Adult ADHD Evaluation and Assessment Starts at FDU

February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Most people have heard of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but it’s mostly regarded as a disorder in children and adolescents. In truth, about 7 percent of adults suffer from ADHD. The disorder is exhausting for kids, but imagine constantly trying focus at your job or as a parent. A new clinic at Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey was created to research the disorder and help adults with ADHD through therapy and other services. The clinic provides both assessments and treatments, which will be detailed in the paragraphs that follow.

  • Assessment: A number of adults with ADHD had the disorder in younger years, but adult onset ADHD also occurs. The most importance facet of assessment is proper diagnosis. Adults with ADHD may have additional problems, such as depression, that affect the adult’s ability to function as well. The process of assessment includes a two-visit evaluation of the adult, which includes the following inspections:
    • Psychological testing: The patients are examined to ascertain whether or not they are indeed suffering from ADHD. Because ADHD is also associated with other mood and anxiety disorders, a full psychological test is performed to determine the extent of the patient’s problems.
    • Neuropsychological testing: Once ADHD is diagnosed, the patient undergoes a number of neuropsychological tests to pinpoint the locations in the brain affected by the disorder. Once the difficulties are deduced, the clinicians can more adeptly decide the best treatment options.
    • Learning disabilities evaluation: If an adult also have any number of learning disabilities, the treatment should be altered to address the additional impediments. It is not atypical for adults with ADHD to harbor other disabilities.
    • Behavior evaluation: Doctors observe the patient’s ability to cope with the disorder. In doing so, they will be able to offer the best advice for improving those mechanisms once the full evaluation is complete.
  • Treatment: Once the patient has been totally assessed, the treatment program begins. Fairleigh Dickinson University emphasizes comprehensive treatment, meaning the therapists do not simply diagnose ADHD and treat only that disorder. Understanding every aspect to the patient is key to designing a fitting treatment program.
Filed Under: Disability Care, Health Tips Tagged With: , ,

Early signs of learning disability

January 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A learning disability can hinder a progress as well as quality of life. Learning disabilities in adults are extremely difficult to treat. However, early detection during childhood can help in treatment. Young minds are malleable and can be developed to get around the disability. Through proper treatment at an early stage can help a person get good formal education and lead a better social and personal life. They can be better equipped to have successful relationships and an improved quality of life.

 

A parent should always be observant in matters concerning their children. What is often taken for bad behavior can actually be signs of a learning disability. It is important that parents arm themselves with all the information possible to detect disabilities early. Here are some physical, behavioral as well as intellectual shortcomings that could be signs that your child has a learning disability:

 

Physical shortcomings

 

The child will always be very clumsy. Inability to handle objects without dropping them, inability to catch something that is in motion, holding  pencil awkwardly, having a limping or unbalanced walk and getting hurt often are some of the physical signs of a learning disability.

 

Behavioral Shortcoming

 

Children with a learning disability can show clear signs like an extremely short temper, being uncomfortable around people and preferring isolation, having few or no friends, takes time to understand what is being said, has trouble understanding non-verbal communication and can be destructive if reprimanded for behavior.

 

Intellectual Shortcomings

 

Children with learning disabilities often have trouble reading and when they do read, have trouble understanding the content. Poor grammar, reversing alphabets and numbers, trouble in writing certain words or numbers, spelling a word differently each time, having poor problem solving skills, taking excessive times to learn new skills and inability to follow directions can all be signs of a learning disability.

 

If your child displays a combination of the above shortcoming, immediately get the child checked for possible learning disabilities.

Filed Under: Disability Care Tagged With:

Selecting a school for a child with learning disability

January 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A child with a learning disability requires more attention than average children. This applies to education as well. Most parents of such children are aware of the fact that schools dedicated to the education of learning disability children are much better equipped to ensure over all development of the child than a school catering to average children. Thankfully, there is no dearth of specialized institutions for LD children. However, parents need to be very selective when deciding on which school to admit their child into. The right school will not only address your child’s unique requirements but will also help treat the disability itself. Here are some things you should look into when selecting a school for your child:

 

1.       Analyze the admission procedure of a school. Meet the Administration Officer and ask him or her to list out how the school can help in treating your child’s disability and help in their over all development.

