"I just read that children with ADHD don't learn from cause and effect. Knowing this, how do I teach/train my child? I usually say something like: 'if you do this then here's the consequence.'"--About.com forum member
Photo © Jupiter Images
Connecting Behavior and Consequences originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Wednesday, February 9th, 2011 at 11:18:57.
In honor of Valentine's Day, I wanted to let you all know about ADDerWorld.com founder and friend, Bryan Hutchinson's Adult ADHD Can Be Sexy. It is a wonderful, very personally written book about relationships, romance, love, and intimacy for both adults with ADHD and their partners. One of the things I love about Bryan, his books, and his blog is that though he recognizes and has experienced the struggles and frustrations that can be associated with ADHD, he approaches and overcomes these challenges with an open heart and positive attitude. I think you will enjoy his book!
Photo © Microsoft
Adult ADHD Can Be Sexy originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 at 22:33:25.
I really didn't think the research needed to be done. I really didn't think the article needed to be written. The conclusion was just so obvious (kinda like "things fall when you drop them"). But apparently this is big news: young adults with autism receive fewer services and therapies than children with autism.
According to the conclusion of a new study by Paul Shattuck et al at Washington University in Saint Louis: "Rates of service disengagement are high after leaving high school. Disparities by race and socioeconomic status indicate a need for targeted outreach and services." About 39% of post-high school people with autism receive no services at all.
Shattuck is quoted in Businessweek as saying:
"The ability to succeed at social interaction and communication is necessary for success in employment, post-secondary education, job training and community participation," Shattuck said. "However, funding streams for adult services rarely reimburse for speech therapy. Our policies are yanking away one of the interventions that probably matters most when it comes to helping these young adults succeed at life in the community."
Dr. Shattuck kindly shared a copy of his study with me, and from what I can tell the sampling for the longitudinal was broad based and appropriate, adjusted for demographics and other factors. Shattuck does note (and I was glad to see) that higher functioning individuals are least likely to access services as adults. This does suggest to me that at least some young adults with autism have done well enough that they really don't need additional services post-high school (though I should note that Shattuck's study did not investigate this issue).
Obviously, the dearth of services, programs, resources and opportunities for adults with cognitive disabilities is old news. Yes, schools, autism centers, and increasingly health insurance policies do support the needs of children on the spectrum (though, in many circumstances, the services are limited and/or questionable in quality). But any adult with autism, any parent with an adult child on the spectrum, anyone working with teens or adults with autism is already well aware that most of these services, resources and programs fall away once an individual reaches the magical age of 22.
Why the disparity? Here, in my opinion, are just a few of the reasons:
I suppose we should be delighted that this research has actually been conducted, and that the results are now public and well received by major publications. What's troubling is the reality that the study was needed at all - or that the information wasn't already self-evident.
What outcomes, if any, do you think will come from this study?
More on Adults and Autism:
News Flash: Adults with Autism Receive Fewer Services Than Kids! originally appeared on About.com Autism on Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 at 07:58:29.
You know that feeling you get, when you read an article that rubs you the wrong way?
Well, I was all set to editorially unload on a new article, published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, titled:
Chiropractic Wellness on the Web: The Content and Quality of Information Related to Wellness and Primary Prevention on the Internet, because it ragged on about the use of the word subluxation. That always sets me right off.
But instead of checking my brain at the door, I read the whole article a second time, and decided to take a look at their websites, to see if they practiced what they preached.
Since I has already written to the lead author, Will Evans, DC, PhD (the Director of Research at Texas Chiropractic College) and received a polite response, I decided to check out TCC’s website.
After viewing their site, I want to invite EVERY chiropractor who has a website to scroll down and look at the links under the Benefits to the Community.
The one for Nutritional Consultation caught my eye:
Even though good nutrition is an important part of living a healthy life, most people do not have diets that provide them with proper or complete nutrition.
At Texas Chiropractic College’s Moody Health Center, we stress the importance of doing everything possible to live healthy lives through the nutritional consultation we provide. Our doctors and student interns can offer guidance on a wide variety of nutritional vitamins and supplements. While many of the supplements we prescribe may be for nutritional benefits, many others are given as an adjunct to treatment to enhance healing.
