July 01, 2024
- A new study has investigated factors influencing the age at which mothers first became concerned about their child’s development and the subsequent time it took to start services for children with autism. Analyzing 759 preschool-aged children with ASD, the researchers found that earlier maternal concerns were linked to having multiple children, the presence of a chronic condition, externalizing behaviors, and younger gestational age. These findings suggest that multiparous mothers might recognize developmental concerns earlier due to their experience with other children. Interestingly, race or ethnicity did not influence the age of first concern, indicating that awareness of ASD symptoms does not cause racial/ethnic disparities in service initiation. However, children from non-Latino Black or other racial/ethnic minorities experienced longer delays in service initiation, highlighting significant disparities. Conversely, children with a chronic condition or who were older at the time of first maternal concern received services sooner. The study concludes that first-time parents may benefit from enhanced education about child development. It emphasizes the need to improve access to early intervention services for minority groups to address these delays.
- A systematic review has recently evaluated the association between cannabis use during pregnancy and the risk of long-term neuropsychiatric issues in offspring. Researchers investigated 18 observational studies, analyzing data from 534,445 participants. The results indicated that prenatal cannabis exposure did not significantly increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), psychotic symptoms, anxiety, or depression in offspring. However, it was associated with a slightly elevated risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and an increased likelihood of cannabis use in the offspring. These findings suggest that while cannabis use during pregnancy does not pose significant risks for most neuropsychiatric disorders, caution is still necessary, especially given the rising potency of cannabis. Further research is recommended to understand these risks better.
- The American Institutes for Research’s Center for the Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research (CALDER) has just released an analysis revealing that approximately 8,500 fewer K-5 students in Washington state were identified for special education services during the pandemic, representing a 20-23% drop from typical rates. This trend, echoed by similar findings in Michigan, suggests that many children with disabilities missed crucial early intervention services during the COVID-19 school closures. While identification rates have since returned to pre-pandemic levels, the long-term implications are concerning. Delayed or missed evaluations can significantly hinder academic and developmental progress, especially for children of color and economically disadvantaged students who were disproportionately affected. The need for more special education staff further exacerbates the issue, posing significant challenges in addressing the backlog of unmet needs and potentially leading to enduring educational deficits for these students.
- Documenting Hope is presenting a unique dual-conference event at the upscale Omni ChampionsGate in Orlando, Florida, from November 15-17, 2024. The event includes “The Childhood Integrative Healthcare Conference,” a live CME event designed for health professionals, and “Adventures in Healing,” a comprehensive guide to restoring children’s health for parents. Over three days, hundreds of healthcare professionals and parents will come together for a series of insightful presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities aimed at improving and optimizing children’s health through integrative approaches.