2.       The administration Officer should also be able to clarify what categories and level of learning disabilities does the school address. This will help you in deciding how well your child fits into this spectrum.

3.       Thoroughly understand the teaching structure and support that the school can provide and also check what the school would expect from your child.

4.       A good school always has a well drawn process of evaluation and measuring progress. Find out what process the school in question follows and whether it is objective.

5.       Find out how well trained the teachers are and get a first hand look by visiting classes while they are in session. In fact, visit the school itself during class hours so that you can see the environment your child might be a part of.

6.       Check out the technology and methods being used to teach. The school much be using the most advanced options available for the physical, intellectual and emotional development of a child with a learning disability.

Filed Under: Disability Care Tagged With:

Education for a child with learning disability

January 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Parents of a child with learning disability have a daunting responsibility on their shoulders. Bringing an LD child up in a manner that equips them to walk in step with the rest of the world requires a great deal of effort. The first step in child care once your little one has been diagnosed with LD is to thoroughly understand the condition. Understanding the disability will help you to be more supportive of your child, giving them the emotional and psychological boost that they so badly need. You support will, in turn, help the child to with the challenges they will face at every step in life.

 

Children with learning disabilities can be misfits in a school for average children. Not being able to blend in can have a major negative impact on the child’s self confidence, discouraging them from attempting any efforts to progress. Schools that are specially made for children with such disabilities are best for many reasons. To begin with, the courses and curriculum at these schools are designed keeping in mind the limits of the mind of a learning disability child. Methods used to teach use variations on multimedia, experimental learning and multisensory approaches to stimulate a child’s mind to grow and develop better than it would at a school employing common teaching techniques.

 

The teachers and staff are trained to better handle such children and are able to teach more effectively. Being sensitive to the child’s unique needs, the teachers can cultivate a positive outlook and encourage children to be bolder and more receptive of situations and challenges that the outside world will present. The schools place well balanced attention towards mental, physical as well as emotional development of children, something that average schools often miss. Placing an LD child in a dedicated school helps them learn in an environment that they can easily adjust to and can be prepared to face the world at large as they grow.

Filed Under: Disability Care Tagged With:

Accessible Travel for the Disabled

January 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Disabilities affect people from all age groups. However, since a lot of disabilities occur at an advanced aged they are more prevalent in people over 50 years of age. Senior citizen can find walking long distances challenging. This makes getting around airports, tours or even the local hypermarket tough and senior citizens might avoid such activities all together. However, being disabled does not mean that you cannot enjoy the pleasure of taking a vacation!

 

Almost all international airports offer accessible travel facilities for the disabled. However, senior citizens often hesitate to use these facilities, especially those with an early onset of disability. The cause may the embarrassment or believing that someone else might need these facilities more. Senior citizens should be encouraged to use accessible travel facilities to avoid health complications during travel and to make vacations more comfortable.

 

Travelling costs the same for people with disabilities as physically fit people. Hotel rates as well as airfare remain the same too. In fact, objects used to aid the disabled like wheelchairs are not included in baggage so you don’t have to pay excess weight either. Many hotels actually offer discounted rates for the disabled. People with disabilities should not hesitate to take up such accommodation as it not only save them money but also makes getting around the room easier through disability friendly features. Renting a car, however, can be more expensive as they need to be specially fitted for use by the physically disabled. However, if you can manage a large vehicle with hand controlling, giving the rental company an advance notice will help you save the cost

 

It should be kept in mind that arranging for an accessible travel takes time so the disabled need to make a head start when planning for a vacation. Accessible cabins on cruise ships as well as similar rooms in hotels can get booked quickly and require advance booking. Accessible travel makes vacationing easy for the disabled.

