Latest news with #developmentaldelays
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Study Finds 96 Industrial Chemicals in Babies—Here's How To Lower The Risk
I don't know about you, but when I hear 'chemicals,' I immediately wonder whether there's fearmongering to follow, after all, even an apple is made of chemicals, if you understand science. However, in a recent study, researchers found chemicals that have the potential to cause serious harm, and they were most heavily detected in the youngest children. While the jury is still out on the exact effects, some of these chemicals are linked to developmental delays, altered hormones, and long-term health issues, with some specifically linked to cancer. The study involved a small sample group of only 201 children. Still, the numbers indicate a clear need for further research, and parents may want to take active steps to limit their children's exposure wherever possible. At this point, microplastics are so ubiquitous that our Barbie dolls are getting jealous. We have plastic in everything — our soil, our food, our air, and our bodies. Do we all remember ads from the American Plastics Council in the late 1990s, touting how plastic could do everything from protecting kids' knees to keeping soda contained to preventing dents in cars? It turns out that microplastics and the chemicals used to make plastic can also leach their way into our sodas, our baby foods, our bottled water, and more. Phthalates and other chemicals found in plastics were particularly prevalent. In cases where the researchers tested both the pregnant mother and, later, the child, the levels were higher in the child. One specific type of plasticizing chemical, organophosphate esters, or OPEs, is known to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to be neurotoxic at high levels. A 2017 study found that the levels of one specific OPE, diphenyl phosphate (DHHP), found in urine, directly correlated to developmental lags: 'Each 10-fold increase in urinary DPHP was associated with a decrease of 2.9 points in Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and a decrease of 3.9 points in Working Memory.' We aren't feeding our babies plastic, right? Right? Unfortunately, when we buy baby food packaged in plastic, or even make our own baby food at home and store it on our favorite plastic containers, or freeze it in plastic ice cube trays for storage, or prepare baby formula in plastic bottles with water poured from other plastic bottles, it turns out that we're pouring these chemicals into our babies, too. Even baby foods packaged in glass jars can still contain these chemicals, thanks to manufacturing processes! That's not all — phthalates, parabens, and other chemicals that could pose a danger to our kids are in shampoos, sunscreens, lotions, toys, and the pesticides we use to keep our food safe from insects. This doesn't mean you should skip the sunscreen! Some sunscreen ingredients may pose dangers but sunburn poses clear and definite dangers, so protect your baby's skin! The best choice is to protect baby's skin both by covering it (hats, shade, and rashguard-style swim tops), and by using the safest sunscreen choices, which means using sources like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and advice from your pediatrician, and picking the options that have the fewest parabens and other potentially harmful chemicals. We recently explored the best sunscreens for kids by age group, skin type, and other considerations. According to this latest study, kids with older siblings have higher levels of chemical contamination than firstborn children. The study also found higher chemical levels in 2-year-olds than in 3-year-olds and 4-year-olds, but the reason for this discrepancy is not entirely apparent. This could mean that older children's bodies are better at eliminating the chemicals, or it could be related to how younger children tend to put everything in their mouths, or there may be some other explanation. Also, kids from racial minority groups had higher exposure levels. Again, the reason is unclear, and with such a small sample size, it's challenging to draw clear conclusions; however, there's certainly an implication that marginalized groups may be more affected. Unless and until there's a significant societal shift (and a lot more research on the effects), everyone's children will be exposed to microplastics and the chemicals that make plastic. At this point, it's inescapable. That doesn't mean we're entirely powerless, though. We can still look for products with a lower risk of chemical contamination. Look for labels that say 'phthalate-free' and 'paraben-free.' Science Daily also advises specifically avoiding plastics labeled #3, #6, and #7, which may contain higher levels of BPA. Washing hands regularly, especially before eating, and washing produce that may have been treated with pesticides, are also helpful steps.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
AAP's New Genetic Testing Guidance Could Mean Faster Diagnoses For Children
If you're noticing delays in your child's speech or motor skills, you're in good company. The CDC reports that approximately 1 in 12 children will exhibit such signs between the ages of 3 and 17. Then begins a very long process. First, you share your concerns with your pediatrician, and then you may spend years focused on symptoms without knowing the root cause. While speech therapy, play therapy, and physical therapy are wonderful and valuable tools, you also want to know exactly what's going on, and the newest guidelines may get you there faster. The American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending genetic testing when signs indicate a genetic disorder, which can lead to better treatment and greater clarity for the family's future. The most basic and direct reason that genetic testing matters is for treatment. While many genetic disorders may have initial symptoms (like developmental delays) that look similar