The sun is setting and all you can think about is “Not another bedtime!” The yelling and crying last night was enough to last a week. Just when you thought you were in the clear, you hear calls from your child’s bedroom after he wakes up and cannot fall back to sleep. Bedtime can be…
At this time, let’s revisit the question presented at the beginning. Recall the exasperated parent asking, “Why can’t you just do what I told you to do?” On the surface, it appears that the difference lies between hearing and listening. Hearing involves the registration of sound waves through the eardrum which stimulates particular parts of…
To help move from abstract concepts to skills, let’s look at impulsivity. Impulsivity can be looked at as a deficit in inhibition and impulse control, otherwise known as delayed gratification. Delayed gratification is waiting for a larger or higher quality reward in lieu of a lower quality, smaller reward. Identifying delayed gratification brings about behavior…
Overall, ADHD symptoms suggest difficulties with executive functioning, and may highlight that ADHD is partially a disorder of executive functioning. Executive functioning consists of three areas: working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. Working memory is where information is manipulated or transformed in conscious awareness. Working memory is utilized if you are recalling a mental…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) most recent survey data in 2011, there were 8.8% of children ages 4 to 17 diagnosed with ADHD, which was an increase from 2007, with 7.2% of children diagnosed with ADHD. Males are more frequently diagnosed with ADHD in both children and adults compared to…
An Assessment of ADHD Symptoms How we diagnose ADHD symptoms Assessment of children suspected of ADHD should be conducted according to best practice. This includes gathering medical, developmental, social, and educational information, reviewing educational and medical records, in addition to previous evaluations, interviewing parents, teachers, other professionals who have worked with the child, and, when…
What Is ADHD? This and other questions of a similar vein are often asked by exasperated parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when they find their child doing something other than what was asked. Although parents, in general, may experience these issues, parents of a child diagnosed with ADHD may find themselves…
Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and those supporting them are utilizing technological innovations more than ever before through the use of portable electronic devices in the form of tablets, smartphones, and laptops. These devices are used to assist communication needs as well as to serve as reinforcers to access preferred stimuli (videos and music).…
Originally posted on Autism NJ “Mom, Dad, can Samantha come over to play?” • “Do you want to play together at recess?” • “Can I ride bikes with Johnny?” • “We want to go to the movies later, is that okay?” • “I’m meeting my friend for lunch. See you later.” For many…
Being able to be as independent as possible often substantially impacts future success in all aspects of life (Causton-Theoharis, 2009; Hume, Loftin, & Lantz, 2009). Therefore, as a student moves through adolescence, it is essential for the educational team and family to place increasing emphasis on promoting student independence. This should be carefully considered when…