As many regular readers will have noticed special needs gets quite a bit of coverage oc children with special needs.
Not surprising given I’m the father of a son on the autism spectrum.
But, of course, it is not the only game in town.
This was why I am so please to share this graphic with you which introduces other types of common special needs in children.
They include arthritis, ADHD, and multiple sclerosis among others.
Find more education infographics on e-Learning Infographics
A few years ago the son of a friend of mine was diagnosed with ADHD.
He is very talented boy who has , in my view, been mucked about by the UK’s education system not least because they did not consider ADHD an option.
So when I found this great overview of ADHD (or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder for long) I really wanted to share with you.
We have covered the area of ADHD in previous blog post so you many find them of interest!
Please do share this among your friends and family especially if they have children of school age. You never know when it might help!
From Visually.
Having spent the last six years of my life very closely involved with the autism community I often cannot see the wood because of the large forest surrounding me. Let me explain. Out son, John, has moderate ASD – indeed his autism has been described as “classic”. You know the sort of thing all the triad boxes ticked.
Which means that I have often ignored other types of autism and similar conditions on this blog.
Well today I want to rectify this. In this blog post we would like to focus on a condition related to autism called Fragile X Syndrome. They are related in so far as around 50% of children with FXS also have a diagnosis of autism. So I’d like to share the brilliant infographic below. If you could share it on I would be very grateful.
As you may know Fragile X Syndrome which is also known as Martin–Bell syndrome or Escalante’s syndrome is the most common genetic intellectual disability. According to most figures it affect 1 in 4,000 boys and 1 in 6,000 girls. Around 50% of people with FXS will also have a diagnosis of autism. There are also high rates of ADHD within the Fragile X community.
That being said one of the best ways of increasing awareness, acceptance and understanding of a condition is to get people to share their stories. It would be great if people with FXS or their loved ones would consider telling your story in the comment section below. Anything you would like to share will be of great interest but you might like to consider the following question:-
a) Do you have FXS or what is your relationship to a person with Fragile X Syndrome?
b) What were the earliest signs and symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome?
c) What treatments and therapies were used and how effective were they?
d) How many people in your family have Fragile X?
e) What one bit of advice would you give to a family who discovered they were carrying FXS?
Thanks very much for your help and can we ask you to share this blog post and infographic once again?
Fragile X Inforgraphic by the National Fragile X Foundation – See more at: https://fragilex.org/2013/foundation/fragile-x-infographic/#sthash.toNC99S0.dpuf
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
But you aren’t alone; a recent study by the CDC found that about 11 percent of children in America have been diagnosed with ADHD. You won’t be able to help your child with every challenge ADHD throws his way, but there are many home changes you can make that will help. Here are four ways to make your home more ADHD-friendly for your child:
Eliminate the presence of electronics in your child’s bedroom. Playing video games and watching television in the same room where he sleeps can actually hinder your child’s sleep quality. Make his room a place to relax and unwind from the stresses of the day. Decorate with soothing earth tones and even be especially selective with artwork: a peaceful farm scene creates a calmer mood than a raging ocean storm.
Develop and maintain a daily routine. Keep a list of chores (or try a classic chore wheel!) to help him track his daily responsibilities, and even create a reward system as you see consistent success. Helping create strong organizational skills makes a world of difference for children with ADHD, and eventually the routines will become habit. Not only will you help hone his organization and planning habits, he’ll get a self-esteem boost from being able to stay on top of his duties.
Help him find his special talent or passion. Self-esteem issues are common in both children and adults with ADHD, so help him discover a positive skill to focus on. If he’s great at basketball, get him involved with a team. Is he a piano lover? Get him lessons! You’ll be providing him with not just the opportunity to be more social with his peers, but also a way to feel confident in front of them. A productive hobby can also be a great outlet to work out his frustrations from the day; maybe he struggled in math today, but he came home and really nailed that recital piece he’s been working on! With the numerous challenges in his daily life, it’s important to let him nurture a skill he’s both good at and passionate about.
Consider adopting a dog. Yes, that’s right. Owning a pet has actually been proven to have both physical and mental health benefits. Dogs specifically can be especially wonderful companions for those afflicted with ADHD. They’re great playmates to help burn off excess energy, can help develop responsibility skills, and best of all, they can be a special kind of support system. Dogs are nonjudgmental by nature and love unconditionally, and can become a trusted confidante and comfort on your child’s most challenging days. Think about it: is there anything quite as soothing as the, “I’ll love you forever!” look your pup gives you every time you walk through the door?
It can be difficult to know how to help your child after an ADHD diagnosis, but it’s important to focus on the things you can control. Making your home an organized, calm, and encouraging place to be is a great place to start. Take each day as it comes, and remember that your most important role is supporter!
Vee Cecil is a personal trainer and wellness coach who writes about all things health-related on her blog. She currently lives in Kentucky with her husband and two children.
ADHD Awareness
We were contacted last week by Fiona Lynch of Deakin University who has us to help her find respondents for her research. So it would be great if you could give her a helping hand if you qualify.
Lynch writes “I am currently conducting a research project on hoarding behaviours in children and adolescents with and without ADHD that may interest you and some of your readers. I am currently seeking parents of 8-17 year olds with and without ADHD to take part in an important research project aimed at improving our understanding of the co-occurrence between ADHD and hoarding in children (e.g., clutter, difficulty discarding items, acquiring items). The project is examining the cognitive and familial factors associated with hoarding behaviours among children and adolescents. I am hoping if this project interests you, you may like to share it with your readers.
Parents can participate by completing a once-off online questionnaire about your child’s behaviours, taking approximately 20 minutes. If parents would like to take part in this exciting project, they can click the link below. Alternatively, they can contact the researchers directly to receive a mailed copy of the questionnaires or to discuss any questions they may have.
https://www.psychsurveys.org/hoardingchildren/hoardingchildren
This project forms part of my Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) at Deakin University and is conducted under the supervision of Prof Jane McGillivray, Dr Richard Moulding, and Dr Linda Byrne. This project has been approved by Deakin Human Research Ethics Committee (approval # 2013-225).”
You can contact Ms Lynch at flynch@deakin.edu.au