Short, sweet and very to-the-point. The one describing chiropractic is equally delightful:
The chiropractic care that takes place at TCC’s Moody Health Center has a significant impact on the quality of life for the patients it serves. Our chiropractic care takes a holistic approach to health and well-being, including not only the physical but psychological and social aspects of life as well.
Our doctors and student interns focus on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. By restoring normal function to the musculoskeletal system, chiropractic care can play a major role in relieving pain and symptoms associated with:
- Injuries
- Accidents
- Stress
- Poor posture
- Lack of exercise
- Everyday wear and tear
The primary treatment procedure of a Doctor of Chiropractic is the “spinal manipulation” or “chiropractic adjustment.” The purpose of this treatment is to restore joint motion and mobility by applying a controlled force to restricted joints, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tension.
So, although I started out looking for ammunition to use against them, I found myself asking:
“Gee, I wonder if my website is as clear and unpretentious as theirs is?”
Now that I got that off my chest, I’ like to invite you to:
(1) read the FULL TEXT article, and
(2) take a look at your own website, and think about how proud you are of it.
If you aren’t, then take a look at the TCC website, and consider a redesign.
And remember what they say about the sincerest form of flattery.
Today I received a lovely note from a mom, sent to me in hopes that her story would inspire other parents of children with autism. Her young daughter had been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder as a toddler, and, after years of intensive behavioral therapy, speech therapy, play groups, supplements and special diets, the little girl is doing very well indeed. She's achieving in a typical classroom, has a good friend, and enjoys hobbies and extracurricular activities. The mom ends her letter with these words:
I think her story is a miracle and it totally inspires me everyday to appreciate the simple things in life and to NEVER give up or believe it when others tell you that you cant beat/overcome/DO something.
With courage YOU can achieve anything that you want...it just takes lots of hard work and never losing sight of your dreams! Never..never..never..ever..give up!
I do appreciate the positive perspective, and the story of success. But I also want to address this mom's message that "if only parents work hard enough and stay true to their dreams for their child, everything will work out fine." Because the truth is, while hard work and a positive attitude MAY be enough to remediate the symptoms of autism, they may not be - and when they're not, it's nobody's fault.
This particular mom was lucky in that her child happened to have the capacity to learn to speak, engage socially, and learn in a typical academic environment, and that's wonderful. But there are many parents who work like demons to help their child with severe autism to gain those same skills - and despite their best efforts, while their child does advance, he or she will never look, behave or feel "normal." Working hard in your child's best interest is, of course, part of parenting any child. But no amount of good parenting or dedication can ensure a "happy ending" for your child with or without autism.
One of the toughest things about being an autism parent is the sense of guilt and responsibility that so often comes along with a diagnosis. What did I do wrong? How could this have been prevented? Which of the thousand therapies out there could have been the miracle cure? Why is that child progressing so well while mine is moving at a snail's pace? Is it all my fault?
Early intervention, intensive therapies and a "never surrender" attitude are wonderful. So, too, are miracles. But sometimes no amount of courage, hard work, dedication or prayer can yield more than a moderate result. When that happens, we as parents need to give ourselves permission to enjoy our children for who they are... and remember that we are doing our best for our kids.
More About Parental Guilt and Autism:
Parental Dedication As a Prescription for Autism? originally appeared on About.com Autism on Monday, February 7th, 2011 at 09:13:59.
Randomized trials have suggested that folic acid may not have any beneficial effects for preventing heart attacks especially a second episodes. However in a meta-analysis published Wednesday (2/2/11) Wald,et. al. suggest that previous studies have failed to account for the use of aspirin by study participants. The authors suggest folic acid could be a part of a preventative measure to reduce first attacks but not second due to the use of aspirin by those suffering from a previous attack.
