American Morning
Inside the Child’s Mind: Understanding autism
By Kiran Chetry, CNN
Eight-year-old Zander Pridy has no trouble reading big words.
“I read books of science and watch this cool show called ‘Nova,’” he tells me.
Today Zander is helping scientists make some discoveries of their own. Zander has an autism spectrum disorder known as Asperger syndrome.
Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are using a MEG machine – short for magnetoencephalography – to study the brain waves of children like Zander with autism disorders.
“We're trying to study how children's brains respond to stimuli – to sounds, to words, to speech,” says lead researcher Tim Roberts.
They are hoping to unlock the mysteries of how an autistic brain works. Roberts says new clues are already emerging.
“When you hear a sound, the brain responds. When a child with autism hears a sound, their brain responds too, but a little bit later. … So what we're seeing is a fraction of a second, a split second delay in recognizing that sound.”
How does that play out in how children with autism learn and communicate?
Study: 40% of children have sex before 'the talk'
If you're a parent you know the sex talk is never easy. It can be awkward and often our children are mortified by it.
That may be one reason the talk so often comes after the fact. At least that's what a new study has found. Our Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen reports.
Saving your child from H1N1
The spread of H1N1 may be slowing, but parents still need to be vigilant. Children with the virus can go downhill very quickly.
Our Elizabeth Cohen reports on some of the warning signs your child may be seriously ill.
Mom's instinct saves daughter from H1N1 death
For most children if they do catch the H1N1 flu, it won't be life-threatening. Your pediatrician will likely recommend a few days of rest with plenty of fluids.
But what if your child is in real danger and you're the only one who can see it? What should you do?
Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen reports on one family's story.
Hand sanitizer: Are you using it correctly?
By Elizabeth Landau, CNN
(CNN) - It's everywhere you look - in schools, in shopping malls, in day care centers, in offices.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/HEALTH/11/27/hand.sanitizer.basics/story.hand.sanitizer.gi.jpg caption="When soap and water aren't available, hand sanitizer is a good solution, experts say."]
Hand sanitizer has become ubiquitous after the outbreak of the novel H1N1 flu virus. But what are its special powers? Does it really protect from viruses? And what's the best way to use it?
When it comes to choosing a hand sanitizer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the ones with alcohol for protecting against the H1N1 flu. The optimum proportion is 60 to 95 percent alcohol, according to this CDC chart showing the relative effectiveness of different types of sanitizers.
Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a recent briefing that people should wash their hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers to combat the flu.
"We are beginning to see some declines in influenza activity, but there is still a lot of influenza everywhere," she said.
The CDC said that according to some estimates, up to 80 percent of all infections get spread by hands.
Hotel mogul starts own health care system
By Laura Dolan
As the Senate gets ready to resume debate on a sweeping health care reform bill, many critics complain the bill lacks any serious cost cutting measures.
We found one business owner in Florida who decided to do it himself. His name is Harry Rosen.
Fed up with rising costs, this owner of seven hotels in Orlando ditched conventional health insurance eighteen years ago and created his own health care plan for everyone who works for him. Now, his staff of 28 cares for over 4,000 patients, including the families of his employees.
He says he covers his employees for less than half of what most employers pay to provide insurance. But there’s a catch.
“If you smoke Jim, you can’t work for me.”
You must do it the “Rosen” way, which means employees must use the clinic and follow doctor’s orders, especially if they have a chronic condition like diabetes. If they don’t comply, its three strikes and you’re out.
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