Scientists Identify Possible Autism Gene Mutations

by Jacky G. News
Strand of DNA

Image source: Dribrook.blogspot.com

Few medical diagnoses are subject to as much debate as autism. The controversy over whether or not vaccines might cause autism still rages on with all the ferocity of a wildfire. One debate over autism might finally be put to rest: whether or not there is a genetic link that causes the condition. A group of independent scientists from the Yale University School of Medicine and other institutions have identified several gene mutations that drastically increase the risk of autism. However, this research is still in its infancy and it should not be considered a smoking gun. More studies are needed.

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An Interview with Jenna Rayburn, SLP

by Jacky G. Interviews
Jenna Rayburn M.A., CCC-SLP

Courtesy: Jenna Rayburn

Teachers are so important in a child’s life. A child will often cherish the memories of a really great teacher for years after they graduate. Kids with speech disorders who work with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) are no different. SLPs try to make speech therapy fun and exciting to help the child learn speech and language skills without it feeling like a chore.

Kids who enter certified SLP Jenna Rayburn’s speech therapy room are likely to play an articulation-oriented game of Candy Land, work with magnets to create stories and learn proper sentence structure, and play a whole host of other innovative games while reaching their speech therapy goals. They can even work on their articulation skills while playing Twister. Jenna Rayburn uses her incredible creativity to turn children’s games into speech therapy lessons, and she shares her ideas on her blog, Speech Room News. Jenna loves incorporating both classic games and new technology into her lesson plans. Read on to find out Jenna’s tips for parents who are new to speech therapy and those who are looking for fun ways to do at-home speech therapy exercises.

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Summer Camps Increasingly Popular for Speech Therapy

by Jacky G. News
Roasting Marshmallows

Image source: Fourseasonsacres.com

Summer is traditionally the time when wedding planners go into overdrive mode and parents look for summer camps for their rambunctious youngsters. Summer camps used to mean dusty cabins, trips to the lake, and marshmallow roasts. These days, summer camps are hiring therapeutic staff right along with canoeing instructors. Specialty summer camps to meet the needs of children with disabilities are popping up all over. You could send your child to a camp specifically for kids with autism, kids with arthritis, or kids who are hard of hearing. There are even camps for gluten-free kids with celiac disease. Speech and language therapy summer camps are also riding the wave of specialty camp popularity. The University of Iowa SPEAKS camp is a microcosm of this trend, showing steadily rising enrollments from its inception six years ago.

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A Quick Primer on the Mechanics of Speech

by Jacky G. Language Development
Woman Singing into Microphone

Image source: Softsupplier.com

When you use Speech Buddies, your child learns the correct positioning of the tongue for each sound. It provides tactile feedback to improve articulation. But how much do you really know about the mechanics of speech? Sure, the lungs expel air, the tongue moves, and there’s also a larynx in there somewhere, but there’s a lot more to speech production than you might realize. Here’s a quick primer in the production of speech and the parts of the body involved in the process.

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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

by Jacky G. News
Woman Studying Brain

Image source: Deceptology.com

Some of us prefer to wear eco-friendly vintage clothing in timeless styles, shun social media sites like Facebook, and take our vacations the old-fashioned way: backpacking. But those who prefer more modern pursuits that verge on science fiction-esque technology might want to check out the possible future of treatments for stroke and Parkinson’s patients: transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). In layman’s terms, TMS is the use of a magnet to switch on or switch off certain areas of the brain.

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