These are ‘hot’ topics of interest

ADHD Looks Different in Girls

/in /by

ADHD looks different in girls as compared to boys. Savannah explained, “My 13-year-old daughter’s a wreck at home. She is disorganized, argumentative and has trouble accomplishing day to day tasks on her own and following a routine.  However, at school and sports she is very driven and motivated, is very personable, and has strong verbal skills. Help me understand her!”  My school neuropsychological testing revealed Savannah’s daughter had ADHD.

ADHD Looks Different in Girls: Three Differences

Three key differences are that ADHD in girls is often under diagnosed or misdiagnosed because they are more likely to have inattention symptoms rather than hyperactivity. In elementary years boys are diagnosed at a 4 boys to 1 girl ratio but by adulthood, that evens out to a 1:1 ratio as more girls self-refer for testing.  Second, girls show more internalized symptoms like anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem, which can be mistaken for other conditions. Third, girls are really good at masking or hiding their symptoms which makes ADHD harder to recognize.

Savannah’s daughter had significant emotional dysregulation which came out in her mood swings.  She experienced frequent emotional ups and downs and struggled with frustration which made her irritable and sensitive. This led to arguments if things were not going her way.  My testing also revealed she had difficulty with friendships.  Her emotional dysregulation struggles affected her ability to maintain stable friendships. She had teammates but no one really close friend.

Early Support is Key

Early recognition and appropriate support can help girls learn to manage these challenges effectively. Consider getting yourself or your child tested if you are concerned about ADHD or struggle with difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, zoning out, trouble with organizing, impulsive decision making, or emotional dysregulation.

A great self-help resource is “Raising Girls with ADHD” by Mary Anne Richey.  We test students from age two through college for ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, depression autism, and more. Call us at (561) 625 4125 to discuss your needs.

Autism Testing Palm Beach

/in /by

The rates of autism have increased in recent years and we offer autism testing in Palm Beach and Jupiter for ages 2 through 25.  The autism numbers continue to increase due to better awareness and a broader diagnostic criteria. According to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States:

  • 1 in 36 children are identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2023.
  • Autism is about 4 times more common in boys than in girls, though girls tend to be diagnosed later and often present with different symptoms.

Prevalence rates vary by country, but overall, research shows that the rate of autism diagnoses has been increasing worldwide. The way autism is diagnosed and identified has evolved over time, which contributes to this increase in reported cases.  Factors that influence the prevalence of autism include:

  • Increased awareness and recognition of autism by parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals.
  • Expanded diagnostic criteria that allow for a broader range of behaviors to be classified under the autism spectrum.
  • Better access to diagnostic services.

Why is Autism Testing Important?

Autism testing is important for several reasons, as it helps with early identification, support, and understanding.

  1. Early Diagnosis: The earlier autism is identified, the sooner appropriate interventions can begin. Early interventions, such as applied behavioral therapies, can significantly improve developmental outcomes, social skills, and communication abilities in children.
  2. Understanding Individual Needs: Autism is a spectrum, meaning it manifests differently in each person. Testing helps to understand an individual’s unique strengths and challenges, enabling tailored support and strategies that best suit their needs.
  3. Access to Resources and Services: A formal diagnosis can open doors to specialized resources, therapies, and educational services that may not be available without it. These services can play a crucial role in promoting a person’s development and well-being.
  4. Reducing Misunderstandings: Early testing can help reduce misconceptions and social stigma. Understanding autism allows people to be more empathetic, accommodating, and supportive of those with the condition.
  5. Support for Families: For families, knowing that their child has autism can provide clarity, helping them seek out the right support systems. It can also help in managing expectations and understanding the child’s behavior.
  6. Advocacy: With an official diagnosis, individuals and their families can advocate for their needs more effectively, whether in schools, workplaces, or social settings.

Overall, autism testing helps to improve the quality of life for individuals with autism by ensuring they get the right diagnosis, resources, and support at the right time.

Autism Testing Palm Beach

Dr. Jim Forgan and associates provide autism testing for children and young adults. We offer autism testing for ages 2 through 25.  Autism testing for a 2-year-old is quite different from autism testing for a 25 year old.  If you need autism testing, call us to discuss the differences.  However, one similarity is that all autism testing uses the industry’s gold standard assessment called the ADOS which stands for the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (second edition) and measures an individual’s social understanding.  We do not accept insurance but we do direct billing for Step Up for Students Unique Abilities.  If you don’t already have Step Up, our autism testing can qualify your child for this yearly scholarship from the state of Florida.

Parent’s Quick Start Guide to Autism

Dr. Jim Forgan co-authored the go to book for when you find out your child has autism.  The Parent’s Quick Start Guide to Autism contains research based interventions and treatments that work for children with autism.  Time is too valuable to waste so you want to provide the treatments which will make the most improvement in the shortest amount of time.

We look forward to hearing from you so call us at (561) 625 4125.

Smart but Scattered Adolescent Workshop

/in /by

A parent described her son to me, “Sam is struggling with school and his grades. This year in 6th grade he is struggling with the workload, executive functioning, and expectations of the grade. The demands are more. I constantly have to stay on top of him or he’d be failing.”  This mom was describing her son’s executive functioning weaknesses. He was smart but scattered. Executive functioning skills are crucial for success in school, social settings, and everyday life.

