WEEK IN REVIEW

NewNASETPublications and Articles of Interest in Special Education and Disabilities That Were Reported This Week

March 7, 2014 - Vol 10, Issue 10

Treatment Costs Vary for U.S. Children Born With Heart Defects

The cost of treatment for children born with heart defects varies widely across the United States, according to new research. And higher costs may not mean better care. The study found that surgical procedures to repair these defects in one hospital could be up to nine times more costly in another U.S. hospital. The authors say that treatment practices for these birth defects, which affect one of every 100 births, must be standardized to reduce costs and improve quality of care. "Before we conducted this study, there was limited information on the costs associated with caring for these children, even though this is one of the most common and expensive conditions treated across children's hospitals," lead author Dr. Sara Pasquali, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School and C.S. Mott Children's Hospital Congenital Heart Center, said in a university news release. To read more,click here

Use of Tylenol in Pregnancy Tied to Higher ADHD Risk in Child

Expectant mothers suffering from fever or headache may face a new dilemma when they open the medicine cabinet. Pregnant women who take acetaminophen -- best known under the brand name Tylenol -- might be more likely to have a child with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new long-term study suggests. Acetaminophen is the most commonly used over-the-counter medication for pregnant women who experience fever or pain. Children whose mothers took acetaminophen while pregnant had up to a 40 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with ADHD, according to the research, which involved more than 64,000 Danish mothers and their children. The kids were born between 1996 and 2002. To read more,click here

Could Childhood Nightmares Foreshadow Mental Ills as Teen?

Many young kids will have an occasional bad dream, but frequent nightmares or episodes of night terrors over a long period of time could be an early warning sign of mental illness, according to a new study. British researchers found children who experience persistent nightmares may be at greater risk for psychotic experiences, such as hallucinations, interrupted thoughts or delusions, by the time they are teenagers. "We certainly don't want to worry parents with this news; three in every four children experience nightmares at this young age," Dieter Wolke, from the University of Warwick in England, said in a university news release. "However, nightmares over a prolonged period or bouts of night terrors that persist into adolescence can be an early indicator of something more significant in later life." To read more,click here

Teen With Down Syndrome To Play For Harlem Globetrotters

Fresh off a stint with the Philadelphia 76ers, a teen with Down syndrome is being tapped to play with the famed Harlem Globetrotters. Kevin Grow, 18, will appear in a March 9 game with the Globetrotters at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. The teen and his dad will be seated on the team bench and Grow will take to the court as a 3-point specialist during the fourth quarter, the Globetrotters said. Grow came to national prominence when a video of him scoring four 3-pointers with his Bensalem, Pa. high school team went viral. To read more,click here

Common Asthma Meds May Raise Sleep Apnea Risk

Medicines commonly used to control asthma may increase the risk of a potentially serious sleep problem in some people, a small, early study suggests. "Inhaled corticosteroids may predispose to sleep apnea in some asthma patients," said study author Dr. Mihaela Teodorescu, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, in Madison. In sleep apnea, breathing periodically stops during sleep, for a few seconds or even minutes at a time, according to the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The pauses can occur as often as 30 times or more in a single hour. In the most common type of apnea, the airway becomes blocked or collapses during sleep. If untreated, apnea can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and other problems. To read more,click here

Fever in 1st Trimester Might Raise Risk of Birth Defects

Babies born to women who suffer a fever early in pregnancy may have a slightly increased risk of certain birth defects, a new review finds. A number of studies have suggested there's a link between fever during pregnancy and birth defect risk. The new review, reported online Feb. 24 and in the March print issue of Pediatrics, pulls together the results of past work and confirms that there does, in fact, seem to be a connection. But experts stressed that the reasons for the link are not clear. And even if moms' fevers do contribute to the risk of birth defects, it would be a very small increase in actual numbers. To read more,click here

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Kids Born With HIV May Face Heart Risks Later, Study Suggests

Half of teens who were infected with HIV at birth may face a higher risk of heart attack and stroke when they're older, new research suggests. "These results indicate that individuals who have had HIV since birth should be monitored carefully by their health care providers for signs of cardiovascular disease," said study co-author Dr. George Siberry of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Other research has linked HIV infection and certain HIV medications to higher risk of heart disease. This study -- published online in the journal Circulation -- examines the potential long-term risk for teens, although it only estimates risk and doesn't track the teenagers over time. To read more,click here

Are Kids Born to Older Dads at Risk for Mental Health Woes?

