Telehealth is increasing in popularity in the United States, partly due to the pandemic. But some children with autism have difficulty sitting through these virtual appointments. Yet those visits can be a helpful part of a child’s ongoing medical care, and their convenience may help limit time away from work and school, according to the… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Backyard Fireworks on the 4th? Rethink It to Keep Your Child Safe
If you’re planning on shooting off fireworks on the 4th of July, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) urges you to find other ways to celebrate the holiday. “We know that sales of fireworks increased in 2020 as did injuries, so parents and caregivers need to be vigilant this 4th of July, and leave any… read on > read on >
Masks at the Gym: Uncomfortable But Not Unsafe, Study Finds
Wearing a mask while you exercise may be uncomfortable, but a new study should reassure gym-goers that it poses no actual health risks. “What we found was, that it is safe to run at peak exercise in both an N95 mask and a cloth face mask,” said researcher Dr. Matthew Kampert, of the Cleveland Clinic.… read on > read on >
How Much Should the Delta Variant Worry You?
The Delta variant of COVID-19 is upending any return to normalcy in some parts of the United States, with locales like Los Angeles County urging vaccinated folks to once again don masks indoors. Infectious disease experts said these places are acting with an abundance of appropriate caution, given that the Delta variant is more transmissible… read on > read on >
Another Fireworks Hazard: Loss of Hearing
Add hearing loss to the many dangers posed by fireworks. More than 40 million Americans have some type of hearing loss, and about 10 million of those cases can be attributed to noise, according to the American Academy of Audiology. Noise from fireworks can reach 155 decibels — louder than a jet plane taking off… read on > read on >
Key to Good Sleep for Toddlers Starts in Infancy
Introducing bedtime routines very early in life can improve sleep habits in the toddler years, according to a new study. Almost 500 new mothers were first surveyed when their infants were 3 months old. They were questioned again when the children were 12 months, 18 months and 24 months. The mothers were asked about their… read on > read on >
COVID Falls From America’s #1 Killer to #7 by June
A steep rise in vaccination rates has dropped COVID-19 from the first to the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, a new analysis shows. The disease was the third leading cause of death for much of 2020, but became the leading cause of death in December 2020 and early 2021, reaching a… read on > read on >
Gene-Based Embryo Selection: Are ‘Designer Babies’ on the Horizon?
The notion of parents picking out genetically perfect babies may seem like science fiction. But in a new report, a multidisciplinary group of researchers warn that some companies have already started to offer couples going through in vitro fertilization (IVF) the means to pick better embryos through polygenic scoring. Polygenic scores are a “weighted average… read on > read on >
What Drives Preschoolers’ Curiosity to Learn?
Want to hold a preschooler’s interest in learning something new? Give them just enough information to make them want to know more, a new study suggests. This creates the perfect mix of uncertainty and curiosity in children, said researchers from Rutgers University, in New Jersey. “There is an infinite amount of information in the real… read on > read on >
Fireworks Deaths Spiked in Pandemic; Stay Safe This 4th
The COVID-19 pandemic likely played a role in the 50% increase in deaths from fireworks in the United States last year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says. Many public fireworks displays were canceled last summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That led many people to light rockets, sparklers and firecrackers in their own… read on > read on >