One Day Executive Functioning Skills Workshop for Grades 6-9

On Saturday, March 22, my team and I are offering an in-person one day executive functioning course for students in grades 6 through 9.  Your student can join us fun, interactive activities to learn executive functioning skills related to Organization, Planning, Time Management, Memory, and Attention. The group size is limited to 12 students.  We use classroom instruction combined with games, scenarios, and videos to illustrate points and practice skills. Students receive written handouts to keep which summarize the new skills.

How to Develop Executive Functioning Skills

Developing executive functioning skills is an ongoing process in adolescence, and teens often need instruction to improve these areas. Weak executive functioning skills can impact academic performance, relationships, and overall well-being, so interventions like workshops and coaching can be helpful if your teen struggles in these areas.

Adolescents face academic pressures, social dynamics, and life changes. Teens with strong executive functioning skills can handle uncertainty and stressful situations with more resilience. By understanding and supporting the development of these skills, your student can improve their ability to navigate the complexities of adolescence and prepare for greater independence as they grow into adulthood. Join us so your student can learn these important skills for success.

Students from our last workshop completed a course evaluation and commented they enjoyed, “The engaging activities.” “The skills it taught me.” “The coaches.” “How interactive it was.” “It helped me understand more about how to approach challenging things.”

Contact Us to Sign Up for the Executive Functioning Skills Workshop

Call (561) 625 4125 if you would like to sign up or if you need school neuropsychological testing for dyslexia, ADHD, autism, or to give you understanding and answers about your child.  Check out the book I wrote on executive functioning and available on Amazon.

Helping Disorganized, Forgetful, and Scattered Adolescents

/in /by

A parent described her eighth-grade son to me, “He has struggles following multiple oral instructions at the same time. His information retention in the short term is challenging especially for un-preferred topics. He has completed homework and forgot to turn it in. He waits until the last minute to start projects. What a hot mess!”

Executive Functioning Workshop Teens

This mom was describing her son’s executive functioning weaknesses.  The term “executive functioning” encompasses our brain’s ability to manage different systems such as planning, organizing, maintaining effort, remembering, self-regulating, attending, and completing tasks.  School success depends, in part, on having strong executive functioning skills.  Executive functioning weaknesses can cause smart kids to become scattered, disorganized, and forgetful.  These weaknesses might be accompanied with ADHD or learning disabilities but can also be stand alone difficulties.  Our executive functions improve with age and fully mature in our late teen years to early twenties. Thus, there’s hope for your student’s growth.

Learn Skills to Improve

Executive functioning skills can be learned, practiced and improved.  This month I am offering an in-person executive functioning course for students in grades 6 through 9.  Your student can join another school psychologist and myself for three, 90-minute sessions of fun, interactive activities to learn executive functioning skills related to Organization, Planning, Time Management, Memory, and Attention. The group size is limited to 10 students.

Grades 6-9 Mastermind Workshop

We will use games, scenarios, and videos to illustrate points and practice skills. Students receive written handouts to keep which summarize the new skills. We are approaching this mastermind course for teens using a cognitive behavioral framework. That means that if you can change your thinking and learn new skills, you can change your behavior.  Your student can learn skills for success this year and beyond.  Are you tired of being your child’s only executive assistant and ready for your adolescent to hear about success skills from someone other than yourself?

If you want to learn more about executive functioning check out my book The Impulsive, Disorganized Child: Solutions for Parenting Kids with Executive Functioning Difficulties. Call (561) 625 4125 if you would like to sign up or if you need school neuropsychological testing to give you understanding and answers.

Understanding Moody Teenagers

/in /by

Moody Teenagers by Jim Forgan, Ph.D. “My teen son has a hard time showing emotions and has a hard time to make friendships. He has a hard time to feel happy and contented. He even has a hard time to do activities that he considers useless or are mentally or physically demanding. Help me figure out what is wrong with him!”

Moody Teenagers

It’s not uncommon for teenagers to be moody since they are a ball of changing hormones, have variable sleep patterns, and are vying for independence.  All this occurs while your teen is dealing with the pressures of school, social media, and exposure to drugs and porn.  As the mom wrote, her teen was withdrawn and his behavior changed within the past few months.  Prior to this he was a happier person and a decent student.

The Root Cause

Our testing revealed this teen was depressed.  Mom had wondered if he was depressed but thought looking down at him from the 30,000-foot view he had a good life.  He had an intact family, a cell phone, nice place to live, and he was doing well in school.  She thought, “What is there to be depressed about?” Testing revealed he had very strong feelings of inadequacy and was struggling with his identity.  He believed he was not in control of his outcomes so, “Why should he try?”

It took mom a while to get dad to recognize the struggle but after our results review meeting he understood additional support was needed.  Dad actually initiated the conversation with his teen by saying, “I feel that our relationship is strained. It may not bother you but it bothers me and if you would, I’d like you to meet with a counselor. I will as well because I need some help knowing how to help you and our family.”  The teen agreed to dad’s request.

Answers

School neuropsychological testing was the process which provided answers.  Call (561) 625 4125 if you are concerned about your child and would like understanding moody teenagers. Testing is completed in one day and we test children through young adults for autism, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Our approach can help you.