Children born to older fathers are at higher risk for various psychiatric and learning problems than once thought, a large new study suggests. Among more than 2 million children born in Sweden, researchers found that those born to fathers aged 45 and older were more prone to problems such as autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attempted suicide and drug abuse. Other problems include poor grades in school and low IQ scores. "We were shocked by the findings," lead researcher Brian D'Onofrio, an associate professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences at Indiana University, said in a university news release. "The specific associations with paternal age were much, much larger than in previous studies." To read more,click here

Gene Study Offers Clues to Why Autism Strikes More Males

A new DNA study begins to explain why girls are less likely than boys to have an autism spectrum disorder. It turns out that girls tend not to develop autism when only mild genetic abnormalities exist, the researchers said. But when they are diagnosed with the disorder, they are more likely to have more extreme genetic mutations than boys who show the same symptoms. "Girls tolerate neurodevelopmental mutations more than boys do. This is really what the study shows," said study author Sebastien Jacquemont, an assistant professor of genetic medicine at the University Hospital of Lausanne, in Switzerland. To read more,click here

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On-time Use of Routine Vaccine Keeps Kids Out of Hospital

Children who receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine according to schedule are less likely to end up in the hospital with any type of infection, a large new study from Denmark shows. The study appeared in the Feb. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. It looked at the order in which two types of childhood vaccines were given. Under the recommended vaccination schedule, children should receive DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccination at about ages 3 months, 5 months and 12 months, according to a journal news release. To read more,click here

One-Third of Young Stroke Victims Remain Disabled Years After: Study

One-third of people who suffer strokes before the age of 50 will have trouble dealing with the challenges of daily life even several years later, a new study finds. The finding suggests that younger age provides only limited protection against the devastation of a stroke. While strokes are much rarer in younger people, 10 percent of all strokes occur from age 18 to 50, the study authors noted. Dr. Steven Levine, an attending neurologist at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City, agreed. To read more,click here

Amputee's 'Phantom Limb' Pain Eased by Virtual Arm Technology

A unique way to possibly treat the intense pain of phantom limb syndrome has been invented -- by creating a virtual world for an amputee to enter via computer. Within that world, the patient controlled a "virtual arm" and apparently relieved his pain by tricking his brain into thinking his body was whole again, according to a new report. It's not clear if the virtual treatment will reduce pain in anyone else who suffers from the mysterious phantom limb condition, and no one knows if the effects are permanent. The cost isn't known, either. To read more,click here

Late-Stage Cancer Diagnosis More Likely in Uninsured Teens, Young Adults

Teens and young adults who don't have health insurance are much more likely to be diagnosed with advanced forms of cancer than other young people who do have medical coverage, according to new research. Late-stage cancer is more expensive and more difficult to treat, the study authors pointed out. The research, conducted by the American Cancer Society, indicated that adolescents and young adults have benefitted the least from advancements that have been made in cancer diagnosis and treatment. The researchers suggested that this is something that could be corrected. To read more,click here

Students' Health Habits Tied to School Success

Eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep and being physically fit are important for students' success in school, a new study suggests. When students' home and school environments support their physical health and well-being, they perform better academically, the researchers found, so programs in and out of the classroom to promote healthy behavior may be a smart investment. The study looked at survey results and district test scores of 940 fifth- and sixth-grade students attending 12 randomly selected schools in New Haven, Conn., a poor and ethnically diverse city. To read more,click here

A Better Test for Down Syndrome?

