5 Tips for Dealing with Health Insurance

Today I wanted to share with you tips for parents who may be struggling through finding insurance coverage for their children. I know firsthand the challenges that we as parents face, especially in Hawai’i where cost of living, let alone health insurance, can rack up for a family of even just three.

Earlier this year, Hawaii passed a bill that mandates therapy coverage for children 14 years and under. Currently, health insurance companies are not required to help cover the costs of autism treatment in Hawaii. But Senate Bill 791, introduced by Sen. Josh Green, would mandate the insurance companies cover up to $25,000 a year in treatment until a child turns 14.

There is a lot to be thankful for with this bill, but it is still a challenging process to see if your child qualifies for insurance. These tips can help you through each step:

1. Understand Your Situation. For children with conditions such as autism, aspraxia, or developmental disorders that require frequent, long term, and intensive therapy, therapy could represent a significant cost for an insurer. Many insurers have clauses excluding therapy coverage for children with developmental disabilities, so familiarize yourself with the codes -  do not use anything that may suggest DD.  Instead ask your pediatrician to use alternate codes.  You want to avoid a denial in the first place.  However, understand before you begin fighting for coverage that you may likely face at least one denial, and perhaps several rounds of appeals. Always remember…don’t give up!  Insurers count on you to throw in the towel.

2. Do Your Homework. The internet and websites for developmental disorders can give you an amazing amount of background information, research articles, citations, textbook, conferences and more. There is also an incredibly rich archive of articles from experts that are perfect for using to support your arguments to the insurance company.

3. Understand Your Plan. It is necessary to thoroughly review your insurance benefits and understand the true scope of benefits. Each company has plans that is specific with services that are limited to a certain amount of time too, so please make sure you understand what your plan includes.

4. Get Local. Look into Hawai’i’s state laws, like the aforementioned Senate Bill 791. A few easy searches on the Hawaii legislature’s websites can yield you all the information that you need. Look into the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) of 1974. If your employer provides your health insurance through a policy of insurance or a health maintenance organization, ERISA is likely to apply.

5. Gather All Your Documents. Submit everything that can possibly be relevant to your argument to your health insurance company. Gather copies of the full text of website and journal articles, textbook chapters, symposium findings, etc. to back up all your arguments and counter arguments. Address every point the company makes, and provide documentation to counter them.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog.  We'll continue our discussion about how to successfully navigate the health insurance maze in Part 2.  See you then!

Study Proves Fast ForWord Effective for Dyslexia

Did you know that dyslexia affect 5 to 10 percent of Americans? We’re talking about a disorder that specifically causes difficulty in reading that directly interferes with our children’s academic progress and school success. It has nothing to do with a lack of educational opportunities, personal motivation or problems in sight or sound – it has to do with the brain.

In this web article that I’d like to share today, researchers discover that brains of dyslexia children can be rewired after undergoing intensive remediation training, using programs such as Fast ForWord, Interactive Metronome, and Wilson Reading System – which are all offered at Learn 2 Focus.

The following study centered on the use of Fast ForWord.  It included 20 dyslexic children aged 8 to 12 years. Their brains were scanned using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at Stanford's Lucas Center for Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy before and after participating in the eight-week training program. A control group of 12 children with normal reading abilities also underwent a functional MRI study.

Both the dyslexic children and the control group were asked to perform a simple rhyming task while having their brains scanned. During the rhyming exercise, children with normal reading showed activity in both the language-critical left frontal and temporal regions of the brain, the latter of which is behind and above the left ear. Dyslexics, however, struggled with the task and failed to activate the temporal region, and showed some activity only in the frontal brain area.

Afterward, the dyslexic children used Fast ForWord for 100 minutes a day, five days a week, as part of their regular school day. The result? The dyslexic children's scores went up in a number of language and reading tests, proving the effectiveness of the training program!

So why is this important? Professor John Gabrieli, one of the study authors, said:

"This is showing us for the first time the specific changes in the brains of children receiving this sort of treatment, and how that is coupled with the improvement they have in reading and language ability," he said. "We're hoping that this becomes an additional tool to understand how educational remediation programs alter children's abilities, as they must do, by changing the way their brains process information."

If you’re interested in learning more about Fast ForWord and how it might be beneficial to include in your child’s training, give me a call or shoot me an email! I’d be happy to share my own experiences working with it, and discuss how it could help your child overcome dyslexia.

