A Dangerous Son: Tragic Circumstances and Tough Conversations
This past weekend, I watched A Dangerous
Son, Liz Garbus’ documentary about the overwhelming obstacles that U.S.
parents—especially mothers—face in getting help for their mentally ill children. The film follows three mothers who in the
course of the filming each face a barrage of insults, death threats, and violent
behavior from their critically mentally ill adolescent sons. In the face of this, each of these mothers
advocate fiercely for their sons to gain access to mental and behavioral health
services while simultaneously trying to keep themselves and other family
members safe at home...
Source: blog.bioethics.net - February 24, 2020 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Bioethics Today Tags: Health Care Adolescent Health Author: Bunch Bioethics and Public Policy mental health syndicated Source Type: blogs
4 Insights on AAC I Learned From My Son With Autism
As a young professional in the field of communication sciences and disorders, I wanted to specialize in something. I just wasn’t sure what, exactly. Little did I know my son’s autism diagnosis would foster a passion for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
My son Colin was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old. He also has childhood apraxia of speech. So I knew early he needed some type of AAC. A few months later, Colin began his journey using a communication device. I, in turn, dived into the world of speech-generating devices (SGDs).
Within a few days of using his communication device, Colin coul...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - February 12, 2020 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Deidra Darst Tags: Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Augmentative Alternative Communication Autism Spectrum Disorder Source Type: blogs
What People Think They Know About Autism Bears Little Relation To Their Actual Knowledge
By guest blogger Dan Carney
One of the most well-known psychological biases is the Dunning-Kruger effect: the tendency for individuals less skilled or knowledgeable in a particular area to overestimate their own performance. Now, a team of researchers from Miami University, Ohio, have offered the most robust evidence yet that this may apply to knowledge about autism — that what people think they know about the condition may not be that closely related to what they actually know.
Writing in the March issue of Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, the authors — led by Camilla McMahon — measured perceived and actual ...
Source: BPS RESEARCH DIGEST - February 6, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: BPS Research Digest Tags: Autism guest blogger Source Type: blogs
Using Books to Start the Conversation About Big Feelings in Young Students
Being a small child with big feelings is hard.
The glow of holidays and winter break has faded and it’s a long time until summer. For my 4- to 6-year-olds, this time of year often brings on those big feelings. I can easily find tons of age-appropriate resources covering emotions like happy, sad, and angry. But what about creating an environment to discuss disappointment? Anxiety? Guilt?
We live in a time in which these more complex feelings can come out earlier, last longer, and more intensely affect young developing minds. I’ve discovered several approaches to work on processing these types of feelings with my younges...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - February 3, 2020 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Nicole Corin Tags: Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Autism Spectrum Disorder Early Intervention Language Disorders social skills Source Type: blogs
Strategies to Support Parents Caring for Adult Children with Disabilities
Parents caring for their adult children with communication disorders walk a tight rope. They precariously inch along the wire of life, balancing their own responsibilities plus those of their children. They also balance myriad schedules, health care professionals, therapies, medications, and special equipment necessary for activities of daily living.
Many of these visionary parents rejected the prevailing past trends to institutionalize their children. These parents might have been active in making sure their children received appropriate services in school, or home schooled. Many also advocated to change laws improving e...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - January 31, 2020 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Nola Radford Tags: Academia & Research Health Care Private Practice Slider Speech-Language Pathology Autism Spectrum Disorder Source Type: blogs
Nat Solves the Autism Puzzle Piece
I give you my latest column for Psychology Today. Enjoy!
(Source: Susan's Blog)
Source: Susan's Blog - January 31, 2020 Category: Child Development Authors: Susan Senator Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: blogs
Health vs Choice? The Vaccination Debate.
On Sunday 3 November, OUC’s Dr Alberto Giubilini participated in a debate on compulsory vaccination at 2019 Battle of Ideas Festival (Barbican Centre, London). Chaired by Ellie Lee, the session also featured Dr Michael Fitzpatrick (GP and author, MMR and Autism: what parents need to know and Defeating Autism: a damaging delusion); Emilie Karafillakis (Vaccine Confidence Project); and Nancy McDermott (author, The Problem with […] (Source: blog.bioethics.net)
Source: blog.bioethics.net - January 28, 2020 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Practical Ethics Tags: Health Care Alberto Giubilini's Posts children choice Debate medical ethics public discourse responsibility syndicated vaccination Video Series Source Type: blogs
ASHA President: Is Parents ’ Smartphone Use the New Secondhand Smoke?
In a prominent “USA Today” op-ed—featured in the newspaper’s online Opinion section and reprinted by publications all over the country—ASHA 2020 President Theresa Rodgers addresses adults’ digital usage habits.
Rodgers writes about how parents’ preoccupation with smartphones can negatively affect their children’s speech and language development. Parents’ diverted attention deprives children of essential day-to-day human interaction. This crucial early interaction fuels language development and communication skills.
In the piece, Rodgers writes:
“But anyone raising or caring for children today should kno...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - January 17, 2020 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Francine Pierson Tags: Advocacy Audiology News Slider Speech-Language Pathology Autism Spectrum Disorder Early Intervention Language Disorders social skills Speech Disorders Source Type: blogs
5 Questions to Guide Post-High School Transition Goals
How can we plan for a student’s post-secondary journey while working on current educational needs?
