Articles tagged with Learning Disabilities
Researchers found that differences between pre-K reading-disabled children and their peers diminished by pre-first grade, except for phonological awareness. Phonological awareness skills distinguished the groups at Pre-K and Pre-1, suggesting this skill is a strong predictor of reading disability.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed a decision-making instrument called the Test Accessibility and Modification Inventory (TAMI) to address the issue of accessibility for students with special needs. The tool helps test developers apply principles of universal design to create more inclusive assessments.
A randomized trial of simvastatin on cognitive function in children with NF1 found no significant improvement, but a potential benefit in object assembly scores. The study suggests that statins may not be effective in ameliorating cognitive deficits associated with the genetic disorder.
Young songbirds babble before learning to sing, using two separate brain pathways for learning and production. Disabling these pathways reveals surprising similarities with human learning behaviors.
A University of Houston professor found a new side effect of lead exposure: obesity in male mice born to mothers exposed to varying levels of lead. The study suggests that the link may be related to testosterone or other hormones, and highlights the need for lower acceptable lead exposure rates for pregnant women and children.
Researchers at MIT have found that the body's innate ability to adapt to recurring stimuli can be leveraged to design more effective and less costly artificial respirators. By taking into account a patient's natural breathing rhythm, doctors may be able to minimize the need for induced sedation or paralysis.
A systematic review found that psychological counseling and learning coping skills can significantly decrease arthritis-related disability and improve quality of life. The study analyzed 27 randomized controlled trials involving 3,409 patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Neural prostheses aim to restore function through electrical stimulation to damaged motor neural circuits, exploiting brain plasticity to enhance treatment outcomes. By engaging the brain in a remediation process, devices can be designed to promote plastic adaptation and optimize performance.
Wright State University has received a $3 million grant to establish a new doctoral program focused on learning with disabilities. The program will train students to bridge the gap between disability, assistive technologies, and individualized learning pedagogy.
Research found low doses of BPA in female rats inhibit estrogen-induced synaptic connections, affecting hippocampal development and memory. High concentrations of BPA have been reported in pregnant women's blood, potentially impacting human hippocampal development and long-term effects on children's learning ability.
A study by Grant Butterbaugh and colleagues found that adult patients with left temporal lobe epilepsy were more likely to experience learning disabilities. The researchers suggest that medically treated but uncontrolled seizures in the language-dominant side of the brain may contribute to these findings.
A Penn State study suggests that student advocates and school districts can achieve their goals by agreeing on non-negotiable core values before compromising on issues. The study emphasizes the importance of dialogue, give-and-take negotiation, and acknowledging diverse social values.
This year's Wakley Prize essays share personal reflections from doctors and patients in Peru, highlighting the struggle to tackle tuberculosis despite financial constraints. The essays reveal how poverty draws a line between life and death for many individuals.
A new gene, BBS8, has been identified as being involved in Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by obesity, learning disabilities, and eye/kidney problems. The protein BBS8 is found only at the base of cilia, which play key roles in mammalian development.
A new, highly accurate breast cancer mannequin is being launched to assist women in spotting breast lumps and provide a unique training experience. The device features interchangeable breast implants and realistic skin texture, benefiting not only those with learning difficulties but also women from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Researchers will track students' math skills in grades 1-3 to identify early warning signs of learning disabilities and develop more effective teaching methods.
A new preschool curriculum, SPARK, uses repetition and arts to engage slow learners, promoting a love of reading. The approach, which includes activities like art, music, and make-believe, provides open-ended exploration and addresses specific disabilities.
A new study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that individuals with Down syndrome can continue to improve their language skills well into young adulthood. Language comprehension skills tend to plateau during late adolescence, while language expression skills continue to develop and even improve in some cases.
A meta-analysis of 320 studies found substantial overlap between learning disabled and non-disabled children experiencing reading difficulties. The researchers argue that using IQ discrepancy as a criterion for establishing learning disability can lead to unequal access to services.
A study of children's friendships in Ontario schools found that kids with learning disabilities befriended each other more often than those without. However, these friendships were often one-sided, with the child with a learning disability feeling closer to their non-learning-disabled peers.
Research by the March of Dimes has found that premature and low birthweight babies experience long-term learning difficulties in school. The organization's Perinatal Epidemiological Research Initiative aims to identify factors contributing to preterm births to prevent these problems.
Researchers have successfully reversed learning impairments in mice with a genetic disorder, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), using an experimental drug. The study provides hope for treating NF1-related learning problems in humans and suggests that a specific amount of Ras activity is crucial for learning.
A Mayo Clinic study found that approximately 80% of children with learning disabilities have primary academic issues in reading. The research suggests a higher incidence rate of reading disability among boys, emphasizing the importance of considering this diagnosis in differential diagnoses for children struggling with learning.
Despite computers and the Internet's potential to revolutionize information access for people with disabilities, progress has been slow due to a lack of investment from governments and industries. However, advancements in technology, such as accessible software programs and tactile graphics, hold promise for improving accessibility.
A recent study by Ohio State University found that premature birth is associated with a higher risk of learning disabilities, with 40-50% of affected children having special educational services. The research also identified behavioral issues in young children born prematurely, with those who struggled during testing being more likely ...
A mouse tumor model of neurofibromatosis type 1 has been developed, allowing researchers to study the genetic lesions that lead to malignant tumor formation. The study found that mutations in both NF-1 and p53 genes accelerate tumor growth, providing a potential target for new treatments.
A study of 393 male college football players found a link between multiple concussions and permanent neurological damage, particularly in athletes with pre-existing learning disabilities. Players with two or more concussions showed significant signs of long-term neurological damage, especially if they had an LD.
A new study by University of Washington researchers found that children with learning disabilities have difficulty retrieving basic information, leading to impaired ability in reading, writing, and math. The study suggests that specialized interventions may be required to help children overcome these different kinds of disabilities.
The grant will support government programs, non-governmental organizations, and local women's groups to improve access to emergency care. Researchers aim to reduce maternal mortality rates by up to 1 in 12, which can be dramatically improved with timely medical intervention.
A recent study found that the uterine environment can have a profound impact on cognitive behavior in mice. The researchers discovered that hybrid-uteri mice, which are born from non-immune mothers with transplanted BXSB embryos, demonstrated significant cognitive advantages over other groups.
A recent study found that premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are at a higher risk of cognitive and motor development problems. By 3 years of age, about 21% of BPD patients showed signs of retardation compared to less than 10% without the condition.
The University of Illinois is teaching grade-school kids how to cross streets safely using virtual reality technology. The study aims to find out which learning strategies are most effective for children with and without disabilities, as well as whether skills learned through VR can be generalized to real-life situations.
Researchers at UT-Houston Medical School discovered that growth factor TGF-Beta plays a key role in forming long-term memories. The study found that TGF-Beta produces stronger electrical nerve cell connections, similar to those observed in animals with enhanced withdrawal response triggered by behavioral training.
A linguist documents the development of a sign language in Nicaraguan deaf children, revealing that early exposure to language is crucial for its emergence. The study confirms theories that language is an innate human trait with minimal input triggering expression.