The study was published online as part of the PLoS site, an open access peer reviewed site. You can download the study in its entirety here;
Wald DS, Morris JK, Wald NJ (2011) Reconciling the Evidence on Serum Homocysteine and Ischaemic Heart Disease: A Meta-Analysis. PLoS ONE 6(2): e16473. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0016473
Chiropractic Profession Urged to Enlist Support from Local Members of Congress
Source The American Chiropractic Association
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) and the Association of Chiropractic Colleges (ACC) today expressed support for newly introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives designed to expand the availability of the services delivered by chiropractic physicians in the federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and to those who utilize the military’s health care delivery system, TRICARE, run by the Department of Defense (DoD).
Ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.), has again introduced the Chiropractic Care to All Veterans Act (H.R. 329), a bill similar to legislation that was overwhelmingly passed by the entire House in 2010 but was not considered in the Senate. H.R. 329 would require the VA to have a chiropractic physician on staff at all major VA medical facilities by 2014. It would also amend the current statute, the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001, ensuring that chiropractic benefits are included in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations and therefore, cannot be denied.
“Our nation’s veterans and active-duty military, along with their family members, have sacrificed so much for our country. They deserve the best health care available, and that includes chiropractic care,” said ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. “It makes me proud to see the chiropractic profession working with our congressional allies in support of this important legislation.”
Through previous congressional action, chiropractic care is now available at 36 VA facilities across the country; however, in the more than 100 major VA medical facilities without a chiropractic physician on staff, the chiropractic care benefit Congress authorized for America’s veterans remains virtually nonexistent. Detroit, Denver, and Chicago are a few of the major metropolitan areas still without a chiropractic physician at the local VA medical facility.
The ACA and ACC believe that integrating chiropractic care into the VA health care system would not only be cost-effective, it would also speed the recovery of many of the veterans returning from current operations overseas. A 2010 report from the Veterans Health Administration indicates that over half of all veterans returning from the Middle East and Southwest Asia who have sought VA health care were treated for symptoms associated with musculoskeletal ailments – the top complaint of those tracked for the report.
In addition, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) has re-introduced another piece of legislation in the House that would extend chiropractic care to U.S. military retirees, dependents and survivors as part of the TRICARE program. H.R. 409, the Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act, would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a plan to allow any beneficiary covered under TRICARE to select and have direct access to a chiropractic physician. The plan deadline is Aug. 31, 2011. Currently, only active duty members are afforded the chiropractic benefit.
“I am pleased that Congress has taken these two important steps that, when taken together, facilitate access by our veterans, active military and their families to fundamental health care benefits such as chiropractic care,” said ACC President Dr. Frank Nicchi, “Chiropractic continues to enjoy high levels of satisfaction among our servicemen and women.”
H.R. 409 defines “chiropractic services” as diagnosis (including X-ray and tests), evaluation and management, and therapeutic services for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal health conditions. The legislation specifically notes that chiropractic services may only be provided by a chiropractic physician. Rep. Rogers introduced nearly identical legislation in the past two sessions of Congress.
To view the full text of H.R. 329, click here.
To see the full text of H.R. 409, click here.
ACA and ACC request that chiropractic physicians contact their congressional representatives and urge them to cosponsor both of these bills.
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), based in Arlington, Va., is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of patient care and ethics, and supports research that contributes to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients. Visit www.acatoday.org.
Our thanks to Robert D. Mootz, D.C. and to Dana Lawrence, D.C., the former editor of Chiropractic Technique, for permission to reprint this article, and its extensive collection of Care Plans, exclusively at Chiro.Org
ABSTRACT: A detailed description of chiropractic care parameters used at a large occupational medicine center is presented. The algorithms were derived from clinical needs of the facility, expert opinion, and reviews of several contemporary written protocols. Twelve of the most common industrially related low back conditions are included. The algorithms are grouped according to nondiscogenic and discogenic conditions. The guidelines are consistent with many third party chiropractic review policies, as well as the recently published Chiropractic Quality Assurance Guidelines and Practice Parameters. The first algorithm is based on uncomplicated joint dysfunction, and is considered the base algorithm. Other, more complicated conditions follow, and a preface is included for each describing specific issues relevant to each condition. The purpose of these algorithms was to help standardize care in the clinic, to foster interdisciplinary communication, and to provide consistency in administration for research purposes.
