July 31, 2023
- New research from Japan focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early childhood development. The study revealed that children who went through the pandemic were 4.39 months behind in overall development at age 5 years; however, such a negative association was not observed in development at age 3 years. The negative estimate at age 5 years was significant, indicating a 6% delay compared with typical development. The authors suggest that the pandemic increased the amount of time parents stayed at home, leading to increased one-to-one interactions within the family, which may have offset the negative outcomes of the pandemic among the exposed cohorts at age 3 years. Their findings also revealed more significant variations in child development during the pandemic at both the child and nursery center levels, with social relationships with adults varying the most in both age groups. A higher quality of care provided by a nursery center was positively associated with development during the pandemic, especially at age 3 years. In addition, the authors discovered that parental depression amplified the associations between the pandemic and delayed development.
- According to a new meta-analysis, having congenital heart disease (CHD) may double the odds of being diagnosed with autism. However, the authors report that many children with CHD have certain traits that resemble autism but fall short of meriting a diagnosis, such as issues with the theory of mind and executive function, which includes working memory, cognitive flexibility, planning and self-regulation.
- A recent study from Australia reveals that early intervention therapy for infants showing early signs of autism could be a highly cost-effective measure. The study found that only 6.7% of children who underwent preemptive therapy at 12 months of age received a diagnosis of autism at age three, compared to 20.5% of children who didn’t participate in the program. Based on data from Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), researchers calculated that each dollar invested in early treatment would result in more than three dollars in savings in third-party payer costs by the time the child reaches 13 years of age. The study highlights the importance of identifying preemptive interventions that are efficacious and represent good value for infants who exhibit early behavioral signs of autism.
- The country’s largest retailer, Walmart, has recently created a more accommodating shopping experience for people with sensory disabilities. During special times leading up to the school year, Walmart will modify the shopping environment at most stores nationwide to make it more welcoming. This includes lowering overhead lights, turning off radios, and using static television pictures to create a quieter and less stimulating environment. The goal is to make back-to-school shopping more accessible to a broader range of customers. Walmart will offer sensory-friendly hours on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. until the end of August in some areas, and from July 22 to Sept. 9 in other regions. While most stores are participating, customers are advised to contact their local store for more information.