You can read the full article here:

http://www.readingrockets.org/article/remediation-training-improves-reading-ability-dyslexic-children?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRohsq7JZKXonjHpfsX56ukoW66%2FlMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4JTcFmI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFSbPNMatv3rgFWBU%3D

The World Through the Eyes of a Child With Autism

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), around 1 in 68 American children have been found on the autism spectrum. That’s a ten-fold increase in prevalence in 40 years, and according to research, this increase is only partly explained by improved diagnosis and awareness. ASD affects over 3 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide. It’s one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the world, and we still haven’t found a cure besides brain training programs that can help improve symptoms.

But knowing about autism and understanding what both parents and children go through when they are affected by autism is a good step. Many children and adults affected by autism are also challenged by sensory processing disorder, which makes navigating the world quite difficult. For our last autism awareness post, I wanted to share this video about what it’s like for some children with autism to view the world. In this 1 minute, 24 second video made by the National Autistic Society, you’re placed into the first-person perspective of a small child walking through the mall.

See if you can actually get through it without feeling claustrophobic, overwhelmed or even nauseated. Everything from the sounds of people talking, lights from a television screen and coins rattling can make the world a frightening place for a small child with autism.

The video is available here:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/kirstenking/this-video-gives-a-glimpse-of-what-life-with-autism-is-like#.yf9KDAkx4P

4 Facts About Autism and Affordable Health Care Act

When it comes to navigating through the world of health insurance for your child who may have autism (or any other developmental disorder), it can be tricky…and murky. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to understand what kinds of issues are actually covered under Hawaii’s health insurance policies, and which ones are up to you to pay.

I did some googling, and found this article helpful as a starting off point. It lists specific facts about the Affordable Care Act that would be useful for any family struggling with autism and understanding what insurance should cover.

http://www.hhs.gov/programs/topic-sites/autism/aca-and-autism/index.html

1. The good news is that most health insurance plans are no longer allowed to deny, limit or charge more for coverage to anyone based on a pre-existing conditions. This includes autism, and other related conditions.

2. When it comes to autism screening, for children at 18 and 24 months, all Marketplace health plans and also most other private insurance plans must cover preventive services without charging a copayment or coinsurance.

3. There’s no such thing as a lifetime dollar limit anymore. Before, many plans had set a dollar limit on covered benefits during the time individuals were enrolled in the plan, which meant children and families who have autism had to pay for all care that exceeded a specific limit.

4. Adults can be covered under parents’ insurance for up to the age of 26. With all the restrictions and obstacles that autism can place upon a young individual, this allows for more flexibility and options.

If you believe that your child's rights have been violated with regard to health insurance coverage, call your state's Insurance Commissioner and speak with an investigator.  I've done it several times due to denial of coverage and inconsistencies in policy, which ultimately helped overturn an unfavorable decision.  Insurance companies bank on the fact that most people won't question or fight their decision!  If you are not satisfied with their determination, there are things you CAN do.

If you’re interested in learning more, here are a couple more resources that were useful.

https://www.autismspeaks.org/advocacy/insurance/affordable-care-act

http://www.autismhealthinsurance.org/resources/journal-articles-reports

http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/autism-and-insurance-coverage-state-laws.aspx

4 Top Autism Myths Debunked

Even though we’ve come a long way in autism research, many people still actually have a ton of misconceptions about the disorder. In honor of Autism Awareness Month, I’d like to take the time to share the top four myths about autism that need to be debunked right now. Feel free to share with friends and family, and participate in Autism Awareness Month through April.

1. Kids with autism can’t feel any emotion.

I find this to be an extremely common assumption about autism. The truth is, autism doesn’t automatically make a child unable to feel the emotion that you might feel – it just makes the child express and communicate emotion in different ways. It also makes the child perceive emotion in different ways as well.

2. Kids with autism are intellectually disabled.

Did you know that people with autism have normal to high IQs? In fact, many of them may excel at math, music or any other subject, more than other children. We often tend to focus on the limitations caused by autism, but autism can also bring about exceptional abilities.

3. Kids with autism just have brain disorders.

It’s not just about a neurological disorder. In fact, kids with autism also have food sensitivities and severe allergies, which is why we see lots of research being conducted recently on the physical and mental benefits of dairy-free and gluten-free diets.