A new test that examines fetal DNA from a mother's blood is more accurate at spotting chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome than standard tests offered to pregnant women, a new study indicates. Scientists found that the blood test, known as cell-free DNA, performed up to 10 times better than other noninvasive tests currently used to screen for "aneuploidy" -- one or more missing chromosomes that can signal conditions such as Down or Edwards syndromes. Both can cause intellectual and physical disabilities. Infants born with Edwards syndrome rarely live beyond one year. To read more,click here

Crime Odds Nearly Triple For Those With Disabilities

The number of violent crimes committed against people with disabilities is on the rise, new government data indicates. The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics said Tuesday that there were 1.3 million nonfatal violent crimes against persons with disabilities in 2012, up from the roughly 1.1 million estimated for 2011. The findings come from the National Crime Victimization Survey, which is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and asks about experiences with crime - whether reported or unreported to police - among those age 12 and older living in the community. To read more,click here

Most Teens With Fibromyalgia Suffer Pain, Fatigue as Adults

Four out of five teens suffering from juvenile fibromyalgia will continue to have pain and other symptoms in adulthood, a new study finds. About half of these children will end up as grown-ups with full-blown adult fibromyalgia, the researchers found. "Half of the former teens we studied met the full criteria for adult fibromyalgia, and another 35 percent of them continued to have symptoms of fatigue, pain and sleep difficulty, but did not meet all the criteria for fibromyalgia syndrome," said study author Susmita Kashikar-Zuck, research director in behavioral medicine and clinical psychology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. To read more,click here

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Congress Eyeing Tax-Free Disability Savings Accounts

With significant public backing and support in Congress, advocates say federal lawmakers are poised to consider a major change to the money-saving abilities of those with disabilities. Just one hurdle remains before Congress is expected to take up the Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE, Act. The bill - which has lingered since at least 2009 - would establish special accounts to allow people with disabilities to save up to $100,000 without risking their eligibility for benefits like Social Security. What's more, under the plan, individuals could retain Medicaid no matter how much is deposited. To read more,click here

Teens Who Indoor Tan Often Take Other Health Risks: Survey

American teens who indulge in indoor tanning -- long linked to skin cancer risk -- are also more likely to adopt other bad habits, a new federal survey of high school students finds. "We saw that indoor tanning is associated with a number of other risky behaviors, such as illegal drug use, binge drinking and smoking," said study lead author Gery Guy Jr. "We also found that teens who tan indoors are likely to be very concerned about their appearance," Guy added. "That sometimes leads to positive behaviors, like engaging in sports and eating healthy foods. But it also leads to unhealthy behaviors, such as steroid use or extreme weight control." To read more,click here

MS Cognitive Rehabilitation: Task Meaningfulness Influences Learning, Memory, Research Finds

Kessler Foundation researchers have found that among persons with multiple sclerosis, self-generation may be influenced by variables such as task meaningfulness during learning and memory. They also found that type of task (functional versus laboratory) had a significant effect on memory. This is the first controlled investigation of therapeutic and patient-specific factors that supports the inclusion of self-generation in cognitive rehabilitation. The study was published in the January issue ofNeuropsychological Rehabilitation: An International Journal.Yael Goverover, PhD, OT, is a Visiting Scientist at Kessler Foundation. She is an associate professor at New York University. Dr. Goverover is a recipient of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Fellowship award (Mary Switzer Award). To read more,click here

Premature Infants Benefit from Adult Talk, Study Shows

Research led by a team at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University has been published in the February 10, 2014 online edition of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.The research indicates that premature babies benefit from being exposed to adult talk as early as possible.The research, entitled "Adult Talk in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) with Preterm Infants and Developmental Outcomes," was led by Betty Vohr, MD, director of Women & Infants' Neonatal Follow-Up Program and professor of pediatrics, along with her colleagues Melinda Caskey, MD, neonatologist and assistant professor of pediatrics; Bonnie Stephens, MD, neonatologist, developmental and behavioral pediatrician, and assistant professor of pediatrics; and Richard Tucker, BA, senior research data analyst. To read more,click here