19 Summer Tips From Special Needs Parents

Summer is around the corner for many of us. This means picnics, day trips and all around summer fun. It can also mean different schedules, new sensory stimuli and additional meltdowns. Here are 19 summer tips for special needs parents.

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Study Shows Early Sound Recognition Contributes to Good Spelling Abilities in Children

Learning to spell is not just about knowing how to read the words but also knowing how to recognize each word as it is heard. eReflect, makers of Ultimate Spelling, found a British study that pursues this theory by determining the relationship of early sound recognition with a child’s spelling ability. So for those of us with SPD kiddos, how does their sensory challenges affect their ability to hear words properly?

One Family’s Struggle with Sensory Processing Disorder

You are not alone in struggling with Sensory Processing Disorder. Here is one family’s struggle.

The Out-of-Sync Child

Book: The Out-of-Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz

The Out-of-Sync Child broke new ground by identifying Sensory Processing Disorder, a common but frequently misdiagnosed problem in which the central nervous system misinterprets messages from the senses. This newly revised edition features additional information from recent research on vision and hearing deficits, motor skill problems, nutrition and picky eaters, ADHA, autism, and other related disorders.

Signs of SPD in Children – from Picky Eating to Temper Tantrums

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects five to ten percent of all children.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) affects five to ten percent of all children – an average of one child in every classroom.

Imagine having a child who finds hugs unbearable, or a child who throws temper tantrums virtually every time he or she is taken to a restaurant or store, or a child who refuses to eat. These behaviors are daily realities for more than three million children in the United States alone.

New Survey Shows Concern among Mental Health Professionals About New DSM-5 Guidelines

The Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy, in collaboration with online education provider myCME.com, have released a new white paper on attitudes, perceptions and concerns about the upcoming publication of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in May 2013. It shows that six out of ten clinicians expect significant impact to clinical practice from DSM-5.

Ultimately, this manual and the way in which clinicians apply its guidance impacts every patient treated by the mental health community. It’s a significant development for all clinicians.

Sleep Issues: Diagnosing the Wrong Deficit

By s_evenseth on Flickr

My son has sensory issues. No doubt about it. But when he doesn’t get enough sleep, it becomes that much worse. When we was younger, we didn’t realize he was having sleep problems. Vman had enlarged adenoids that was causing him to wake up throughout the night. Ultimately, he wasn’t getting good sleep, which was making his fits that much worse by the end of the day.

Parents Are the Best Advocates for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder

Parents know when their child has a sensory problem, but too often their observations are discounted because they are ‘just the parents.’

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition that affects the way the brain receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. SPD affects more than one in twenty children– that’s one child in every classroom.

Causes and Treatment of Poor Fine Motor Control

Just what causes poor fine motor control in children? A better understanding will allow you to address the issues better.

Plastic Craft Scissors March 17, 20101 (Photo credit: stevendepolo)

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Just what is Sensory Processing Disorder? This is easily the most common question on this site. Here’s another take on answering this question…

Image by Nhoj Leunamme == Jhon Emmanuel via Flickr