4. Autism therapy is covered by all insurance companies.

This is a big one, and deserves a whole blog series on its own. It’s a big deal, especially in Hawaii. Even the current mandate for insurance to cover therapy for children 14 and under with autism, doesn't ensure that your child will receive the services.  It can be a long, tough battle with insurance companies who use the "wear the parent down until they give up" technique. 

  Some of you would be surprised to know that insurance coverage for developmental disorders is a severely common problem throughout the country. More insurance companies exclude autism from their coverage plans, and only half of the 50 states currently require treatment covers for autism, which make it harder for parents to be able to afford treatment for their children. 

Keiki Success Spotlight: Meet Luke

One of my favorite things about writing this blog is getting to share the success stories of the kids who come to Learn 2 Focus. Today, I wanted to share a Keiki Spotlight Success on 11-year-old Luke.

I met Luke for the first time last October when his mom brought him in for an evaluation. When he came to Learn 2 Focus, the testing data supported parental reports that Luke was severely challenged by attention and processing.  He had poor reading comprehension and math skills that set him behind in his school class. His mother was plotting out a financial plan to support what she thought would be a lengthy, multi-program plan to get Luke’s attention on track and caught up to the rest of his class.

About four months after the evaluation, Luke started Interactive Metronome with me. Seven weeks later, Luke’s caught up with the rest of his classmates in reading comprehension. Not only that, but he’s actually surpassed his classmates in math! He says that IM makes him feel more organized, and that after he’s started the program, he can think clearer and feels much calmer, with more energy than before. He also is more coordinated in his motor skills.

His mom is pleased with the results and told me that she also can verify and see visible improvements in Luke. He is able to stay on one task longer and complete his homework with fewer distractions. This is the first time that he’s met his reading goals and actually exceeded his math goals, and there are significant improvements in his handwriting.

Luke completed post testing for IM last week which showed outstanding gains.  He’s exiting the program for now and will be back for a quick brain tune up in July before the 2016 school year begins.  I’m so proud of him!

For me, my role at Learn 2 Focus is about helping local families and kids. I’m blessed to be able to see firsthand such improvements in keiki like Luke, and I love watching them succeed and improve within just a couple months. It’s stories like these that make me love my job!

2016 National Autism Awareness Month

In honor of April as National Autism Awareness Month, I’ll be posting one blog post a week sharing related news about autism, such as signs to look out for in your kids, things you can do at home to help, new research being conducted on autism and more!

National Autism Awareness Month was launched by the Autism Society nearly a quarter century ago, in order to promote autism awareness. According to their website, this year the society would like to go beyond “simply promoting autism awareness to encouraging friends and collaborators to become partners in movement toward acceptance and appreciation.”

Like me, you can participate in Autism Awareness Month through simple ways too. Here in Hawai’i, the Hawaii Autism Foundation has events taking place throughout the month. Take a look at their calendar to see if there are any seminars, conferences or film showings you’d like to attend. Here’s the link: http://www.hawaiiautismfoundation.org/calendar/

Other ideas:

·         Donate to TACA (Talk About Curing Autism), HAF (Hawaii Autism Foundation) or another local autism foundation/charity. Any small amount would help.

·         Recognize somebody who is affected by autism and share your nomination on social media.

·         Share one of my blogs this month on your social media and encourage people to become more educated on the subject.

Tell me your own experience with autism for a special chance to be featured on the blog! You can email me at susi@learn2focus.com

5 Home Solutions for Sensory Processing Disorder

On my last post, I shared signs of sensory processing disorder (SPD) for you to keep an eye out for in your child. Besides meeting with your pediatrician, getting evaluated and receiving proper treatment from a learning center or specialist (available at Learn 2 Focus!), your children can also benefit from appropriate sensory experiences – all conducted right at home.

Research shows that sensory rich environments can greatly improve symptoms of SPD for children. Here are 5 solutions that you could introduce to your child; bear in mind that each child may react differently, so you should monitor results and try out different solutions. For some children, if they are old enough, give them a head’s up that their home routines may be changing.

1. Bathing. Introduce a new washcloth or bath brush and try a variety of soaps and lotions for bathing. You could even play on the wall with shaving cream or bathing foam, and after bath, rub his or her body with a lotion you both like.  

2. Baking. Are you a baker? Lucky family! Let your child help out by mixing ingredients, especially if you’ve got thick batter that will really work those muscles. If kneading or any kind of dough shaping is required, encourage your child to help mix, roll or knead the dough with their hands.

