Pediatric Language in the News:  Baby Talk Bonanza

Rett Syndrome in the News: Rett Syndrome Gene Dysfunction Redefined

[Source:  Science Daily]

Whitehead Institute researchers have redefined the function of a gene whose mutation causes Rett syndrome, a neurodevelopmental autism spectrum disorder. This new research offers an improved understanding of the defects found in the neurons of Rett syndrome patients and could lead to novel therapies for the disease.  

"The action of the MECP2 protein is just the opposite of how it was held for the past 15 years," says Whitehead Founding Member Rudolf Jaenisch, who is also a professor of biology at MIT. "It was thought that this protein globally repressed the expression of methylated DNA. What this work shows is cell

Prenatal Development in the News:  Babies Learn to Anticipate Touch in the Womb, New Study Reveals  

[Source:  The Verge] 

Talk Therapy in the News:  Two 90-Minute Group Sessions Help Prevent Mental Health Issues in Teens 

[Source: Medical News Today]

The incidence of mental health issues amongst 509 British youth was reduced by 25 to 33% over the 24 months following two 90-minute group therapy sessions, according to a study led by Dr. Patricia Conrod of the University of Montreal and its affiliated Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Centre.

"Almost one-in-four American 8 to 15 year olds has experienced a mental health disorder over the past year. We know that these disorders are associated with a plethora of negative consequences," Conrod said. "Our study shows that teacher delivered interventions that target specific risk factors for mental

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Feel Good Story of the Week: Jorge Dyksen, Quadruple Amputee Scores Against All Odds on High School Soccer Team 

A high school sophomore in New Jersey who is a quadruple amputee is motivating people both on and off the soccer field with his indomitable spirit.

Jorge Dyksen, 16, was stricken with an infection as an infant that prevented blood from flowing through his fingers and toes and the only way to save his life was to amputate both hands and both feet, his family recalled.

Despite becoming a quadruple amputee at just 14 months old, Jorge said he doesn't let anything hold him back. His message is simple: "Never give up."

Developmental Neuroscience in the News:  Improving Understanding of Brain Anatomy and Language in Young Children  

[Source:  Medical News Today]

Researchers from Brown University and King's College London have gained surprising new insights into how brain anatomy influences language acquisition in young children.

Their study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, found that the explosion of language acquisition that typically occurs in children between 2 and 4 years old is not reflected in substantial changes in brain asymmetry. Structures that support language ability tend to be localized on the left side of the brain. For that reason, the researchers expected to see more myelin - the fatty material that insulates nerve fibers and helps electrical signals zip around the brain - developing on the left side in children entering the critical period of language acquisition. But that is not what the research showed.

Stuttering Research in the News:  Brain Development Differs in Children Who Stutter    

[Source: Science Daily]

A new study by a University of Alberta researcher shows that children who stutter have less grey matter in key regions of the brain responsible for speech production than children who do not stutter.The findings not only improve our understanding of how the brain is built for speech production and why people stutter, but also affirm the importance of seeking treatment early, using approaches such as those pioneered by the Institute for Stuttering Treatment and Research in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the U of A, said Deryk Beal, ISTAR's executive director.

PediaStaff Therapy Placement of the Week:  Congrats Deborah P!  

Kudos to Deborah P., OTR/L of Indiana on her placement with one of PediaStaff's Early Intervention clients!

Deborah will be serving children ranging in age from newborn to three, and almost all of the therapy is done in home based settings.    She will be working 10-20 hours per week as her schedule permits.

Deborah enjoy your new  EI position with its flexible schedule!

"My Therapy Share": Instagram Fall Favorites Roundup and New Therapy Share: Halloween!  

A whole lot of great ideas were submitted to the "favefalltx" hashtag on Instagram.   So many fun shares going back and forth there.   If you haven't joined yet, come check it out!

Not on Instagram?  We have also cross posted all these therapy ideas to our Fall & Harvest Themed Activities pinboard on Pinterest.

Up next - Halloween!  Have you already posted Halloween ideas?  Tag them on Instagram with the 

Pediatric Therapy Activity of the Week:  Acorn Pumpkins  

Book Review:  "How Katie Got a Voice"  

App of the Week Gone Free:  FriendMaker - Social Skills App for Older Children (Based on UCLA's PEERS Program)  

Editor's Note:  This app is a companion to a book that we will be reviewing shortly, called  'The Science of Making Friends,'by Elizabeth Laugeson.   The app is free only until the end of October, and then the price goes up to $1.99 so grab it now!

All the social skills programs on the market focus on young children. What about teens and young adults?

The FriendMaker mobile app and the book The Science of Making Friends by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson distill guidance from UCLA's acclaimed PEERS program, the only evidence-based social skills intervention available for teens and young adults with autism and other social impairments. The app breaks down the process of making friends into easy, concrete steps-from choosing friends and improving conversational skills to online etiquette and handling teasing. The role-play videos