Early Diagnosis of Dyslexia Critical for Early Intervention

News
Child with Dyslexia

Image source: Thesisinprogress.com

Dyslexia is a reading disability that affects the brain’s ability to process and interpret written language. Kids with dyslexia often require extra help in school, such as remedial learning classes or private tutors. This disability is often not diagnosed until the child begins to learn to read, typically in the first grade. But early intervention could improve the child’s academic progress. Now, researchers from the University of Padua in Italy believe that they have found a way to diagnose potential dyslexia well before the child learns to read. Early diagnosis may be possible with the use of evaluations of visual attention deficits. A second study, conducted by researchers from the Children’s Hospital Boston, have found another potential way to diagnose dyslexia in very young children: with the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Continue reading

Pregnancy Health Tied to Language Development in Babies

News
Depression and Pregnancy Health

Image source: Donna.tuttogratis.it

Whether you’ve previously been pregnant or this is your first time, you’re probably going to great lengths to ensure pregnancy health. But are you taking care of your emotional and mental health? The physical well-being of the fetus is closely tied to your pregnancy health. But now, a recent study has linked maternal mental health to the child’s language acquisition. Researchers have found that depression during pregnancy can negatively impact a baby’s early language development.

Continue reading

Teachers: Essential Questions About Childhood Speech Disorders

School
Special Needs & Childhood Speech Disorders in School

Image source: Scoop.it

Teachers are rarely in it for the money. Many list a desire to see kids succeed as their number one reason for teaching, despite the low wages. But some kids, such as those with childhood speech disorders, need a little extra help. Sometimes, the key to success in the classroom lies in making drastic changes, such as changing the entire physical landscape, as one school in Stockholm, Sweden did. When dealing with childhood speech disorders in the classroom, the best approach is collaboration. Because Open House nights rarely afford the opportunity for in-depth discussions with parents, teachers should instead schedule one-on-one meetings to discuss the child’s speech disorder. It’s also a good idea for teachers to meet with the child’s speech-language pathologist (SLP) to discuss how to best meet that child’s needs.

Continue reading

Solutions for Holiday Survival with Special Needs Kids

Speech Disorders
Holiday Stress with Special Needs Kids

Image source: Thedigeratilife.com

The holidays are an exciting time of year, but for families with special needs children, they can also be particularly stressful. Some children, such as those with autism, cannot easily cope with changes in routine, loud and overbearing relatives, and shopping-crazed Black Friday crowds at the mall. Other kids with articulation disorders and similar speech issues might become frustrated that they cannot communicate well with extended family members. Some families choose to skip the mayhem altogether and take off for a relaxing vacation in Costa Rica. But if Costa Rica isn’t in the cards for your family, consider these solutions for holiday survival with a special needs child.

Continue reading

Texting Dangers Extend Beyond Impaired Driving, Impact Language Skills

Language Development
Texting Dangers - Teens with Cellphones

Image source: Debaird.net

The holidays are right around the corner and the kids are begging for new smartphones. Buying a new phone takes a lot of research. Even with Black Friday coming up and crazy deals on iPhones, it can take some hunting around to find a great cellphone with a reasonable plan. But before you give in to your youngster’s pleas for a fancy smartphone, consider potential texting dangers like the impact it might have on his language development. According to a couple of studies, “LOL” is no laughing matter, and kids who text frequently place themselves at risk for texting dangers like poor language skills.

Continue reading