Memories of Life as an Infant are Forgotten due to Rapid Pace of Brain Growth
The LA Times reported this month on research by Neuroscientists in Japan and Canada who recently conducted a series of experiments showing how more memories are retained with a slower pace of brain-cell generation. The results of these experiments were reported in the journal, Science suggesting the fast pace of infant brain growth is responsible for the forgotten memories of infancy. Read the article here.
Causes of Headaches in Pregnancy Need Closer Attention From Healthcare Professionals
A new review published this month in The Obstetrician & Gynecologist (TOG) says healthcare professionals should be aware of and alert to the more severe and rare causes of headaches resulting from underlying health complications. About 90% of pregnancy and post-natal headaches are tension or migraine related, though 85 different headaches have been identified. This study suggests that healthcare professionals must be more alert to the signs and symptoms of severe headaches that may have rarer causes to prevent avoidable complications. This review also stresses that imaging is safe during pregnancy. Read the abstract and Pdf here.
Many Infants Not Being Placed on Their Backs to Sleep
According to the researchers of this study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting, only about two-thirds of term infants nationwide are placed on their backs to sleep, and the rate is even lower among preterm infants. “Given that supine sleep positioning significantly reduces an infant’s risk for SIDS, it is worrisome that only two-thirds of full-term infants born in the U.S. are being placed back-to-sleep,” said lead author Sunah S. Hwang, MD, MPH, FAAP, a neonatologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and South Shore Hospital, and instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Data was analyzed by Dr. Hwang and her colleagues from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Read more.
Lower Verbal Test Scores Seen in Toddlers who Play Non-Educational Touch Screen Games
The objective of a recent study by pediatricians from the Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York was to examine if the use of touch-screen devices by 0-3 year olds was of any educational benefit to infants and toddlers. This study results indicated that there was no significant difference in testing scores between children who were exposed to touch-screen devices and children who were not, but that children who play non-educational games (i.e. Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja) receive lower verbal scores upon developmental testing. “Technology can never replace a parent’s interaction with his or her child. Just talking to your child is the best way to encourage learning” Dr. Milanaik said. Read the full article here.
Recommend Practices for Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education
On April 14, 2014 the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children published their “Recommended Practices in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education” providing guidance to practitioners and families about the most effective ways to improve learning outcomes and promote development of young children, birth through five years of age, who have or are at risk for developmental delays or disabilities. The current DEC Recommended Practices in Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education can be found here.
This News RoundUp was compiled and co-authored by Jean Kurnik, M.A.
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