Nonprofit Pediatric Dental Surgery Center Has Special Chairs For Special Needs Kids
At PDI, Northern California’s only nonprofit dental surgery center for kids on Medi-Cal, these chairs make dental care possible for kids who have a variety of special needs, such as cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, autism and developmental disabilities. In other related news, a study concludes that black and Latino children are less likely to be diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
In Windsor, Specialized Dental Chairs For Special-Needs Kids
Since last September, [PDI Surgery Center] has seen about six to eight special-needs kids a month, providing them with such things as deep cleanings, sealants and fillings. Special-needs children often require more intensive dental care because of their disabilities, said Julie Tucker, PDI’s administrator who helped put together the once-a-month service. Sometimes, said Tucker, staff will make the most of the time special-needs patients are under anesthesia, cutting fingernails and toenails and even shaving older boys. (Espinoza, 8/24)
CBS News:
ADHD In Black And Latino Children Not Diagnosed, Treated As Often As Whites
While a higher percentage of black children show the symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) than white kids, they are less likely to be diagnosed or treated for the disorder, researchers report. The new study showed a similar trend when it came to Latino children: They were as likely as their white peers to exhibit the signs of ADHD, but less likely to be diagnosed or treated for it. “There are multiple places where we are missing out for diagnosis and treatment of African American and Latino children,” said study author Dr. Tumaini Coker ... [of] the David Geffen School of Medicine and Mattel Children’s Hospital at the University of California, Los Angeles. (Bernstein, 8/24)
And the latest research on the impact of Zika on infants' brains —
Stat:
Can Zika Virus Damage An Infected Infant’s Brain After Birth?
A new report from Brazil raises questions about whether the Zika virus can continue to damage an infected infant’s brain after birth. An infant in Sao Paulo whose mother was infected late in her second trimester was born without any visible birth defects. But testing showed the baby had the Zika virus in his blood; the virus remained in his system for at least a couple of months. At six months, it became apparent that the child had suffered Zika-related brain damage. He had severe muscle contractions — a common sign of brain damage — on one side of his body. (Branswell, 8/24)