3. Grocery shopping. Let your child help you push the cart (as long as the weight is within their capability and not too heavy). Let your child help carry groceries from the cart and put them away into your car.  Whether your child is easily overwhelmed or underwhelmed - HEAVY WORK WORKS!

4. Mealtime: Encourage eating of chewy foods and drinking out of a straw. Try having your child sit on an air cushion to allow some movement. A weighted lap blanket may be helpful as well.

5. Errands and appointments: Before you go to the hairdresser for your child, try massaging the child’s head or scalp, or try having your child wear a weighted hat. For dentists, give your child chewy foods or introduce vibration to the mouth with an electric toothbrush. Remember, be sure to give the child ample warning before any changes in routine or any unscheduled trips or errands, as many children with SPD need predictability.

You can find more information here:

http://www.spdfoundation.net/resources/homeactivities/#Incorporating

4 Signs Your Child May Have Sensory Issues

Have you ever wondered whether your child might have sensory processing disorder? Simply put, SPD is a condition where sensory signals aren’t being organized into appropriate responses, which results in challenges in performing everyday tasks and doing well at school or at home. Studies show that at least 1 in 20 children’s daily life is affected by SPD. So what are some signs that might show symptoms of SPD?

1. Constant Chewing and Biting.

If your child is constantly chewing or biting things, whether it’s the bed post or toys (and you know that your child should be way past the teething stage as well), it could mean that he or she might have oral sensory needs that are not being met and it might be time to talk to your pediatrician for SPD evaluations.

2. Unable to Stay Still.

There’s a difference between a child who has youthful, high amounts of energy and a child who suffers from unmet vestibular sensory needs. If your child is unable to sit still and seem to always be constantly on the move, this could be a sign of sensory issues.

3. Always Disorganized.

If your child is like most kids, he or she might be unable to find his or her favorite toys and school supplies. Your child seems to always be losing things! But if your child’s forgetfulness and constant disorganized personality seem to be excessive, there is a chance that he or she may struggle with visual sensory processing. Visual schedules and charts can help them stay organized with everyday tasks, but know that sensory issues may be coming into play here.

4. Easily Angry and Frustrated.

Imagine being unable to regulate your own emotions and having to experience sensory overload every day. No wonder your child may seem angry and frustrated all the time! While this may be challenging to handle as a parent, understand that this could be a symptom caused by sensory processing disorder.

You can read more in this article here:

http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/83665/7-sure-fire-ways-know-child-sensory-issues

DIY Easter Balloons For Kids

Guess what’s hoppin’ around the corner? Easter is coming up this Sunday, March 27! Whether you have plans with your family and friends at home or church, planning to decorate eggs with DIY dye or cook a fantastic Easter dinner, it’s always fun to have a special occasion to break things up out of the family normal routine. All you have to do is google “Easter DIY” and there’s no end to easy crafts that you can do to get into the Easter spirit.

Here are a couple links for you that I thought were fun and useful:

1.       Décor, food and drinks: http://www.buzzfeed.com/nataliebrown/here-comes-peter-cottontail#.chYdaLq1AJ

2.       DIY Bunny Ears: http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/m-ears.htm

3.       Handcrafted Easter Décor: http://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/g524/easter-fun-stuff-0406/?slide=1

4.       Easter egg balloons: http://www.balloontime.com/party-ideas/holidays/diy-easter-egg-balloon-craft/

I especially like how simple that last craft is. Easter egg balloons are easy enough to make for your kids to join in as well, so the holiday can really become a family event. All you need is 9” or 11” latex balloons in festive pastel spring colors, acrylic paint and paintbrushes. Blow the balloons up, and then have the kids explore their creative side and use the paint to create their own favorite Easter egg designs. Possibilities are endless…have fun!

What It's Like Living With Auditory Processing Disorder

Last week, I shared a website that gave you an idea of what it’s like to live with dyslexia. Today, I wanted to show you guys a video that gives you a glimpse into the world of Auditory Processing Disorder (APD).

Click here to see the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzegGXoZY30

As you can see, individuals in the video are asked to match shapes to the color of an outlined shape. It’s a very simple task, but they are then bombarded with complicated distractions such as overlapping loud conversations, background noises and more. After taking the test, these folks share how frustrated they feel, especially when an easy task turns out to be harder than what they expected.