Occupational Low back injuries make up a major component of industrial expenditures in the United States. [1] A number of retrospective studies have suggested that conservative chiropractic management may be more cost effective than other approaches. [2-3] Although a number of general practice guidelines have been developed [4-6], none have (yet) provided “condition specific” guidelines.
A condition specific description of chiropractic care parameters used at a large multidisciplinary occupational medicine facility is presented. These guidelines address 12 of the most common industrially related low back conditions that presented during 1991 at the Advantage Occupational and Sports Medicine Center in San Leandro, California.
They represent experience of the practitioners on approximately 150 acute low back injuries, based on clinical needs of the facility. In addition, expert opinion and reviews of several contemporary written protocols served as resource information [5-13]. These guidelines best fit the classification of “seed algorithms”, that serve as the basis for further investigation and lend themselves to further development through standard consensus process. [14]
Actual preparation of the guidelines involved first characterizing the types of low back conditions (diagnoses) that had presented to the facility during 1991. A series of seed proposals were drafted and reviewed by the two authors. These initial proposals were based on a qualitative chart review of frequencies and duration of care for the conditions identified. These were then distributed to other physicians and therapists at the facility for input and appropriate modification. Future reports will analyze comparative effectiveness of active and passive approaches in this facility.
The guidelines presented here are categorized generally as nondiscogenic and discogenic conditions (See Table 1) . The purpose of these protocols was to help standardize care in the clinic in order to foster good interdisciplinary communication, as well as provide consistency in administration of care for research purposes.
You may want to read the FULL-TEXT article because it provides the Care Plans for your immediate use.
A new study, just published in Spine Journal, reports on an investigation of the muscles of the suboccipital triangle and their relationship to cervicogenic headaches.
During the anatomic study of thirteen cadaver specimens, it was discovered that eleven of the 13 specimens had a connection between the rectus capitis posterior major muscle (at C2) and the spinal dura mater. [1]
A previous report by Hack (Spine 1995) [2] discussed a connection found between the rectus capitis posterior minor and the dura mater and its relationship to cervicogenic headache.
What is most interesting in this new study is that manual traction of the rectus capitis posterior major resulted in gross movement of the dural sheath from the spinal root level at C2, all the way down to the T1 nerve root.
Hack previously suggested that:
“It has been speculated that the function of the muscle dural bridge may be to prevent folding of the dura mater during hyperextension of the neck. Also, clinical evidence suggests that the muscle dural bridge may play an important role the pathogenesis of the cervicogenic headaches
.”
The authors of the current study concluded that “various clinical manifestations may be linked to this anatomical relationship.”
REFERENCES:
1. Anatomical Connection Between the Rectus Capitis Posterior Major and the Dura Mater
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 (Jan 27) [Epub ahead of print]
2. Anatomic Relation Between the Rectus Capitis Posterior Minor Muscle and the Dura Mater
Spine 1995 (Dec); 20 (23): 2484-2486
You can review many more citations like the ones listed above at our Headache and Chiropractic Page and our Chiropractic and Headache Research Page
You may also enjoy the complete Conditions That Respond Well to Chiropractic Page.
Autism is a spectrum disorder.
What that means is that people with autism can be very, very different from one another - and still, quite legitimately, have autism spectrum diagnoses.
There are people on the autism spectrum who can't speak, write, or use the toilet. They may be self-abusive or aggressive to others, and quite genuinely dangerous to live with.
There are people on the autism spectrum who are brilliant public speakers and authors, who travel the world as the honored guests of major universities and international associations.
The reality is that, while everyone on the autism spectrum does share challenges in social communication, those at the mild end and those at the severe end really have very little else in common.
A "spectrum diagnosis" is hard to describe, hard to write about, and - sometimes - hard to explain. How do you tell a teacher who's only worked with severely autistic children that your child with Asperger syndrome needs less accommodation and more academic challenges? How do you explain to your parents that, yes, Temple Grandin is autistic - but that doesn't mean their severely autistic grandchild is going to grow out of autism and become a Ph.D.?
