Updated Friday, February 24, 2017 What are sensory rooms? Sensory rooms are designed to “both calm and stimulate the senses” in children with special needs. Occupational Therapist, Carol Cantu says that sensory rooms have three main purposes: to provide relaxation and enjoyment by eliminating distraction, to increase creative sensory input, and to facilitate communication and mobility for children with a wide range of disabilities. Sensory issues are common in children with special needs. Sensory issues include sensitivity to smells, touch, texture, taste, light and sound. For example, some children with sensory issues find different types of clothing bothersome. Sounds bother other children, even sounds most of us struggle to hear. The exact cause of sensory […]
Chronic illness, choice and some spoons
Updated Wednesday, July 8, 2015 People with invisible disabilities often think their friends and families misunderstand the effect their illnesses have on their daily lives. Because they look fine and sometimes can function to their full abilities, other people do not recognize that pain, fatigue and other symptoms limit their ability to do what they want or need to do. They do not realize that each day, people with these illnesses make choices. Since they cannot do everything, they must choose each task carefully. Fatigue is a particularly debilitating symptom. It is a common symptom of many chronic diseases such as lupus, Addison’s disease, fibromyalgia, arthritis and multiple sclerosis. When people look fine, how do they help their […]
Motor Skill Problems in Autistic Children Linked to Social & Communication Deficits
Updated Wednesday, August 5, 2015Children with autism have problems with social and communication skills. Many children with autism also struggle with deficits in their motor skills. Motor skill problems and autism severity are linked with the level of social and communication problems that children with autism have, according to research from Oregon State University. < Two studies led by researcher Megan McDonald examined whether there was a relationship between the severity of motor skill problems and the degree of deficits in social and communication skills. McDonald found that the children who had weaker motor skills also had greater deficits in their social and communication skills. “So much of the focus on autism has been on developing social skills, and that is very crucial,” said MacDonald. […]
Autism and play – what’s the best type of play for children with autism?
Updated Thursday, August 6, 2015 One way for parents to reward children’s good behavior is by allowing them to engage in play they enjoy. However, it is challenging for parents and teachers to find play activities that appeal to children with autism. Kathy Ralabate Doody, PhD from SUNY Buffalo and her colleagues set out to discover the types of play preferred by children with autism. The researchers found children with autism prefer play involving: strong sensory input and feedback repetitive movement or motion “cause/effect attributes” Doody based the study on observations of children at a museum with a variety of exhibits designed to encourage play by the children. The most popular exhibits among children with autism were: Climbing stairs – […]
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not autism treatment – FDA warns parents
Updated Thursday, August 6, 2015 Hyperbaric oxygen treatment is not an effective treatment or cure for autism according to the US Food and Drug Administration(FDA). Companies and websites claiming hyperbaric oxygen can treat or cure autism are misleading the public, reports the FDA. It states: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has not been clinically proven to cure or be effective in the treatment of cancer, autism, or diabetes. But do a quick search on the Internet, and you’ll see all kinds of claims for these and other diseases for which the device has not been cleared or approved by FDA. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers are medical devices and are regulated by the FDA. During hyperbaric […]
Children With Autism Process Movement Faster Than Their Peers
Updated Monday, August 3, 2015 Colleen Gavin on Flickr Children with autism see movement differently than their neurotypical peers, according to recent research. In one study, autistic children detected movement twice as fast as their peers did. In another study, autistic children observed and processed motion faster than children without the disorder. This enhanced ability to integrate motion may explain the sensory problems many children with autism have. “Such heightened sensory perception in autism may help explain why some people with the disorder are painfully sensitive to noise and bright lights. It also may be linked to some of the complex social and behavioral deficits associated with autism,” says Duje Tadin, a lead author and assistant professor at the University […]
Indifference & lack of empathy as a toddler may lead to antisocial behaviour later
Updated Friday, June 5, 2015 Credit: Mindaugus Danys on Flickr Preschool children whose behavior is inconsiderate and apathetic are at risk for later behavioral problems, according to researchers from the University of Michigan. Young children who show a lot of oppositional behavior, ADHD like behavior or “callous and unemotional behavior” are most likely to display this behavior at the beginning of primary school. If this type of behavior goes unchecked, the child may become aggressive or violent as an adult. “Adults who are aggressive or violent have often shown early-starting behavior problems as young children, said Rebecca Waller, the study’s lead author. Thus, a focus on understanding the emergence and development of […]
Fruit juice is not as healthy as it sounds
Updated Friday, June 5, 2015 US Department of Agriculture on Wikimedia Commons) That glass of fruit juice may be as bad for you as a sugar filled soda report researchers from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Many fruit juices have a similar calorie count to fizzy drinks and as much sugar! Here are some examples: An eight ounce glass of Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice contains 22 grams of sugar. In comparison, an eight ounce glass of Pepsi contains 28 grams of sugar. Cristiano Betta on flickr 250 ml or just over 8 ounces of a strawberry and banana Innocent smoothie contains 26 grams of sugar, just .5 grams less than 250 ml of […]
Special Needs, Disability and Air Travel: Some Tips
Updated Tuesday, November 17, 2015For many parents, the idea of bringing their children with special needs on a holiday strikes fear in their hearts, particularly if their journey involves air travel. Walking through the airport, waiting to check in, going through security screening and just being on an airplane cause fear, tantrums and meltdowns for some children with special needs. Crowds, lights and noises in airports cause sensory overload. Going through security, and separation from a parent or guardian for even a short time is very distressing for any child and even more so for those with special needs. Thankfully, some airports and airlines recognize these potential problems and are implementing solutions. […]
Parents’ fights can disrupt their kids’ emotional development
Updated Friday, June 5, 2015 Credit: Namibnat on Flickr Fights between parents can disrupt their children’s abilities to identify and control emotions, reports a study from New York University. In addition, children that are exposed to fighting over a long period have a higher risk for developing anxiety and depression, according to the study. Researchers followed over 1,000 children from 6 months of age until they were nearly 5 years old. They established that parents’ verbal and physical aggression could interfere with “children’s ability to regulate their own feelings of sadness, withdrawal, and fear, placing them at greater risk for symptoms of anxiety and depression later on.” In addition to parental conflict, researchers investigated whether other symptoms […]
