The AAP Council on Children with Disabilities and Section on Oral Health have issues a joint report "Oral Health Care for Children with Disabilities." This article highlights the need for very early care for this population and provides guidance for providing some care in the context of Pediatric Primary care. Difficulties with access are identified and special challenges for specific youngsters and issues are highlighted. I find this very welcome as this is clearly a big challenge on both the individual and societal level. I have seen big behavioral changes and sleep issues when dental pain goes unrecognized in a child with severe difficulties. I have also experienced the distress of families who must drive 200 miles for any dentist, let alone a Pediatric dentist, who would take Medicaid for a child's care. Read more...
In an article for the New York Times, Barbara Fredrickson, a professor of psychology writes about the significant change in social interaction occasioned by electronic devices in health and the consequences, both physical and mental. Although the scope of of her article went beyond childhood, I was struck by the picture accompanying the article, a sad baby trying for eye contact with the mom who has a cell phone in hand. It reminded me of the still face experiments where the infant's distress at no responsivemeness is immediate and devastating, to the infant and to the observer. She also mentioned moms texting while breast feeding. Something is clearly wrong here. Maybe we should all make copies of the signs now in all offices- "Please Turn Off Your Cell Phones"- and hand them out to new parents. Read more...