Just as challenging is finding a place in the "autism community." For parents, it can be quite daunting to find a support group that really fits. If your child is "severe," listening to complaints about college prep can be frustrating and downright depressing. If your child is "mild," you're not likely to learn much from a conversation about life skill classes or residential schools. It's actually possible for parents to argue over whether a particular child has "real" autism - even when a "real" diagnosis has been made. In some areas, autism support groups actually split into "high functioning" (orAspergers) groups and "autism" groups - and many parents and adults with autism find such a separation very helpful.
As a writer, I make a point of writing about both mild and severe autism - bearing in mind that even when communications issues are milder, other issues, such as social anxiety or sensory dysfunction, may be quite overwhelming.
As a reader, do you look specifically for articles about "mild" or "severe" autism? Do you only pick out articles that specifically address your child's diagnosis? How do you cope with the reality that autism is such a vast spectrum?
When Autism Is "Mild" or "Severe" originally appeared on About.com Autism on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 at 19:52:42.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB)
Doctors Bryan Abrams and Anthony Ries have recently launched Concierge Chiropractic, a new business venture that brings treatment directly to the patient’s residence or business in downtown Chicago (specifically Gold Coast, River North, and Streeterville) Chicago. The doctors come equipped with a portable table, doctor’s kit, assistant and patient gowns to readily transform any home into a chiropractic office.
Imagine this scenario: a person is stuck at home with a twisted muscle in his/her back and the spasms are making it nearly impossible to move, let alone leave home. It’s in the dead of a windy Chicago winter and it’s snowing outside. Add public transportation or driving and parking to the mix, all the while in agonizing pain. A good Chiropractor is difficult to find and a hassle to get to given these circumstances. That’s where Concierge Chiropractic comes into the picture. Their highly trained team is at the ready to provide relief for the muscular skeletal aches and pains that incapacitate. The possibility of situations is endless, and in a big city like Chicago, the perfect remedy is right in their hands.
How interesting that it is revolutionary to bring back the house call and the bedside manner that gives patients the reassurance and confidence of being in the hands of experts while in their personal surroundings!
Services offered include, but are not limited to Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy (adjustment), Active Release Technique (specific soft tissue massage to muscles, tendons, fascia, and ligaments that breaks up scar tissue), Electric Stimulation, and Functional Rehabilitation. All it takes is their highly trained team and portable office.
It sometimes seems that the world is set up to make kids and adults with autism jump out of their skins. Loud music, bright lights, unexpected noises, multiple transitions - they're all part of our daily life in the modern world. Like most autism parents, we've come up with a few of our own "tricks" for managing the environment - here are a few:
This morning, I discovered a really terrific tip for avoiding that dreaded automatic flush toilet at the mall, restaurant or airport: Just place a sticky "post-it" note over the sensor until you're all done doing your business, then pull off the post-it as you leave the stall!
Do you have (or need) more tips for making life easier in the wide world? Share your ideas here, and check out these articles!
Autism in the Wide World: Tips and Hints for Making Life Easier originally appeared on About.com Autism on Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at 11:54:48.
ADDClasses.com is offering a Special Q&A Session with Dr. Edward Hallowell. The teleseminar is free. Make sure to register early so you can submit your questions in advance. Space is limited.
Date: Tuesday February 15, 2011
Time: 8:00 pm Eastern Time (New York Time)
Instructor: Edward Hallowell, MD
Listen Live Over the Telephone or Internet. Don't worry if you can't make the live Teleseminar. If you register before the start of the Teleseminar you will be able to listen to the recording free for 1 week.
To learn more or to register go to ADDclasses.com
Free Teleseminar with Dr. Edward Hallowell originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at 11:40:18.
In this CNN Health Minute, college student, Rory Manson, talks about how ADHD coaching has helped her succeed in school.
Video: A Coach to Help With ADHD originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at 11:39:10.
"I am looking for suggestions on what would be appropriate and positive 'consequences' for my 6 year old, first grade ADHD son if he gets a color change at school instead of taking away recess time? I am also in need of suggestions on how to handle/redirect his excessive and disruptive talking in the classroom." -About.com Forum member
Photo © Vicky Kasala
Alternatives to Losing Recess... originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, January 31st, 2011 at 14:02:07.