Compared to more commonly known disorders like ADHD, ADD, autism and dyslexia, APD doesn’t get as much attention and I feel it’s only just recently getting more public awareness. I also find it’s common to run into people who just assume that APD is a term for any child or adult who has a hard time listening or understanding spoken language. It’s a little more complicated than that!

If you have a child diagnosed with APD, remember that APD is an auditory and neurological deficit that’s NOT the result of other cognitive or language-related disorders. For example, a child with ADHD might have a hard time listening and understanding verbal information, but their actual neural processing of auditory input in the central nervous system is actually intact. Instead, it’s the attention deficit that’s causing them problems. This is not the case with APD – it’s an actual neurological deficit.

Unfortunately, APD can get confusing because 25% of people who have APD also have dyslexia and 1 to 6 % have hearing loss. It’s one of those disorders that can co-exist with other disorders. Therefore, I encourage parents to seek professional and accurate diagnosis to find the underlying cause of your child’s problems.

You can learn more about APD here:

http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/Understanding-Auditory-Processing-Disorders-in-Children/

What Reading Is Like for People With Dyslexia

You know the advice about how you have to put yourself in the other person’s shoes to understand their situation? We hear it all the time, and it’s good advice. But what about if it’s in your child’s shoes? And if your child has dyslexia? It can be hard to imagine yourself with a developmental reading disorder, especially in the small shoes of our keiki.

Victor Widell designed this website (https://www.upworthy.com/if-you-have-dyslexia-this-website-can-show-your-friends-what-reading-is-actually-like?c=huf1) for people like us, to help better understand what reading is like for people with dyslexia.

As you can see, the letters on the site for each word are scrambled. They move around erratically, because seeing words jumping around on a page is a very common dyslexia symptom.

I tried reading each sentence, and yes, it’s actually possible to make out the sentences after a while. But it takes a lot of focus and concentration. According to the Yale Center of Dyslexia and Creativity, about 20 percent of the total population is affected by dyslexia. 1 in 5 people actually live in dyslexia, and yet many people are undiagnosed and secretly battle this disorder without receiving the help that they need.

A note: It’s also important to know that dyslexia has different symptoms for different people. For example, we can’t just visit this website and assume reading is like this for all people with dyslexia. But it certainly helps us get a starting sense of what dyslexia could be like for our children, the challenges that they face, and how we might be able to show understanding and empathy for them.

You can take a look at the website here:

https://www.upworthy.com/if-you-have-dyslexia-this-website-can-show-your-friends-what-reading-is-actually-like?c=huf1

The History of Dyslexia

Although dyslexia is now a commonly known syndrome (especially with all the popular articles about how celebrities like Justin Timberlake or Will Smith have it too!), it’s hard to believe that it wasn’t until the late 19th century when people actually started knowing about it. In the late 1800s, Rudolph Berlin from Germany was an ophthalmologist – medical eye doctor – who first used the word “dyslexia” instead of using the word “blindness,” as it was used before. These children, he realized, were not blind, but instead had “difficulty with words,” which is the Greek meaning of the term “dyslexia.”

But it wasn’t until 1925 when American neurologist Dr. Samuel Orton proposed the first theory of how specific reading difficulty started. He stressed how dominance of one side of the brain can affect dyslexia, and his teaching strategies are actually still in use today. About a decade later, Dr. Alfred Struss and R. Heinz Werner published their studies on the varieties of dyslexia symptoms (dyslexia is more than just mixing up letters) and their work emphasized the importance of individual attention according to each child’s needs.

Since then, there have been a number of studies and a broader understanding of dyslexia. As for myself, while people might think of dyslexia as a disability, I encourage parents to think of it more as a different learning ability. This is because I know children with dyslexia still can learn efficiently and effectively. All they need is a different approach, which is what we offer at Learn 2 Focus like Orton-Gillingham, Fast ForWord, and Interactive Metronome. Children with dyslexia are often very creative, which means it’s important for us as parents and educators to make it our goal to help build their confidence and self-esteem so they can overcome any obstacles dyslexia might cause in their education and quality of life. I’m looking forward to seeing how further studies in the future might enhance our understanding of dyslexia and how brain-training programs can be even more improved for our kids!

Let's Integrate That Primitive Reflex!

A surprising amount of children who come to Learn 2 Focus have retained primitive reflexes, which are meant to be integrated when the baby is at a certain age. If they’re not integrated at a developmentally appropriate age, they can cause certain symptoms that are similar to ADHD, ADD, and autism, such as lack of focus, attention, anxiety and more.