As a school-based SLP in the secondary setting, I see the importance of creating meaningful transition plans for students with communication disorders. But I can’t address these needs alone. A student’s entire school team needs to understand the importance of this stage in a student’s life. Providing the right kind of support for transitions out of high school can foster growth in social and personal skills, while enhancing carryover of communication learning into employment settings.
This is a critical area of need...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - January 13, 2020 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Nicole Shaffer Tags: Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Autism Spectrum Disorder Language Disorders social skills Source Type: blogs
Trend: Growing interest in (and questions around) brain training centers for kids with special needs
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Parents pay thousands for ‘brain training’ to help kids with ADHD and autism. But does it work? (NBC News):
“…As the number of children diagnosed with ADHD and autism surges in the U.S., according to federal data, and as parents become exasperated with treatments that don’t work or involve medications that carry the risk of side effects, neurotechnology industry analysts predict the demand for programs like these will only grow…
Much of the growth in brain training is in apps and games that people use at home or in school, said Alvaro Fernandez, CEO of SharpBrains, a research firm that tracks the neurotechn...
Source: SharpBrains - January 13, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: SharpBrains Tags: Cognitive Neuroscience Education & Lifelong Learning Technology adhd autism Brain Balance brain training brain training centers BrainRx Direct-to-Consumer LearningRx Neurotechnology Source Type: blogs
Vaccines for women: Before conception, during pregnancy, and after a birth
The rise of vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as measles and hepatitis, in the United States and around the globe has been alarming in recent years. For women — especially those hoping to become pregnant, as well as women who are pregnant or have recently had a baby — vaccines can be a worrisome topic. There are many misconceptions about vaccine safety in and around pregnancy that can lead to confusion and unnecessary fear of a lifesaving medical tool. As a practicing ob/gyn, I often discuss vaccines with my patients and help them sort out fears versus facts.
Which vaccines should you consider before conception?
The ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 10, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ilona T. Goldfarb, MD, MPH Tags: Health Parenting Pregnancy Vaccines Women's Health Source Type: blogs
Why Involve Siblings in Speech-Language Intervention
For some time now I’ve been talking about incorporating sibling participation into speech-language intervention.
I know what you’re thinking: It’s hard enough to focus on goals, take data, and find functional, motivating activities to help generalize skills into daily routines. Why add one more thing into the mix?
Here’s why … sibling participation can create a win-win situation for both the sibling and the child needing services. Siblings often feel left out and confused about their brother’s or sister’s special needs. I experience this first-hand as a sibling of a sister who stutters, a mother of a child wi...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - January 8, 2020 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Denise Underkoffler Tags: Health Care Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Autism Spectrum Disorder Early Intervention Fluency Disorders Language Disorders Source Type: blogs
UCSF to open innovative neurology clinic to address “diagnostic odyssey”
The new UCSF Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Neurology Clinic will be housed in the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Neurosciences Building.
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UCSF to Launch Unique Neurology Clinic Specializing in Difficult-to-Diagnose Cases (press release):
“A proposed neurology clinic at UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay aims to shortcut the “diagnostic odyssey” faced by many patients with baffling brain symptoms that do not meet the standard criteria for any specific condition.
Patients with ambiguous neurological symptoms, but no diagnosis, frequently go from specialist-to-specialist over a protracted period of time. The goal of...
Source: SharpBrains - January 7, 2020 Category: Neuroscience Authors: SharpBrains Tags: Cognitive Neuroscience Health & Wellness Technology autism behavior brain disease brain symptoms dementia diagnostic odyssey neurological symptoms neurology Neurology Clinic neurosurgery Parkinsons-disease pre-diagnostic screen Source Type: blogs
ASHA Voices Rings in the New Year and Looks Back at Our Beginnings
Happy New Year, ASHA Voices’ listeners! We hope you enjoyed the holidays and are ready to tackle 2020. We certainly can’t wait to bring you more discussions about audiology and speech-language pathology—conversations about how we communicate and how communication changes our lives. We’re excited about what’s in store, and we hope you’ll join the conversation.
We’ll be back on Jan. 16 with a full episode, but until then, listen to a sampling of what you can expect this year:
In upcoming episodes, you can expect to hear from researchers exploring ways to reverse hearing loss. We’ll also t...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - January 2, 2020 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: J.D. Gray Tags: Academia & Research Audiology Health Care Podcast Private Practice Schools Slider Speech-Language Pathology Dysphagia Hearing Assistive Technology hearing loss Voice Disorders Source Type: blogs
Congenital heart disease and autism: A possible link?
Children born with congenital heart disease (CHD) are now surviving at extraordinarily high rates; for most, their life expectancy may be comparable to that of the general population. However, despite the great advances in medical and surgical care, many people with CHD experience long-lasting neurodevelopmental difficulties. These include problems with attention and executive function skills, learning challenges, and in some cases, lower-than-normal IQs.
Study links congenital heart disease and autism
A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics provides compelling evidence that there may also be an association betw...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 2, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Johanna Calderon, PhD Tags: Children's Health Heart Health Parenting Screening Source Type: blogs
