| New This Week on NASETNASET Special Educator e-journal December 2015
Table of Contents * Update from the U.S. Department of Education
* Assisted Therapy Dogs for Children with ASD
* Buzz from the Hub
* Intersection: Navigating the Road to Work
* Latest Employment Opportunities Posted on NASET
* Upcoming Conferences and Events
* Funding Forecast and Award Opportunities
* Acknowledgements
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| ADHD Medications Linked to Sleep Problems in KidsThe stimulant medications used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can keep some kids awake at night, a new research review confirms. The analysis, published online Nov. 23 in Pediatrics, found that children given stimulant medications for ADHD sometimes developed problems falling asleep and staying asleep. The medications -- which include drugs like Ritalin, Concerta and Adderall -- already list sleep problems as a potential side effect. But studies on the question have actually had conflicting findings, said Katherine Kidwell, a researcher at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who led the new analysis. Plus, it's common for kids with ADHD to have sleep problems, whether they're on medication or not. And some researchers have argued that medication may actually improve sleep, by easing ADHD symptoms in general, Kidwell said. To read more,click here |
|  NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT - Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET MembersThrough an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee. AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children. For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here |
| Study Highlights Health Risks For Those With Autism Researchers are warning that more attention needs to be paid to the overall health of adults with autism, with a new study finding them at greater risk for a host of maladies. Adults on the spectrum have higher rates of health conditions ranging from seizure disorders and depression to hypertension, high cholesterol, allergies and anxiety, according to findings published recently in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. "Although it has been extensively studied in children, little is known about health conditions in adults with autism," said Robert Fortuna, an assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics in primary care at the University of Rochester Medical Center, who led the study. "Greater awareness is needed to ensure that adults with autism are treated for conditions that are more prevalent with autism as well as conditions that are commonly encountered with advancing age." To read more,click here |
| First Year of Life Poses Highest Risk for Child Abuse: StudyThe risk of serious physical abuse is highest among infants under the age of 1, a new study shows. Researchers looked at nearly 15,000 children younger than 16 who were treated for severe injuries at hospitals in England and Wales between 2004 and 2013. Of those injuries, 92 percent were accidental, 2.5 percent were the result of fights and 5 percent were caused by abuse. Among children with abuse-related injuries, 98 percent were younger than 5, and 76 percent were less than a year old. Abuse-related injuries were more severe and more likely to involve the head/brain than accidental injuries. To read more,click here |
| Probiotics May Not Shield 'Preemies' From Serious Illness, Study FindsProbiotics don't protect very preterm infants from serious complications, such as a bowel condition called necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis or death, according to a new study. The findings challenge previous research that suggested potential benefits from probiotics, the British researchers said. Probiotics are good bacteria found in certain foods and supplements. The study included more than 1,300 very preterm infants. The babies were given either the probiotic Bifidobacterium breve or a placebo. This probiotic was used because it was the only one previously reported to show any benefit when the study began, the study authors explained. To read more,click here |
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| TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEKGuess the answer to this week's trivia question and we'll recognize you in next week's Week in Review.
THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What do actor/musician Justin Timberlake, olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, Super Bowl MVP Terry Bradshaw, singer Adam Levine, dancer Karina Smirnoff, radio talk show host Glenn Beck and heiress/TV personality Paris Hilton all have in common? All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, December 7, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. |
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| Study Quantifies Risk of Cardiac Arrest in Children During Spine SurgeriesAlthough the vast majority of pediatric spine surgeries are safe, a handful of neuromuscular conditions seem to fuel the risk of cardiac arrest during such operations, according to research led by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. A report on the findings, published in the November issue of the journal Spine, is believed to be the first to quantify the risk -- which is quite small -- of this potentially lethal complication among children. The findings, the investigators say, can help surgeons and operating room staff members better plan for such contingencies in high-risk patients. To read more,click here |
| New 'Collar' Aims to Help Shield Brain From ConcussionA new type a lightweight and pressurized neck collar may help prevent mild concussions during sports, according to the developers of the device. The collar, which weighs four to five ounces -- is designed to exert a minimal amount of continual pressure on the large neck veins that carry blood from the heart to the head, and back again. That slight pressure, which is similar to the pressure of a tie knot, triggers a slight drop in the amount of blood that flows out of the head. That leaves a little extra fluid in the brain, which helps cushion it in case of impact, the researchers said. To read more,click here |
| Infants with Blind Parents Pay Less Attention to EyesFor parents of young children, there are few milestones more memorable than that first word. But people communicate an awful lot to each other without ever saying anything at all. So, how do infants learn to communicate with the people around them nonverbally, through eye contact? Researchers have some new insight into this silent form of communication from an unlikely source: the sighted children of blind parents. To read more,click here |
| Obesity in Youth May Harm the Heart Long-Term, Even After Weight LossA new study finds that even if overweight or obese young women slim down later on, obesity-linked damage to the heart may linger for decades. The research shows that even formerly overweight women remain at heightened risk for sudden cardiac death later in life. So, "it is important to maintain a healthy weight throughout adulthood as a way to minimize the risk of sudden cardiac death," lead author Stephanie Chiuve, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, said in a news release from JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology. The study was published in the journal Nov. 25. To read more,click here |