One of these primitive reflexes is known as the parachute reflex. It’s a variation of the Moro reflex, which I talked about earlier in my blog. The parachute reflex can be tested by a pediatrician by suspending the child in the prone position, and then moving the child downward toward a soft surface on the floor. Don’t worry, it’s a safe test!

If the parachute reflex is normal, the infant will extend the arms, hands and fingers on both sides in a protective reaction. It’ll look as though the baby is trying to prepare himself or herself from contact with the surface or a fall, even though he or she might not yet be able to walk.  This is why the parachute reflex is also called startle reflex.The baby should be at about 4 to 6 months at the time this reflex is positive.

Since primitive reflexes which are retained into older childhood years or even adulthood can cause symptoms similar to ADHD, ADD and other disorders, many children are often misdiagnosed. Instead of immediately resorting to taking medication or being labeled as having a learning disability, I always suggest that parents look into the possibility of a retained primitive reflex. Why? Because almost 100 percent of the children who come to me have a retained primitive reflex! Once we determine that as part of the problem, I can assign certain exercises and training methods such as Quantum Reflex Integration or Rhythmic Movement Training, which help to integrate primitive reflexes and resolve problematic symptoms. 

5 Tips to Help Your Dyslexic Child With Homework

One of the biggest challenges of being a parent for a child with dyslexia is helping him or her with their homework. Having dyslexia can make it difficult for children to communicate with parents, as well as have severe challenges with reading, writing or speaking skills. As a parent, you have to be careful to encourage and help your child have self-compassion and also help your child complete their homework and other tasks in a reasonable amount of time. After all, your child spends most of their day in school, and homework cuts into a valuable amount of family time together.

“Avoid power struggles.  It takes two for tug-o-war, so beware of picking up your end of the rope.  If your child is showing signs of overstimulation such as: decreased focus, yawning, or you notice their gaze drifting off, ask them what they need to do to get back on track. Offer a snack, or bathroom break.  Sometimes they’ll tell you they need a break. Set a timer for five to ten minutes and provide a “brain break.”  Keep your cool, and don’t mimic negative behavior.” – Joanne Gouaux, SciLearn.com

Here are some more tips from Joanne Gouaux:

1.    Practice empathy. Put yourself in their shoes.  Homework, when coupled with overcoming dyslexia, is no small task for either child or parent.

2.    Welcome mistakes as teachable moments. Mistakes are often how we learn.  It helps develop resilience, something successful dyslexics have mastered. 

3.    Customize techniques for your child. Listening and asking questions about your child’s experience will provide valuable insight into their behaviors and interests which can help you develop appropriate incentives based on knowing your child’s motivations.

4.    Do your homework, too. Prepare for the homework session by checking in ahead of time on the subject matter.  This especially helpful for math assignments. 

5.    Develop multi-sensory strategies. Help boost your child’s homework stamina by bringing in other sensory outlets. For example, offering your child a piece of gum to chew, the option to sit on a yoga ball, or to stand rather than sitting in a chair.  Invite your child to pace around the room while brainstorming aloud for a writing assignment, or provide a rubber band they can fidget with to facilitate an outlet for their need to move.  Do some silly stretches, think calisthenics, with an emphasis on crossing midline to help bilateral integration, which means using both sides of the body at the same time.  For children distracted by noise, offer a quiet place, or allow them to put on some noise canceling headphones.

For more tips, read this article: http://www.scilearn.com/blog/understanding-dyslexia-homework-struggles?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzEmail&utm_content=921406&utm_campaign=0

Credibility Check - Fast ForWord

Ready to dive into the deep end of the science pool? Today, I wanted to share this article on electrocortical dynamics and audiovisual learning. First of all, I’m not suggesting you have to read through this whole thing – unless you want to! It’s pretty heavy academic reading, and unless you understand terms like electroencephalography (EEG) or electrophysiological activity, you might want to skip reading.

Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/1SWZu2M

That being said, I’m sharing this research because I wanted to show how invaluable and intensive studies are still being conducted today, constantly proving the benefits of brain-training programs like Fast ForWord. As you all might already know, I offer Fast ForWord at Learn 2 Focus, and I always say that all my programs are based off on scientific evidence. Hence, this article.

