's new position is full-time and offers medical, paid leave, and other fabulous benefits.

Way to Go, Aaron.

Featured Job of the Week:  Itinerant Travel Pediatric Physical Therapist - Juneau, Alaska!  

If you are looking for a life changing experience as a Physical Therapist, then look no further. Imagine yourself traveling the state of AK servicing school aged children in small towns and bush environments, communicating with native tribal communities, and providing therapy to children who would otherwise go without. Our client seeks a Physical Therapist who could thrive in this type of environment. The weather is sometimes very harsh, but the people you meet will warm your heart and leave an impression on you like no one else can.  The Physical Therapist would work from her home, very independently.  You would maintain your own 

Therapist Resource of the Week:  'Body Parts' (and 30 other types of) Picture Cards  

[Source:  ESL-Kids.com and Special-ism]

Thank You to the folks at Special-ism for the link to this treasure trove of over 30 categories of picture cards and resources including these free Body Parts Flashcards.   There are four sets of picture cards covering 25 parts of the body.

Please also enjoy this great post on Special-ismpost with a variety of ways to use these flash cards for auditory, olfactory, proprioreceptive, oral-motor, tactlile, vestibular, and visual therapy

App of the Week:  Mad Libs  

Remember Mad Libs?  They are still out there and are great for speech-language therapy. and are even better for laughter!  Thank You, @1sparklleslp on Instagram for the heads up that they are also available as a free app!

There are twenty-one free stories you can do up to three times.   There are in-app purchases to buy additional books of stories, but there is plenty to do before you would need to do that.   You can also always uninstall and reinstall the app and start over!

OT/Sensory Activity of the Week:  Spring Has Sprung: Mallard Duck Handprint Craft  

Gross Motor Activity of the Week:  Buggy Imitation  

Activity of the Week:  Secret Message Speech  

[Source:  The Speech Bubble]

Sometimes we need something different to spice our speech sessions.  So, when I saw this on Pinterest I had to try it in my speech room!

All you need is a white crayon, white paper, watercolors, and brushes.  I borrowed the watercolors and brushes from the fabulous art teacher at my school.