Babies Learn Words Differently As They Age, Researcher Finds  

Research has shown that most 18-month-olds learn an average of two to five new words a day; however, little is known about how children process information to learn new words as they move through the preschool years. In a new study, a University of Missouri researcher has found that toddlers learn words differently as they age, and a limit exists as to how many words they can learn each day. These findings could help parents enhance their children's vocabularies and assist speech-language professionals in developing and refining interventions to help children with language delays. 

Down Syndrome Study Sheds Light on Alzheimer's 

[Source:  Psych Central]

New research suggests the quest to understand the mechanism by which Alzheimer's disease impacts memory and cognition may be more complicated than previously understood.
 

University of Wisconsin researchers, including lead study author Sigan Hartley, Ph.D., and Brad Christian, Ph.D., looked at the role of the brain protein amyloid-beta in adults living with Down syndrome, a genetic condition that leaves people more susceptible to developing Alzheimer's.

Love Cariboo? Sign a Petition Asking Hasbro to Produce it Again 

It is difficult to find speech and language games which allow Speech Language Pathologists to target multiple repetitions within a single activity which also are very simple to play.  Cariboo is a popular game for children with articulation disorders as well as neurological disorders such as Autism spectrum disorders.  The use of variable reinforcement as well as a larger reinforcement at the end of the game makes it almost the "perfect" therapy game.  Approximately 5-8% of the population is considered to have some sort of speech or language impairment. 

Brain Differences in Autistic Males with Early Language Delay

[Source:  Medical News Today]
 

Language delay in early childhood can herald autism spectrum disorder. Now, a new study has discovered that such a language delay leaves a "signature" in the brain, through differences in brain volume.
 

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge in the UK, publish their findings in the journal Cerebral Cortex.
 

Lead author Dr. Meng-Chuan Lai, of the Cambridge Autism Research Centre, says:
 

Early Predictors of Autism - Self Regulation and Sleep Patterns

Researchers Decode the Foot Position's Role in Maintaining Balance  

[Source:  Medical News Today] 

Researchers at The Ohio State University have gained new insight into how the body moves when we're walking. They learned everything they needed to know by watching people walk naturally on a treadmill.
 

In normal walking, humans place their foot at slightly different positions on each step. To the untrained eye, this step-to-step variation in foot position just looks random and noisy. But in the journal Biology Letters, the researchers describe a mathematical model that can explain over 80 percent of this apparent randomness in the location of a person's next step, based only on tiny variations in the movement of that person's pelvis.

Featured Job of the Week:  Pediatric PT, Tulsa, OK  

Physical Therapist needed to work in a "therapist-owned" clinic setting the the Tulsa, OK area! 

Here's the details Work a flexible schedule where you determine the number on your caseload Client obtains referrals and lines up your schedule for you...NO marketing required Positive multidisciplinary team of professionals...like a family not just co-workers You are paid for the work you do...and very competitively! Solid support from team membersIf you are interested, have a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy, have an OK OT License (or eligible)....then we need to talk! 
 

Another Hot Job of the Week:  Peds Outpatient SLP - Salisbury, MD

Interview Question of the Week:  Ever Had to Advocate for Services?

Special Ed/School Nursing Idea of the Week:  "Make Sneezy"  

On the Lighter Side: Of Behavior  

Ideas of the Week: 5 Fabulous Fall Tree Crafts  

[Source:  I Heart Crafty Things]
 

Fall is my favorite season for so many reasons...the cool, crisp air, the fun activities and holidays and all the beautiful red, orange and yellow colors! Fall Tree Crafts are among my favorite this time of year and I wanted to put together a resource of some great fall tree crafts for kids. I hope you find some inspiration!

Pinboard of the Week: Halloween Themed Therapy on Pinterest  

Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year, and I believe I am hardly alone!    I just realized how much everyone loves it, when I noticed just how many great pins we have for you in our Halloween Themed Activities and Treats board.  We are up to 762 pins! 
 

Take Your Time and and grab a Pumpkin Spice Latte because you will need a while to peruse all the great language, sensory, fine and gross motor activities, sequencing, social stories and more.