| Melatonin Might Help Sleepless Kids With Eczema, Study FindsChildren with the skin condition eczema often have trouble sleeping. Now, a new study suggests that over-the-counter melatonin might boost their shuteye. Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is characterized by an itchy, red rash. It affects as many as 30 percent of all kids, more than half of whom experience sleep difficulties, the researchers said. These sleep problems can be difficult to treat in these children, said Dr. Yung-Sen Chang, an attending physician in pediatrics at Taipei City Hospital Renai Branch in Taiwan. Antihistamines can stop working after a few days, and tranquilizers have potentially serious side effects, Chang said. To read more,click here |
| Allergy and Asthma Sufferers Beware as Holiday Season Kicks InThere are a number of steps people with allergies and asthma can take to deal with the challenges they may face over the holidays, an expert says. "Two-thirds of allergy sufferers have symptoms year-round, so it's not just a matter of the first freeze hitting and your symptoms disappearing," Dr. Bryan Martin, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), said in a college news release. "Even after the pollen season dies down, there are environmental triggers to deal with -- things like mold, dust and pet dander. The winter holidays can bring a whole new set of triggers," he explained. To read more,click here |
| New Treatment for Type 1 Diabetes Shows Early PromiseA new form of treatment for type 1 diabetes that's based on the immune system appears safe for patients in an early trial. However, only a larger trial will show if the treatment -- which uses immune cells called regulatory T cells (Tregs) -- is effective against the illness, researchers said. If the therapy does work out, it "could be a game-changer," study first author Jeffrey Bluestone, a professor of metabolism and endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco, said in a university news release. To read more,click here |
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| Arsenic Exposure in Womb Linked to Respiratory Risks in BabiesBabies exposed to high levels of arsenic in the womb are at increased risk for infections and respiratory symptoms in their first year of life, a new study suggests. Researchers measured levels of arsenic in 412 pregnant women in New Hampshire whose homes had private wells. For a year after their babies were born, the women were surveyed every four months about the number and severity of their children's infections and respiratory symptoms, such as wheezing. Infants exposed to arsenic in the womb had more infections that led to a doctor visit or treatment with prescription medications, the investigators found. In addition, those exposed to higher levels of arsenic in the womb tended to have more upper and lower respiratory tract infections, as well as respiratory symptoms. To read more,click here |
| Early Childhood Bronchiolitis Increases Asthma Risk in AdulthoodPeople who have had bronchiolitis in early childhood have an increased risk of asthma at the age of 28-31 and a weaker health-related quality of life than their peers. In lung function tests, they also demonstrate changes indicative of irreversible airway obstruction, according to a new study. Bronchiolitis and pneumonia are common lower respiratory tract infections in early childhood. During their first year, around 30 per cent of children have bronchiolitis, leading to hospitalization in 1 to 3 per cent. To read more,click here |
| Parents Aiming Too High Can Harm Child's Academic PerformanceWhen parents have high hopes for their children's academic achievement, the children tend to do better in school, unless those hopes are unrealistic, in which case the children may not perform well in school, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. "Our research revealed both positive and negative aspects of parents' aspiration for their children's academic performance. Although parental aspiration can help improve children's academic performance, excessive parental aspiration can be poisonous," said lead author Kou Murayama, PhD, of the University of Reading. To read more,click here |
| Chicago Public Schools Reverses Special Education CutsChicago Public Schools officials have reversed course and will add dozens of teacher and aide positions for students with special needs. Earlier this year, school officials announced the district would cut special education positions. The Chicago Tribune reports (http://trib.in/1Nu6piz) that on Wednesday, district officials said an unspecified "flawed funding formula" and an appeals process led it to not only restore some of its earlier cuts, but add positions. District spokeswoman Emily Bittner said the result is that this year's budget for special education spending is "largely unchanged" from the last budget year. She adds that will mean ad increase in the district's budget deficit. To read more,click here |
| Caffeine in Pregnancy May Not Harm Baby's IQ, Study FindsModerate amounts of caffeine during pregnancy don't appear to be linked to a child's risk for lower IQ or behavior problems, a new study suggests. The research included nearly 2,200 women in the United States whose caffeine intake was measured during pregnancy. The pregnancies occurred between 1959 and 1974, a period of time when coffee consumption during pregnancy was more common, according to researchers from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Children born to these women had IQ and behavioral assessments when they were 4 and 7 years old. The researchers found no evidence that mom's caffeine consumption during pregnancy had any effect on children. To read more,click here |
| Greater Transparency Urged For College Disability ServicesAmid concerns from advocates, a U.S. senator is calling on federal education officials to make information about disability services at the nation's colleges more readily available. In a letter this week, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., asked the U.S. Department of Education to offer better guidance for those with disabilities and their families as they investigate postsecondary education options. "As colleges admit greater numbers of students with disabilities ... it is vital these students have transparent disability services information," Casey wrote in the letter addressed to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and John King, who is slated to take over Duncan's job later this year. To read more,click here |
| Kids Who Take ADHD Meds More Likely to Be Bullied, Study FindsTeenagers who take drugs like Adderall and Ritalin to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are twice as likely to be bullied as their peers who don't have ADHD, a new study suggests. The risk of being bullied is even greater if the teens sell, trade or give away their medicines, researchers found. However, the research also raises questions about why these kids are targets of frequent taunting or aggression by their peers. Is it teens' access to drugs that eggs on bullies, or something else? "I think it's fair to say that bullying is a potential risk that's associated with stimulant treatment for ADHD," said Quyen Epstein-Ngo, a research assistant professor at the University of Michigan Institute for Research on Women and Gender, and the study's lead author. To read more,click here |
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