Published: September 11, 2007
Difficulty in school isn’t always a sign of a learning disorder, it may just be a sign that a child’s eyes aren’t working properly.As an infant, Raea Gragg was withdrawn and could not make eye contact. By preschool she needed to smell and squeeze every object she saw.
“She touched faces and would bring everything to mouth,” said her mother, Kara Gragg, of Lafayette, Calif. “She would go up to people, sniff them and touch their cheeks.”
Specialists conducted a battery of tests. The possible diagnoses mounted: autism spectrum disorder, neurofibromatosis, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorder. Link to read this New York Times Article [continue reading…]
Published: September 10, 2007
A new initiative to help make schoolchildren happier and healthier has been launched in Great Britain. Experts from psychology and education at Sheffield Hallam University are working with schools and some children’s services in the region to create special programmes to look after youngsters’ mental health and well-being.
The most recent survey concerning children’s mental health indicated that one in ten children aged five to 16 have a clinically recognised disorder, such as anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorders and autism. That translates to 6000 children alone in the Sheffield area. [continue reading…]
Published: September 4, 2007
CHICAGO—An estimated 8.7 percent of U.S. children age 8 to 15 meet diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, but fewer than half receive treatment, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
“Despite widespread concern that the rate of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is on the rise, the national population-based prevalence of ADHD in U.S. children has not been firmly established,” the authors write as background information in the article. ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity, impulsive behavior and an inability to pay attention to tasks; the condition affects social behaviors and achievement at school and work. [continue reading…]
Published: August 23, 2007
Boys with difficulty reading actually respond better to female teachers, according to a new Canadian study. Research shows that boys develop higher positive self-perceptions as readers when they worked with female research assistants compared to working with male research assistants. [continue reading…]
