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Language skills are essential to a child’s ability to communicate and develop. These skills enable children to engage with other people and learn from their surroundings and in the classroom.

First device to transmit American Sign Language over U.S. cellular networks in initial field tests

University of Washington engineers are developing the first device able to transmit American Sign Language over U.S. cellular networks. The tool is just completing its initial field test by participants in a UW summer program for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

17 Aug 2010

Insurers defend less generous policies, medical loss ratio definitions; Obama to talk with insurance commissioners

Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with USA Today, reports on insurers who are defending less generous "limited-benefit" health policies as implementation of the health law proceeds. That law forbids annual dollar limits in such plans. "Starting this fall, most health care policies — except existing policies purchased by individuals on their own — will have to cover at least $750,000 in medical care per person.

13 Aug 2010

THN President applauds FTC, State enforcement officials for crackdown on insurance scammers

Betty Heiman, Founder and President of Transparent Health Network, praised the announcement made today that the FTC and State enforcement officials will crackdown on scammers who target uninsured, unemployed and uninsurable individuals by peddling fraudulent medical discount plans. These plans, according to government officials, are marketed as health insurance but possess few or none of the features either of insurance or of actual plans.

13 Aug 2010

Insurers, small businesses and ER care all affected by overhaul

News outlets consider the impact of health reform on insurers — who are seeking flexibility on mandates — as well as changes to premiums, small businesses and emergency room care.

13 Aug 2010

Single neurons in brain distinguish different temporal sequences of incoming information

Single neurons in the brain are surprisingly good at distinguishing different sequences of incoming information according to new research by UCL neuroscientists.The study, published today in Science and carried out by researchers based at the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at UCL, shows that single neurons, and indeed even single dendrites, the tiny receiving elements of neurons, can very effectively distinguish between different temporal sequences of incoming information.

13 Aug 2010

LSI announces success of Pro Bono Program to educate foster parents on child health

Linguistic Systems, Inc. (LSI), a leading provider of language translation services, is proud to announce the success of the LSI Foundation's Pro Bono Program, providing translation and interpreting services to those organizations serving the community, and specifically enabling LSI employees to give back to their community. The LSI staff has seen the difference the program has made for local organizations and has decided to increase their contributions through the fall.

12 Aug 2010

Reduced quality or quantity of sleep leads to school performance difficulties, behavior problems

Getting a good night's sleep often comes down to technique. Avoiding late-night technology use and keeping a regular sleep schedule are two important techniques to heed as kids head back to school.Recent studies found that adolescents used multiple forms of technology late into the night, including gaming systems, cell phones, and computers. As a result, they demonstrated difficulty staying awake and alert throughout the day.

12 Aug 2010

Quality of translations of clinical trial consent forms questioned

The first study to look at simplified English-language consent forms translated into another language calls into question the common belief that a translated consent form meets readability standards. The study appears in IRB: Ethics & Human Research.

11 Aug 2010

Language Line University offers new scalable online training tool for medical interpreters

Language Line(R) University, the interpreter assessment and training division of Language Line Services, an over-the-phone and video interpretation services provider, is offering a new scalable online training tool for medical interpreters. LLU Web Advanced Medical Training for Interpreters, the first of its kind in the industry, combines 15 hours of self-paced Web activities with 10 hours of live over-the-phone instructor-led sessions. Completion of the course qualifies participants to receive 10 continuing education points from the American Translators Association.

10 Aug 2010

DynaVox releases software Version 2.0 for Xpress communication device

DynaVox, the leading provider of speech generating devices and symbol-adapted special education software used to assist individuals in overcoming speech, language and learning challenges, announces the release of software Version 2.0 for the DynaVox Xpress device. A compact, stylish handheld communication device with a new more intuitive user interface combines powerful InterAACt™ communication tools and resources with popular control and navigation features generally found only on mainstream technologies

10 Aug 2010

Reports warn of new costs, gaps unfilled in health overhaul

Insurance rates may rise next year even more than anticipated because of the health overhaul for mid-sized companies. "While most major pieces of the new health law don't go into effect until 2014, some reforms affecting health insurance carriers take effect this year. These include provisions that require health plans to cover adult children until age 26, extend coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, end maximum lifetime spending limits and end the practice of retroactively canceling a member's coverage for any reason other than fraud."

