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HEALTH TEAM 6: Infants & Language, Kids & Caffeine, and a Cochlear Implant Replacement

Posted at 12:52 PM, Feb 10, 2014
and last updated 2014-02-10 12:52:05-05

(WTVR) - In Health Team 6 News, pre-term infants who hear adult conversation in the hospital have better language skills later in life. Scientists working at a Rhode Island Hospital found the preemies who were exposed to the greatest number of words had more advanced cognitive and language skills at seven-months, and then again at 18 months, were better able to express themselves.

A study published  in the Journal Pediatrics says American children are finding more sources of caffeine. Researchers say children are drinking fewer carbonated sodas but more energy drinks and coffee. Overall, they say the*amount of caffeine consumption among children has remained pretty much the same.

Scientists at M.I.T. and Harvard say they have developed a new, low-power microchip that could take the place of a traditional cochlear implant. Cochlear implants give limited hearing to people who might otherwise be deaf, but leaves patients with bulky hardware around the outside of their ears, including a transmitter, wire and microphone. Scientists say the new microchip needs nothing external and patients can power their implant wirelessly with an adapter and a cell phone charger.