Special Needs
A.L.A.R.M. – An Autism Guide for Parents
Print this Article | A.L.A.R.M. Flyer Autism spectrum disorders are not rare; many primary care pediatricians care for several children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatricians play an important role in early recognition of autism spectrum disorders, because they usually are the first point of contact for parents. Parents are now much more aware of the early signs of autism spectrum disorders because of frequent coverage in the media; if their child demonstrates any of the published signs. Parents please raise …
Detecting Autism Spectrum Disorder, High Functioning Autism or Asperger Syndrome in your Child
Print this Article As verbal individuals with autism are frequently misdiagnosed, I’d like to take this opportunity to alert you to their display of symptoms. Your child may have received a diagnosis of: ADD or ADHD Intellectual Disability, Mental Retardation or Learning Disability Adjustment Disorder Conduct Disorder Oppositional Defiant Disorder Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Bipolar Disorder, Affective Disorder Schizophrenia Auditory or Sensory Processing Disorder, Dyspraxia In the early years: Development of language and communication is atypical Delayed speech or repetitive use …
Delayed Speech and Language Development
Print this Article As a child grows from infancy to toddlerhood, one of the most fascinating (and often entertaining) developments is when he or she begins to talk. It is usually during this time that we get our first glimpse into his or her unique personality. The first 3 years of life is a critical period for the development of speech and language. During this time, the brain is uniquely in tune to all the sights and sounds from a …
What is Sensory Integration Dysfunction?
Print this Article Children with Sensory Integration dysfunction exhibit unusual responses to touch and movement experiences. If they are oversensitive to touch sensations (tactile defensiveness), they will avoid touching and being touched and will shy away from messy play, physical contact with others, pets, certain textures of fabric, many foods, bumpy sock seams, etc. On the other hand, if they are under-responsive to touch sensations, they’ll crave touching and being touched. These children will be finger-painting their arms, stuffing their …
Visual Processing Dysfunction and School Problems
Print this Article A child struggling with visual processing issues will display some of these characteristics: Reading reversals (“was” for “saw,” “on” for “no,” “big” for “dig,” etc.) after initial introduction of the words. Skipping of small words when reading. Needing to use finger to track after age 7. Oral reading that is smooth at the beginning of the page, but becomes more labored the longer a child reads. Experiencing eye fatigue shortly after reading begins (watery eyes, rubbing eyes). …
HELPING CHILDREN WITH AUDITORY IMPAIRMENTS – PART 2
Print this Article | Read Part 1 The Auditory System has a tremendous capacity for change in response to targeted interventions. In the sections below, I will share many strategies to re-mediate or compensate for the auditory processing difficulties I have described in part one of this article. First, children with auditory difficulties need special accommodations. Accommodations for children with auditory processing disorders can be divided into three categories: those that optimize the classroom environment, those that optimize Information Input, …
HUH? WHAT? AUDITORY PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN
Print this Article “After the second grade at school, I started to get into trouble and seemed to spend a lot of time in detention or out in the hall. I was disruptive (because I did not hear what I was disrupting), and noisy (because I could not monitor the loudness of my voice). My behavior in some cases was inappropriate (because I could not pick up subtle conversational cues or follow fast –paced conversations)…Academically I was doing poorly. Socially, …
Special Needs Children in the School Setting
Print this Article Some children experience difficulties in school, ranging from problems with concentration, learning, language, and perception to problems with behavior and/or making and keeping friends. These difficulties may be due to physical disorders, psychiatric disorders, emotional problems, behavioral problems, and learning disorders (or disabilities). Children with special needs are usually entitled to receive special services or accommodations through the public schools. We should also consider asthma, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, Autism and many more chronic conditions in children …