Omega-3: Intervention for Childhood Behavioral Problems

Brain Cells Capable of 'Early-Career' Switch

[Source:  Medical News Today] 

Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered that the role of neurons - which are responsible for specific tasks in the brain - is much more flexible than previously believed.

By studying sensory neurons in mice, the Salk team found that the malfunction of a single molecule can prompt the neuron to make an "early-career" switch, changing a neuron originally destined to process sound or touch, for example, to instead process vision.

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Genetic Defect Linked to Visual Impairment in Dyslexics

[Source:  Medical News Today]
 

A risk gene for dyslexia is associated with impairments in visual motion detection, according to a study published May 27 in The Journal of Neuroscience. Mutations in the gene DCDC2 have previously been associated with dyslexia, and this study found that dyslexics with an altered copy of the gene are unable to detect certain types of visual motion.

Autism and CAS Often Coincide

[Source: Science Daily]

Over the course of a three-year study, 64 percent of children initially diagnosed with autism were found to also have apraxia. The study also showed that the commonly used Checklist for Autism Spectrum Disorder (CASD) accurately diagnoses autism in children with apraxia.
 

"Children with apraxia have difficulty coordinating the use of their tongue, lips, mouth and jaw to accurately produce speech sounds, so that each time they say the same word, it comes out differently, and even their parents have difficulty understanding them," said Dr. Cheryl Tierney, associate professor of pediatrics.

Backward Walking and Postural Control

[Source:  Clinical Rehabilitation via Your Therapy Source]
 

Clinical Rehabilitation published research on 30 children with spastic hemiplegia cerebral palsy to determine the the effect of additional backward walking training on postural control.  The intervention consisted of random assignment into two equal groups where both groups received a traditional physical therapy program for 12 weeks and the experimental group also received backward walking training which was provided 25 min/day, 3 days/week for 3 successive months.

Placement of the Week:  School Psychologist - Portland Metro

Hot Job of the Week: Occupational Therapist - Chicago, IL

Looking for a new opportunity? We have several Occupational Therapy positions available in the Chicago area!

We are seeking therapists for both school and clinic settings. Full-time, part-time, and even flexible positions are available!  

Featured Job of the Week:  Home Health Therapists - San Antonio, TX 

Come join our team of motivated and excited therapists and assistants who are working to make a difference in the lives of children in the San Antonio area! 

We are interviewing now to add an Occupational Therapist (OT), a Physical Therapist (PT), and a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) to our team of 60+. These positions will begin in the June/July time-frame! It is your choice to work Full or Part-time!

Resource of Week: Nat'l Report Offers Literacy Instruction Insight 

[Source:  Education Week]
 

Early-grades reading instruction has long been a central point of emphasis-and concern-for educators and policymakers. That's in large part owing to a provocative body of research showing that students who don't read with proficiency by the end of 3rd grade are far more likely to experience poor academic outcomes, including leaving school without a diploma. This Education Week special report takes a wide-ranging look at new efforts to address the challenges of early-grades reading instruction.

SLP Resource of the Week: Great Cleft Palate Info in Spanish  

[Source: Bilinguistics] 

Dr. Cate Crowley from Columbia University in New York has come out with some great cleft palate information in Spanish for parents as well as professionals in other countries. I contacted her when I went to Guatemala with Austin Smiles. I distributed her 2012 videos to parents and employees of the hospital there. They were wonderful for training many parents at once. She has come out with some new resources that we'd like to share.

Book Review:  Honey, I Smell Flowers  

[Source:  Lash & Associates]
 

"A mother's worst nightmare."
Those are the words so often used to express a mother's greatest fear that her child will die or be seriously injured. For Ruth Ann Bartels whose child survived a severe brain injury, she lived with this nightmare as she sat by her daughter's bedside fearing her death. Then came the questions of what her life would be like if she survived.
 

Her book is aptly titled, Honey I Smell the Flowers. She explains that these were the last words she spoke to her husband as they were traveling to warmer climates for their winter vacation. That was just before she got the phone call that her daughter Michelle had been badly injured in a car crash and was in an ambulance. The following days, weeks and months brought emergency trauma care, hospitalization, grueling rehabilitation, and endless appointments with specialists and therapists.

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OT Activity of Week: Find and Draw Summer Puzzle Freebie

[Source: Your Therapy Source] 

Here is a free sample page to challenge visual discrimination and visual motor skills 

Download it Through a Link on our Blog