10 Aug 2010

GWA Study helps scientists identify genetic variant that increases tuberculosis susceptibility in African populations

Scientists have identified a genetic variant which increases susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB) in African populations using a technique known as a genome-wide association (GWA) study. This is the first novel disease variant to be identified using this technique in Africans and demonstrates that such studies are viable in African populations, which have a high degree of genetic diversity.

9 Aug 2010

Patient navigator program to educate Hmong women on cervical cancer

The Asian-American community of Hmong women in California carries a stunning burden of cervical cancer and resulting mortality four times as high as non-Hispanic white women in California do.

7 Aug 2010

Research Roundups: Expanding Medicaid; More spending doesn't reduce mortality; Colonoscopy cost effectiveness; Kids, asthma and access to care

Health Affairs: Little Evidence Of Correlation Between Growth In Health Care Spending And Reduced Mortality - This study examines differences in hospital mortality and cost between 2000 and 2004 for patients at 122 U.S. hospitals, with seven common medical diagnoses: acute myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, community-acquired pneumonia, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident (also called ischemic stroke), sepsis, or urinary tract infection.

7 Aug 2010

Nemours applauds Senate for passing bi-partisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Nemours, an integrated children's health system, congratulates the United States Senate on passing the bi-partisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, prior to the September 30th expiration of the child nutrition legislation. We applaud Senators Lincoln and Chambliss for their leadership in advancing this historic legislation.

6 Aug 2010

Humans unintentionally imitate subtle aspects of each other's mannerisms: Research

Humans are incessant imitators. We unintentionally imitate subtle aspects of each other's mannerisms, postures and facial expressions. We also imitate each other's speech patterns, including inflections, talking speed and speaking style. Sometimes, we even take on the foreign accent of the person to whom we're talking, leading to embarrassing consequences.

6 Aug 2010

Modified music program improves speech skills in children with Down syndrome: Study

Advanced Brain Technologies today announced results demonstrating that a modified music program followed for ten weeks, improved speech skills in children with Down syndrome. The results of the study, conducted in Nottingham, United Kingdom, were published Monday, in an early online before print version of the article scheduled to appear in the journal Music and Medicine.

5 Aug 2010

Genomic sequence of living marine sponge reveals some basic information about cancer: Scientists

This week's publication of the complete genomic sequence of a living marine sponge reveals genes dating back hundreds of millions of years -- a result far exceeding the expectations of the scientific world.

5 Aug 2010

Senate Dems circulate new version of proposal to extend enhanced federal Medicaid payments

Tuesday morning, the Republican Policy Committee sent a memo "to staffers highlighting the major changes in the Senate bill that extends enhanced federal Medicaid funding to states for six months." On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tabled an earlier version of this measure after "it received a bad score from the Congressional Budget Office.

4 Aug 2010

Sensory dysfunction affects quality of life of patients with Autism

The way the brain reacts differently to the sense of touch in people with Autism will be examined as part of an innovative Cardiff University study designed to create better understanding of the condition. Dr David McGonigle from Cardiff University's Schools of Psychology and Biosciences will use the latest brain imaging techniques to create a clearer picture of how touch is processed differently.

4 Aug 2010

Language News and Research

Further Reading

First device to transmit American Sign Language over U.S. cellular networks in initial field tests

Insurers defend less generous policies, medical loss ratio definitions; Obama to talk with insurance commissioners

THN President applauds FTC, State enforcement officials for crackdown on insurance scammers

Insurers, small businesses and ER care all affected by overhaul

Single neurons in brain distinguish different temporal sequences of incoming information

LSI announces success of Pro Bono Program to educate foster parents on child health

Reduced quality or quantity of sleep leads to school performance difficulties, behavior problems

Quality of translations of clinical trial consent forms questioned

Language Line University offers new scalable online training tool for medical interpreters

DynaVox releases software Version 2.0 for Xpress communication device

Reports warn of new costs, gaps unfilled in health overhaul

GWA Study helps scientists identify genetic variant that increases tuberculosis susceptibility in African populations

Patient navigator program to educate Hmong women on cervical cancer

Research Roundups: Expanding Medicaid; More spending doesn't reduce mortality; Colonoscopy cost effectiveness; Kids, asthma and access to care

Nemours applauds Senate for passing bi-partisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Humans unintentionally imitate subtle aspects of each other's mannerisms: Research

Modified music program improves speech skills in children with Down syndrome: Study

Genomic sequence of living marine sponge reveals some basic information about cancer: Scientists

Senate Dems circulate new version of proposal to extend enhanced federal Medicaid payments

Sensory dysfunction affects quality of life of patients with Autism

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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