Autism
How do attention problems and executive functioning challenges affect your child?
Attention problems and executive skills challenges are the most common concerns from parents of children with developmental differences. These concerns can be confusing in children who also have exceptional strengths. And concerns change across different settings, at different ages, and in different kids, which can also be confusing. Neurological correlates of attention involve connections that…
Read MoreGrounding yourself during overwhelm
Most parents have experienced moments when their child was suffering or upset, and they couldn’t entirely alleviate the pain or distress. The empathy we feel for our children can also be magnified by our own emotions. So how do we “put on our own oxygen mask first” before we help our child? This is an…
Read MoreThe Importance of Sleep
We take for granted the importance of sleep, but the scientific evidence for the value of sleep is only growing. Sleep is crucial for your child’s overall health and well-being. Did you know that poor sleep can contribute to attention, learning and emotional challenges? When children experience developmental delays and differences, it’s especially important that…
Read MoreWhen you get a new diagnosis for your child…
Has your child been diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disorder, or a specific learning disability (also called dyslexia, dyscalculia or dysgraphia)? Many of these disorders tend to co-occur and they are highly heritable in families. Children with medical conditions are at higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders as well. …
Read MoreSensory Processing, Attention, and Emotions
Imagine yourself in the following places… …a theme park like Disney World …a concert at an indoor theater …a large party with about 100 people …shopping in a large crowd at the mall …sitting in a traffic jam during rush hour in a thunderstorm …a professional sports stadium …a classroom of 25 preschool children (3…
Read MoreIs Therapy Working?
Families often feel overwhelmed with the types of therapies and number of specialists available to support their child. They question what to prioritize, and how to spend their time and money. Even the word therapy is confusing because it can be used for many types of professionals and services, all the with the goal of…
Read MoreYour child’s stomachaches, headaches, and other physical symptoms could be related to stress.
The brain is incredible. It knows what we don’t “know”. Or when we don’t pay attention, the brain will work with the body to send information to get our attention. Have you ever noticed signals from your body when you are under stress? Illness, tension headache, back pain, stomach upset, and even frightening symptoms like…
Read MoreAnxiety, it’s not what you think.
Anxiety is a core area that should be evaluated in every child presenting with developmental differences. Science tells us that elevated anxiety is becoming more common. Early identification can help reduce its impact on a child’s life. For children with a medical history, and especially those who require ongoing medical procedures, treatments, or surgeries, they…
Read MoreWhat is a Neurodevelopmental Disorder?
You might be wondering what this means…. Neurodevelopmental disorders encompass a group of disabilities that involve delays, deficiencies or problems that begin during childhood or adolescence (and can persist into adulthood). A range of skills or behaviors can be affected: Based on what science has learned from typically developing healthy children, we know the developmental…
Read MoreGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
The link between genetic disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders is complex, and in some children, there is also a medical condition. With the integration of medicine, neuroscience, and psychology, the field of genetics has the potential to improve the timing and accuracy of diagnosis and the effectiveness of treatment. Learn more about The Human Genome Project…
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