A Message From PediaStaff: Thoughts and Prayers for PediaStaff's Friends and Family in the Northeast

PediaStaff wishes all the best to those affected by Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy on the East Coast and their loved ones across the country.

While there have been a lot of comical photos and hoaxes posted on social media with "photos" of sharks swimming in New Jersey streets, and Godzilla marching from the river into the city, here is one that we have checked out best that we can that is NOT a hoax:

ADHD in the News:  New Tools Developed To Better Treat ADHD Patients In Early Stages

[Source:  Medical News Today via the Mayo Clinic]

Mayo Clinic researchers presented new findings on the early treatment of child and adolescent attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at the American Academy of Childhood and Adolescent Psychiatry annual meeting in San Francisco. They include a method to get better input from parents and teachers of children who are being diagnosed with ADHD for the first time - allowing for more effective treatment upon the first consultation. Researchers also showed how a tool can help clinicians better diagnose and treat children who have both ADHD and oppositional defiance disorder.

News from PediaStaff:  Find Us on Facebook! - Tips to Make Sure You Are Seeing Our Posts

On the Lighter Side:  You Know You Are an SLP When...

Handwriting Research in the News: Lined Paper and Letter Formation in First Graders

Thank You to Your Therapy Source for calling our attention to this study!

A recent study in the Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention assessed two groups of first grade students with the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment. The first group printed on a four-lined writing grid that included top, middle, base, and descender guidelines. The second group printed on double lined paper that provided middle and base guidelines only.

Disability Legislation in the News:  Man with Down Syndrome to Cast First Ballot Under New Arizona Law  

Read the Rest of this Article Through a Link on our Blog

Pediatric Anxiety & Pain Management in the News:  Amazing Case Study: Reducing Pain and Acute Anxiety in Children 

Editor's Note:  Thank You to Loren Shlaes, OTR/L of Pediatric OT for sharing this piece.   Six-year old Julia went into the ER at Boston Children's with a big gash in her head.   Yet due to sophisticated techniques employed by Dr. Baruch Krauss, she remarkably didn't even remember getting stitches!   If only every doctor or therapist could use the sophisticated techniques to help our kiddos through periods of extreme discomfort.  Read, Watch and Listen!!

[Source:  WBUR.org]

In May, my six-year-old daughter, Julia, smashed into our front door handle and got a deep, bloody gash in her forehead.

We rushed her, head wrapped like a tiny mummy, to the medical center at MIT, where we generally go for pediatric care. Julia wept while the nurse cleaned and examined her lacerated skin. After a short exam, she sent us to the emergency department at Children's Hospital Boston for stitches. "How bad is that, generally?" I asked, having never experienced suturing either for myself or my cautious, risk-averse,  

Autism in the News:  At Six Months, Development of Children With Autism Like Those Without 

[Source: Science Daily]

The development of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is much like that of children without ASD at 6 months of age, but differs afterwards. That's the main finding of the largest prospective, longitudinal study to date comparing children with early and later diagnosis of ASD with children without ASD. The study appears in the journal Child Development and has implications for clinical work, public  

App Review of the Week:  Monumental - Perfect for Stair Climbing 

Thank You to Your Therapy Source for this Review!

Here is a fun, free app to add to your iPhone or iTouch - Monumental.  It keeps track of how many stairs you climb using the phones accelerometer.  Holding the iPhone at your hip, you hit the GO button.  Start climbing the stairs. It will keep track of how many steps you climb.  When you have climbed the correct number of steps you reach the top of your destination and then you can see the view.  The first level is the Museum of Art in Philadelphia (Rocky Movie stairs).  So when you reach that level it shows you a view from the top.

OT Resource of the Week:  50 Fun Ways to Play with Tongs and How to Make Kiddie Chopsticks  

Holiday Activity of the Week:  Thanksgiving Following Directions  

I created this activity after seeing a similar activity that my mentor was using in speech therapy. It was a Halloween following directions activity, and I loved it so much that I wanted to create one for Thanksgiving. So many of my students are working on spatial concepts, so I thought this would be perfect!  

Pinterest Therapy Materials Blog of the Week:  Ms. Lane's SLP Materials 

Pinterest Pinboard of the Week:  Thanksgiving Themed Therapy Activities  

Upcoming Events:  Attention #SLPeeps Headed to ASHA: Social Media Booth Schedule is Up!