Filed Under: Disability Care Tagged With:

A Family’s Struggle with Disability

January 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Barack Obama speech "Fighting for Health ...

It’s a hardship some families don’t have to deal with. For others, it was never a conscious choice. It’s called a disability. Maybe your child has it, or your spouse has it, or even you have it. Either way you look at it, it’s a difficult thing to deal with largely because you really don’t have any control over it. So naturally health insurance is even more important for families with disabilities, and here’s why:

What comes with a disability is always a pressure point for a family—astronomical medical costs that could drown a family in days. It’s definitely not something a poor mother and father would want to deal with but have no choice in the matter. Having good health insurance can help lighten the load and make it easier to handle. What results is better care of the child from a parent’s perspective as well as a medical and financial perspective, removing the need to make high co-pay appointments with doctors and pharmacists for prescriptions that cost an arm and a leg.

Another important question, though, is what health insurance to get. The answer is simple. If you’re a single individual, usually an HMO works well; but since you’re part of a family, a standard PPO such as Blue Cross Blue Shield will more than make the grade. You can also compare insurance quotes to get a better understanding of what you’re up against as far as finances. While you benefit greatly from having insurance, make no mistake, up-keeping the policy is a monthly payment that you absolutely have to prioritize. So consider your budget wisely, and do your research well.

After all, it is for the benefit of your child. Don’t let the disability ruin the child’s life. Don’t let it stress yours. Acquire good health insurance, and you’re golden.

Filed Under: Care & Support, Disability Care Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Getting to know Autism better

January 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Autism is a mental disorder that results from brain damage at birth. Although it is a mental disability, autism results in several behavioral problems too. The disorder is present in children from birth with visible and noticeable symptoms appears before the child completes 3 years of age. It has been noted that for every girl affected by autism, there are 3 boys. In America, one in every 150 children is autistic, a very high number. Although initially thought to be a physiological disorder, it is now known to be physical one. It can arise either on its own or as a result of other mental disorders like epilepsy and viral infections.

Autism is often misdiagnosed as mental retardation or other brain disorders as proper treatment and education go a long way in helping autistic children cope with day to day life. Mishandling an affected child may cause further mental and psychological damage. There are several symptoms that can be easily spotted in an autistic child which should be observed and immediately reported to a healthcare provider. Here is a look at the most common of these symptoms:

1. Repeating actions like spinning around in circles or flapping hands, always keeps things in a certain pattern.

2. Delayed or no speech development. When the child does talk, it has very limited vocabulary and often confuses ‘I’ and ‘You’.

3. Echolalia: Constantly repeats what he/she heard last.

4. Avoids eye contact or fails to notice people.

5. Likes walking on tips and toes or keeps balancing on edges and corners.

6. Is very passive and does not like to interact with others, shows no interest in toys and has few or no friends. The child could also be extremely nervous or overly active.

7. Extreme reactions and aggressive behavior triggered by certain sounds, foods, textures, people or being touched.

8. Has one normal or even advanced skills at Arts, Arithmetic, Music or displays perfect memory.

Filed Under: Disability Care Tagged With:

Know more about disabled and adaptive clothing

January 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Taking care of a disabled or handicapped loved one is very challenging. Along with the responsibility of looking after every need and comfort of the loved one, you also need to cope with your daily life. Having a disabled, handicapped or dependent person like an elderly around can take a huge bite out of your personal time. When you have so many things to consider, you would want to make things as easy as possible for you and as comfortable for the loved one. While there are several items for sale that aid a person with physical disabilities and also help the caregiver, one doesn’t often think of easy clothing.