In this specific study, children between the ages 6 to 9 years old with learning-language impairments were tested using rapid tone sequences, along with behavioral language testing and audiovisual training. A non-treatment group of children with typical language development were assessed twice as well. In a nutshell, the final results showed that the children who had learning-language impairments showed great improvement, even though they had started off with problems! The whole research is based on the idea that the ability to detect subtle and rapid sound changes in speech is a huge help in language processing. Children who have impairments or language development disorders have a hard time detecting these sound changes.

Therefore, brain training programs such as Fast ForWord, which helps your child hear and process the sounds between phonemes, is extremely beneficial. (Phonemes, by the way, are the basic building blocks of language.) Give your child some time, and watch him or her start at slow speeds and finally increase to normal speech patterns. Soon, you’ll see dramatic improvement in reading and writing scores, as well as sharper memory and longer attention span.

So…a bit of a credibility check here: Fast ForWord does work! It’s exciting for me to see that there is always new research conducted, and it’s also assuring for parents to know that with time, these programs will help their child overcome seemingly impossible challenges. 

Fast ForWord: Does It Work?

One of the many questions I get asked is whether brain-training, intervention programs really work. It’s usually not asked out of skeptism or criticism; it’s simply a matter of parents wanting the best for their child. After all, there are so many solutions out there, each one touted as the best, and it can be challenging to wade through the crowd.

After all, each child is different. Sometimes, your child might require a combination of intervention programs, or they may need to spend a longer amount of time or go through a more intensive program until you see long-lasting changes. On the other hand, some kids react immediately with positive results, and they are done within a few months. Our kids have varying strengths and weaknesses, and we as parents know that’s what makes them special.

Going back to my first statement, I always tell parents that I choose programs that are backed by scientific evidence. Otherwise, it’s a waste of my time and their time as well! I do my research, and encourage parents to do the same. 

Take this research paper by Ylinen and Kujala. If you read through it, you’ll find that this paper proves that children with dyslexia or any other language-learning impairments can gain long-lasting, positive changes through training programs like Fast ForWord, which involve phonological and auditory tasks.

Thanks to neuroimaging technology, researchers found obvious changes in both the children’s brain function and brain anatomy. Some of these changes included:

1.      Plastic changes in deficient neural networks.

2.      Increased or normalized activation of previously hypoactive inferior frontal and occipito-temporal areas.

3.      Strengthening of previously weak auditory brain responses

4.      Long-lasting remedial effects and improved behavioral performance.

You can read the paper here:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330793/?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRohvqjIZKXonjHpfsX56ukoW66%2FlMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4GScVkI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFSbPNMatv3rgFWBU%3D

If you’re interested in learning more about Fast ForWord, contact me at susi@learn2focus.com. I’d be happy to chat!

Tips From the Hawaii International Dyslexia Association

Today I wanted to share with you this valuable booklet on dyslexia, printed by the Hawai’i Branch of the International Dyslexia Association (HIDA). HIDA is the branch that’s part of the International Dyslexia Association, promoting literacy through research, education and advocacy. I’m a huge fan of what they do and encourage you to take a look at their website: www.dyslexia-hawaii.org. You can find published works by local professionals as well.

This specific booklet is a useful compilation of practical tips given by HIDA members. It’s easy to read through, and worth taking a look, especially if you’ve just found out that your child might have dyslexia. Remember, you don’t have to take all of these tips to heart – each child is different, with a unique personality and learning styles.

There are more than 30 tips on the booklet, which can be found here: http://www.dyslexia-hawaii.org/images/uploads/HIDA_TipsBooklet_Small_rev6.compressed.pdf

For today’s blog, I just rounded up my personal top 6:

1.      Encourage all kinds of reading, which means including a variety of difficulty levels and topics. Help the child build confidence by reading books that are below his or her reading or age level, but also include higher grade levels as well. Tip: Dr. Seuss is a good source for children with dyslexia, because they have problems with rhyming words.

2.      Encourage your child to listen to audio books and have him or her read along. Again, choose from a variety of reading levels. Check out www.booksshouldbefree.com or www.librophile.com for free audio books.

3.      Teach your child to keep track of homework assignments and due dates through colored post its and folders, or use Google Apps if he or she has a phone. Google calendars can be adjusted to send email reminders. Organization is key!

4.      Communicate with your child’s teachers at the beginning of each school year. Let them know specific examples of how your child’s dyslexia may affect him or her in the classroom. Don’t assume that the teachers may know everything about dyslexia already – educate them by sending them informative links that might help them understand your child’s situation better.