to one another, the treatment can vary. Medical science is currently working on gene therapies (such as the one that is currently showing early success in treating a child with CPS1 deficiency in a recent breakthrough) that may eventually be a cure for some disorders. For others, the treatment that is effective in reducing symptoms can depend on the cause, and genetic screening allows a doctor to target your child's symptoms with the most effective care. Further, genetic testing can help predict the trajectory of your child's health and guide you in family planning decisions by helping determine the likelihood of similar conditions in your child's potential siblings. The new report from the AAP, which will be published in the July issue of Pediatrics, encourages doctors to initiate genetic testing promptly if symptoms warrant it, rather than delaying and monitoring symptoms for changes or starting with narrower tests that may only screen for one genetic cause at a time. This starts with a 'phenotype-driven approach,' which is what you're used to in a doctor's office. A phenotype is essentially a trait that you can see, presumed to be caused by genetics; a genotype is the actual genetic information that causes that trait. First, your doctor would take a family history and carry out relevant tests, such as MRIs, vision and hearing tests, as well as other outward observations of growth and development. Then, as soon as the testing indicated, they would move on to a genetic screening, which could affirm or rule out conditions like Fragile X Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, and Angelman Syndrome. The significant difference lies in the push to move quickly to broad genetic screening. Katherine Stueland, President and CEO of GeneDx, notes that this could 'slash the average five-year diagnostic odyssey to a fraction of that time, drive down healthcare costs, and, most importantly, change children's lives sooner.' This shift represents an overall acknowledgment in the medical field that early genetic testing is the future and will bring about faster diagnoses and more accurate treatment. Britt Johnson, PhD, FACMG, and SVP of Medical Affairs at GeneDx, told Parenting Patch: 'The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommending exome and genome sequencing as first-line tests for children with global developmental delay (GDD) or intellectual disability (ID) is a significant advancement for both pediatrics and precision medicine. This update reflects the growing evidence that these tests offer higher diagnostic yield and are more cost-effective when used early in the diagnostic process, a major win for both families and healthcare providers. For parents, this marks a powerful shift: pediatricians can now initiate advanced genetic testing sooner, helping to end long periods of uncertainty and misdiagnosis. Earlier access to comprehensive genomic testing means faster answers, more informed care, and potentially earlier interventions and treatments. With these updates, we can now give every child a better chance at a healthy future. The AAP's update will have a lasting impact on pediatric care and outcomes. GeneDx is committed to supporting this shift by helping educate pediatricians and equipping them with the tools and technology to provide timely, accurate diagnoses. Exome and genome sequencing are no longer tests of last resort—they are the new standard of care – and we're proud to help lead this next chapter in improving children's health.' With these new standards being published in July, parents can expect to begin seeing the effects in their pediatricians' offices in coming months and years. Health insurance companies are beginning to broaden their coverage for genetic screenings. While they may have previously covered one or two narrow genetic tests at a time, many companies are now moving to cover broader genome sequencing that can provide more thorough answers more quickly. Adding the latest AAP guidance may mean that, in the near future, families are less likely to receive surprise bills or face pushback from their health insurance companies regarding whether genetic screening is covered. As genetic testing increasingly becomes the standard for diagnostics, insurance companies may require fewer extra steps, referrals, and authorizations before approving it, and pricing typically becomes more accessible, including for families reliant on programs like Medicaid.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Film spotlights infant learning program successes in Mat-Su — and potential cost of underfunding it
Melissa Lewis holds her three-month-old baby Twila at a screening and event in support of Alaska infant learning programs at the Gold Town Theater in Juneau on Apr 29, 2025. She said while her baby is not showing signs of delays or needing intervention services, they attended the event to support the cause and more state funding and support for early childhood programs. (Photo by Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon) It was a pediatrician that first referred Laura Perez, now a mother of four, to an infant learning program in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough for her first son, who at almost 2 years old was showing some signs of developmental delays. 'It was more subtle with my oldest, but as it turned out, he was autistic, but he's smart as a whip,' she said. Not only was Perez able to receive support from a developmental specialist for him, but also to enroll his next three siblings at earlier ages, in the following years. 'They caught some of the social, emotional issues my oldest was having, and they caught some physical issues that with my second child, he's got wonky ankles, which was, causing him to be a lot more clumsy. And … you know, I'm not a medical person,' she said. 