Medical
About Medical Play for Kids with Medical Fears
“Medical play” (sometimes called “therapeutic play”) refers to play activities in which children use real or pretend medical equipment, dolls, or role‐play to explore medical experiences (e.g. doctor visits, hospital stays, injections). In healthcare settings, it may be guided by a child life specialist, psychologist, or another trained professional. Parents and caregivers can also help facilitate medical play, especially if their child shows an interest.
Read MoreCongenital Heart Disease and Anxiety
Parents of children and teens with congenital heart disease (CHD) very commonly express concern about their child’s emotional well-being, particularly anxiety. Anxiety disorders and related emotional difficulties are quite common among children, adolescents, and even adults with CHD. Anxiety can present in many ways, it can fluctuate, and the symptoms can change across development. Many…
Read MoreThe Limitations of a Psychoeducational Evaluation
It’s distressing to sit with parents after they’ve taken a long winding path, and they’re still searching for answers about their struggling child. They are frustrated and anxious. They may question the diagnosis given to their child or worry about minimal progress with tutoring or therapy. When the child had a prior psychoeducational evaluation, they…
Read MorePremature Birth and Neurodevelopment
Children born before 37 weeks gestation (full term pregnancy is 40 weeks) are considered premature. Their early birth means they miss critical weeks of prenatal protection for their developing brain and body, and this presents risks for neurodevelopmental differences. During the last month of pregnancy, a child’s brain intensifies in the creation of new synaptic…
Read MoreHow Does Your Child Process Signals from Their Body?
Does your child ignore, miss, or over attend to internal signals from their body, such as hunger, thirst, full bowel/bladder, body temperature, heart rate, breathing, pain, or muscle tension? Maybe it depends on their stress level or physical health. Interoception can be defined as the ability to perceive the internal state of one’s own…
Read MoreEarly intervention for communication delays is critical!
A young child is changing rapidly during the first years of life, and some skills might develop more quickly than others. In the early stages of language development, it can be difficult for parents to know whether a child is delayed compared to peers. At what point should you get your child help? You might…
Read MoreWhat’s After High School for Teens with Special Needs?
Young adults with a history of developmental differences may not follow the same path as their peers. It’s easy to feel lost when counseling centers and teachers focus primarily on transition to a 4-year college. This may not be the path your teen should take. You can start by looking at your teen’s strengths…
Read MoreIf Your Child Needs Help in the Public Schools…
There is a formal process for getting your child the help they need. The details will vary by state, but the general steps are similar. Also keep in mind that some schools have more resources than others, so delays can be quite long (e.g., 3-6 months or more). Begin to advocate as soon as possible!…
Read MoreDo You Need A Second Opinion About Your Child’s Development?
Has your child already been evaluated by a psychologist or the school system, but you still have a lot of questions? Maybe you wonder about a diagnosis. Or maybe the evaluation was completed years ago, and you need an updated perspective. When it comes to understanding a child’s thinking, learning, behavior, emotions, executive functioning, academics,…
Read MoreYour Child’s Brain Imaging Explained
Brain imaging (neuroimaging) can be an incredibly helpful part of a neuropsychological evaluation, regardless of how long ago it was obtained and how small the findings. Even a small abnormality can help explain neurodevelopmental concerns, and normal findings are also helpful. Brain MRI or a head CT are the most common types of neuroimaging. Here…
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