5.      Consider attending conferences to listen to experts who might share new ideas or cutting edge techniques. (I often share some of these new research articles on this blog, so be sure to subscribe to my e-newsletter!)

Remember…trust your instincts! Make sure your child does not lose confidence, and that he or she accepts him or herself. You’re the parent. You know your child the best, so don’t give up and keep an open mind on solutions that could help your child succeed

Gender Stereotypes in ADHD

It’s remarkable how many articles about ADHD and ADD are out there on the vast Internet. Sometimes I can spend the whole evening reading and discovering new research that’s been announced on the subject! I love sharing certain articles that really stand out to me through this blog so if you want to keep track of what I’m reading, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter to catch up.

Today, I wanted to share this Quartz article about a new book by Dr. Ellen Littman, a clinical psychologist and co-author of Understanding Girls with AD/HD. The book shares an idea that many of might not think about -- ADHD has a gender gap.

The article says,

“ADHD materializes dramatically differently in girls. ‘Anxiety and depression turn into low self-esteem and self-loathing, and the risk for self-harm and suicide attempts is four-to-five times that of girls without ADHD,’ 2012 research shows…‘I think we have a lost generation of women who are diagnosed with ADHD later in life, who have had to manage the condition on their own and deal with it on their own for the majority of their lives,” Michelle Frank, a clinical psychologist and ADHD expert.”

The study claims that ADHD is harder to recognize in girls than in boys, because it materializes much later in life for girls. Most girls get misdiagnosed with depression or anxiety, which results in being prescribed the wrong medication and worsening their ADHD symptoms. On the other hand, Littman also suggests that boys in general are over-diagnosed with ADHD, while girls are being under-diagnosed.

While there can be more progress in awareness, the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding ADHD is become more well-known. “Not long ago, the ratio of diagnosed boys vs. girls with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder was 10 to 1. Today, it is between 4 to 1 or 2 to 1, Littman says.” Women are also starting to stand up and share more personal stories about what it’s like being misdiagnosed or being told that girls can’t have ADD.

Do you have a daughter who is diagnosed with ADHD or ADD? Do you agree that there are stereotypes even within this diagnosis? Let me know what you think and we can discuss what more can be done on a local scale, here in Honolulu. If you’d like to read more, you can find the full article here:

http://qz.com/592364/decades-of-failing-to-recognize-adhd-in-girls-has-created-a-lost-generation-of-women/?utm_source=parHuffPo&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=pubexchange_facebook

Is Your Child Anxious, Depressed, or Easily Overwhelmed? Consider FP Reflex

We all feel fear at some points in our lives. It’s generally thought to be a negative feeling – we always talk about overcoming fear or battling fear, like it’s an enemy. But if you think about it, fear allows us to a certain extent to determine what things in life are dangerous and harmful.  If you’re able to control fear, this human emotion can help us cope with stress, to react in unfriendly situations and handle them wisely.

You might be surprised to know that fear starts developing in our bodies from the embryonic stage in the womb, as a withdrawal reflex known as Fear Paralysis Reflex. During this stage, the embryo will react to stress and stimulation by withdrawing and freezing. As the embryo starts to look more like a baby in the womb, it will start to move its head, neck and body as a response to threat. As its tactile awareness develops, this reflex gradually lessens.

Researchers believe that the Fear Paralysis Reflex is an important, first step in humans in learning how to cope with stress. It starts to function very early after conception, but then should be integrated before birth into the Moro reflex, which I’ve talked about earlier in my blog.

Unfortunately, if the Fear Paralysis Reflex isn’t fully integrated by the time the baby is born, there might be life-long challenges related to fear. The child may grow up to be very anxious, veering towards a negative outlook on life which can affect their day-to-day living at school and at home. They may feel unconfident compared to their peers because they always feel overwhelmed and insecure, becoming the “scaredy-cat” of the group. As the child grows older, he or she may show other symptoms such as depression, shallow or difficult breathing, low self-esteem, phobias and more.

Most studies show that a non-integrated Fear Paralysis Reflex often goes hand in hand with a non-integrated Moro Reflex. Through rhythmic movement therapy in combination with other training programs available at Learn 2 Focus, it’s possible for these challenges to be overcome within just months of intensive training. Give me a call or email and let’s see which solutions might be the best fit for you and your child!