'It's done so much good. It helped catch so much more, so much faster, and the faster you can intervene, the better the outcomes are.' Infant learning programs provide early intervention services for families and children, from infancy to age 3, who are experiencing developmental delays. Interventions can include play and movement therapies, as well as language stimulation techniques, for children. In addition, parents can receive education and training on child development. An estimated 1,800 Alaskan families are served each year by 17 infant learning programs across the state, funded by the state of Alaska and federal Medicaid, at no cost to families. Perez and her family received support with speech, physical and occupational therapies. She said her second child is now an active prekindergartner at Big Lake Elementary. 'He's doing math! He's throwing multiplication at us,' she said, laughing. 'I'm like, you just turned 5, sir.' Perez joined a group of advocates in Juneau to meet with legislators and attend the debut of a new short film that shows a week in the life of the staff at the Mat-Su Services for Children and Adults Inc. infant learning program. The April 29 screening drew a large crowd to the Gold Town Theater, including over a dozen lawmakers from Anchorage and the Mat-Su regions. Advocates are urging legislators to pass Senate Bill 178, to expand eligibility, and increase state general funds for these programs. Yulia Smith, a developmental specialist with the Mat-Su Valley infant learning program, and subject of the short film about the program, is seen in a playroom with a young participant (Photo courtesy of Joshua Albeza Branstetter) The film — made by filmmaker Joshua Albeza Branstetter — follows Yulia Smith, a developmental specialist making house calls in Mat-Su, sitting on floors with toddlers, and talking with mothers rocking infants. She discusses successes of early interventions, and ongoing challenges for the infant learning program. 'Really, the beauty of this work is we get to influence the life of a child in the very first few years of their life,' Smith said. 'There's so much we can do with early intervention to influence that further life of a child. … And it all starts from when you're born, really.' Smith herself became a developmental specialist after receiving services from the Mat-Su program for her son, who was later diagnosed with autism. She wanted to become one of the specialists and supporters for families like hers. 'Because I had never known what autism was until then. And I was growing through quite a grieving process, in terms of what does that mean for my son and my family,' she said. 'Now looking back, I needed her as much as my son needed her. And I wanted to do that for other families.' Under current state law, infants and toddlers must show a 50% delay to be eligible for infant learning programs. Smith describes how that forces the Mat-Su program to turn families away, telling them to come back in six months for reevaluation, sensitive weeks and months in a child's brain development. Under the new proposed legislation, eligibility would be changed to a 25% delay, so that more children and families would be eligible for these types of interventions. Laura Norton-Cruz is a social worker and executive producer of the film, which was funded by the Mat-Su Health Foundation. She said expanding eligibility would open services to families. It would also reinstate eligibility for babies born prematurely or with low birth weight, after the state changed the guidance to remove them last year. 'I witnessed that when we were filming. They went and visited a child in foster care who had been exposed to alcohol prenatally,' Norton-Cruz said, and he did not meet the 50% delay eligibility requirement at 1 year old. 'So he had to be un-enrolled from the services, despite the services having made a really significant difference in his first 12 months, because he had been enrolled out of the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). So they helped him, and then they had to let him go. And a lot of those families who get un-enrolled come back, and they come back with more significant delays.' The film also shows staff grappling with heavy case loads, back-to-back home visits, and discussion of the growing demand from families, as the Mat-Su has the fastest growing population in the state. Advocates and families are urging lawmakers to increase state funding for infant learning programs, which is funded through the Alaska Department of Health at $7.4 million in state funding last year. 'It hasn't been increased in 11 years,' Norton-Cruz said. 'So the amount that the state provides has stayed the same, while costs have gone up. … In rural regions, airplane costs have gone up. Health insurance costs have gotten up. And the funding has remained flat.' This year, the Alaska House added $5.7 million to early intervention and infant learning programs, but that addition was deleted by the Senate Finance Committee in its version of the operating budget. Committee leaders have said they are aiming to constrain spending in preparation for several financial challenges they expect the state to face over the next year. Norton-Cruz said an increase to infant learning programs would be an essential investment that legislators should fight for this year on a final budget vote. 'If they continue to flat fund, it is a divestment, right, especially as federal funds disappear,' she said. '(It) is a divestment from children. And if you divest from children, things will get worse. Children will have worse outcomes in childhood, in adolescence and in adulthood, and that will be expensive … quality of life gets worse,' she added. She said these interventions also help reduce the costs and children's need for services later in life, including hospitalizations and special education services in school. In the final weeks of the legislative session, advocates are hoping to gather support for SB 178 to expand eligibility for children, which is currently being heard in the Senate Health and Social Services Committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