 

A person who is physically disabled and needs to be moved around finds it difficult to perform simple tasks like changing clothes. A caregiver needs to put in a tremendous amount of physical effort to help elderly people bathe or change clothes. It to make such tasks easy that disabled and adaptive clothing have been developed. Styled and manufactured keeping the various needs of a disabled, handicapped or dependent person in mind, these clothes go a long way in making your loved one safe and comfortable while making life easier for you.

 

Adaptive/ disabled clothing is made of fabric that is durable yet soft and breathable. They don’t require ironing and are comfortable to wear. Most of these fabrics are stain resistant and don’t shrink so they fit well. Clothing for persons with low mobility is made from highly elastic fabric that stretches to make dressing easy while retaining a good shape once a person is dressed. For arthritic patient, buttons are replaced by Velcro or Easy Touch closures. Adaptive/ disabled clothing is styled for easy dressing and comfort. Full/ half open back designs have Velcro closures placed on shoulders so that the person is not seated on it yet give plenty of coverage that help discretion and comfort, ideal for low mobility disabilities.

Filed Under: Disability Care Tagged With:

Expressing Your Love for A Disabled Spouse

January 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When your spouse becomes disabled, a slew of emotions will run through you, often different from one day to the next. Rest assured that no matter what type of disability your spouse has, you can still show your love in many ways. A

Express Love Through Words
There is no better time than the present to tell you spouse that you love her. It will make both of you feel good. Go ahead and point out specific reasons why you love your spouse, or reminisce about funny stories from the past. You can say it in person, write a love letter, or even make a tape recording.

Express Love Through Actions
When you have a disabled spouse, you are showing your love often and you may not even realize it. Helping your spouse with everything from cooking meals to vacuuming may help in more ways than you realize.

Express Love Through Touch
Many people strive for the touch of others, it makes us human. A nice touch can put a huge smile on a disabled person. Now, just think if that touch is from the disabled person’s spouse. It will be even more precious. An easy way to express your love through touch is to hold your spouse’s hand.

Express Love Through Gifts
Some people are delighted to receive gifts. Mom’s enjoy receiving gifts their children made in school and gifts that husbands bring home from the jewelry store. Ignore the price tags and give your disabled spouse something she will truly cherish.

Express Love Through Time
Gifts can be nice, having someone else do the dishes is great, but nothing compares to spending time with your spouse. It can be as simple as watching a movie together, looking at photo albums, or just talking. Time is limited and time is precious, so who better of a person to share your time with than your spouse.

Filed Under: Disability Care Tagged With:

Tips and Questions for Choosing an Adult Daycare Facility

December 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ContentSome family members have found it best to keep elderly family members at home and attend an adult daycare facility instead of nursing home care. These programs are usually held on workdays, and are a fraction of the cost of nursing home expenses. If you are looking to choose an adult daycare facility for your elderly loved one, here are some tips.

Ask for References
One of the best ways to find a good place is to ask for references from trusted people. This could be your elderly family member’s doctor or social worker, it could be a co-worker in the same situation as you, or you can call your local council on aging and ask for references.

Visit the Facility
It is important to visit nearby adult daycare facilities to make sure the programs meet your satisfaction. Check out the building and make sure it’s in acceptable condition. What are the hours of operation? How long have they been in operation? How is the staff interacting with the patents? Are background checks done on all employees? Is the facility and staff licensed? Does the staff handle medical conditions such as incontinence or dementia?

Activities
You also want to find out about the activities at the facility. Is there a posted schedule of events? Do they take patients on short trips? Are there opportunities for exercise? How about free time? Does the adult daycare program have activities and games that your loved one enjoys? Are there therapy programs available?

Meals & Snacks
Meals and snacks should also be observed. Is there an additional fee for food? Is the food healthy and appealing? What time are snacks and meals served? Do they prepare food, or is an outside source responsible for supplying and cooking food?

Pricing
Medicaid does not cover the price for adult day care, but there may be financial aid available. Compare prices at different facilities to help you make a final decision.

Filed Under: Disability Care, Medication Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »