Articles/ Statistics

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728192805.htm

The above link is an article from an online academic journal called “Study Examines Prevalence of Hearing Loss in the US”. It is an article about a conducted study from a large national survey that involved hearing tests to determine the demographic characteristics and known risk factors for hearing loss. The hearing tests were able to measure and assess an individuals hearing by measuring the sound they could hear in decibals. The test was performed on 5,742 Americans from the ages of 20-69 in 1999- 2004. The results of the study showed the following statistics:

Assessed hearing loss of 25 decibels or higher at speech frequencies (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kilohertz) and at high frequencies (3, 4 and 6 kilohertz)

• Men were 5.5 times more likely than women to be affected by hearing loss
• Participants that smoked had an increase in hearing loss
• Participants that frequently are exposed to loud noise had an increase in hearing loss
• Participants with cardiovascular risk had an increase in hearing loss
• 16.1% of american adults had speech frequency hearing loss in one or both ears
• 31% of participants had high frequency hearing loss
• hearing loss at high frequency was most prevalent in participants age 20-29 and 30-39
• African American participants were 70 percent less likely to have hearing loss than white and mexican american men

http://www.educationoasis.com/resources/Articles/building_babys_brain.htm

The above link is an article from Education Oasis written by Diane Bales, Ph. D. an expert on child development. The article entitled “Building Baby’s Brain: The Role of Music” caught my eye as I always wondered if music had an affect on an individuals learning. This article is similar to the video we looked at this year in Challenge in Change which was, Is Technology Wiring Teens to Have Better Brains? as it explores the idea of how an external source can have an affect on learning and development. After watching the video I compiled my thoughts into the following response:

“There will always be the ongoing argument proving whether or not multitasking is efficient or completely wasteful. O’Brien and other research scientists have evidence that multitasking can be efficient, however some people are better at it than others. He refers to our generation as “digital natives”, because we have basically grown up with technology at our fingertips we are accustomed to changes in technology we can use it to our advantage. O’Brien supports his argument of how teenagers have a greater ability to multitask than previous generations; because of the developmental stage technology was introduced to our brains. This stage was called the pruning stage, which is the crucial stage of development where 90% of the brain is developed. During this stage our generation (teenagers) have already been immersed into the technological world and begun exploring different ways to learn i.e. through the computer, television, and ways of communication; therefore they are already so advanced that multitasking does not seem challenging. O’Brien made another good point, when he said “parents always worry about the new technology their kids are exposed to, the cave man were worried their children were playing with fire”. His statement, supports the argument that each generation will learn in a way suited to their environment of that time, which is why teenagers can multitask different technologies efficiently.”

 

http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/ProductsPubs/DatatoAction/pdf/Chlt8.pdf

The above is a link to a study that was conducted by CDC’S PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN. It includes thorough research on Fetal Alcohol Exposure, an issue I am familiar with after researching exceptionalities, included information on the neurological disabilities page. Fetal alcohol exposure is a cause of birth defects, nervous system impairments, developmental delay, cognitive and behavioural abnormalities. What makes this disorder different from most is that it is completely preventable by avoiding consumption of alcohol during pregnancy.

Figures from Study Analyzed in Final Report