These are ‘hot’ topics of interest

Reading Time With Dad: The Father-Child Relationship

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James and the Giant Peach and Danny, Champion of the World were two of Ronald Dhal’s books my dad read with me when I was in elementary school. Some of my fondest childhood memories were reading these books with my dad. We did other things together like playing basketball, going fishing, and riding bikes but the relational connection of sitting next to my dad on the couch and feeling his presence and love was strong and evident. Dad gave me his precious gift of time.

The father-child relationship is powerful and creates a foundation for your child’s psyche to develop. Will your child feel loved and affirmed or rejected and ignored by dad? As a school psychologist and dad, I get it. Dads are busy. Dads might believe they don’t have the nurturing instinct that mom holds. They are busy providing for their family. Parenting expert, Meg Meeker, M.D., says, “After 30 years in my medical practice and extensive research, I see one common thread in children of all ages: the direct correlation between a father’s presence and a child’s well-being.”

If you are a dad reading this, it’s not meant to guilt you. Whether you’ve messed up or think it’s too late, your child of any age still needs you. They don’t need perfection; they need your presence and affirmation. Start small. Perhaps for you it’s asking them more thoughtful questions, taking a genuine interest in them telling you about a favorite video game, or watching a funny video together. For other dads it is telling your child what every child wants to hear: you love them and are proud of them.

Parenting is an on the job learning experience. Here are a few resources to help you along the way: Meg Meeker’s book Strong Father’s, Strong Daughters, Robert Lewis’ book Raising A Modern Day Knight or John C. Maxwell’s book Intentional Living, are thoughtful books to help dads along their parenting journey. Check out AllProDad.com or Christ in the Smokies. Dad, you got this.

Call or text to discuss your child as we test for autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, depression, and anxiety. (561) 625 4125

Inflexible Children Struggle

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Inflexible children struggle. “We don’t spring any unexpected changes on him or he has a huge meltdown,” explained one mom.  Her eight-year-old son had daily tantrums when things did not go his way.  Mom was concerned he might have ADHD so we evaluated him to determine the root cause of his meltdowns. Our evaluation showed it was not ADHD but rather he had executive functioning difficulty with shifting attention and cognitive flexibility.

One Track Mind

Perhaps you’ve heard the saying, “That person has a one-track mind.” That saying captures what happens when inflexible people get something stuck in their minds and they can’t get it out.  They perseverate.  Their brain is like a train riding down a track and it can’t make a shift to a new track until it gets to a junction.  Unfortunately for some people, their brain goes on for ‘miles’ before it reaches a junction.  As a parent you might think, “Just get over it and move on” but it is not that easy for your child.

Transition Difficulty

Inflexible children often have difficulty making transitions at home and at school.  They often see things their way and have difficulty going with the flow.  This contributes to their melt downs and stubbornness. Inflexible children are not always pleasant to be around.  They can be bossy when playing and want to do things their way.  This inflexibility can create friendship issues with same age peers and inflexible children might prefer to play with younger children whom they can boss around.

Executive Functioning

The term executive functioning describes our brain’s management system.  Kids with executive functioning difficulty need to learn skills rather than take pills to help them.  Mom was happy medication was not the answer for her child. “My Day is Ruined!: A Story Teaching Flexible Thinking” by Bryan Smith is a book you can read with your child to teach skills.

 Call (561) 625 4125 to discuss your child as we test for executive functioning difficulty, autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and more.

We Offer Autism Testing

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We offer autism testing because across our great nation, autism diagnoses continue to increase. According to results from a recent CDC funded study, the autism prevalence was that 1 in 36 children had autism. For every one girl identified with autism, four boys were identified. For the first time, more African-American, Hispanic, and Asian children were identified than White children.  Researchers agree that early identification and use of evidenced based treatments lead to the best outcomes for children with autism.

We test children for autism starting at age 2.  There is no one test or even a medical test or blood test to diagnose autism.  In our practice we utilize the gold standard assessment called the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule or ADOS, second edition.  In addition, we use caregiver interviews and tests of language, attention, intelligence, and memory.

Autism Diagnostic Criteria

Five criteria should be met for a psychologist to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder. First, the child must demonstrate deficits in social communication and social interaction across settings. Second, the child must display restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, currently or by history. Third, the child’s symptoms must have started early. Fourth, there must be evidence of a significant impairment. Fifth, the symptoms must not be caused by another mental or physical condition.

Evidence Based Autism Treatment

If your child is diagnosed with autism, we recommend you start with treatments identified by the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice. These are 28 evidenced based practices that independent research documented best help children with autism.  Treatments include ABA therapy, discrete trial training, cognitive behavioral intervention, and social narratives.  Many insurance companies pay for evidenced based therapies with an official autism diagnosis. In addition, Florida offers the Family Empowerment Scholarship to provide you funding to help your child.

Autism Support for Parents

I co-authored the book “Parent’s Quick Start Guide to Autism” which provides a quick, but deep dive into what to immediately do when your child is diagnosed with autism.  When it comes to helping your young child, time is too precious to squander.

 Call (561) 625 4125 to discuss your child as we test for autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, depression, and anxiety.

GRE LSAT MCAT Accommodations Testing

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GRE, LSAT, and MCAT Accommodations by Kathryn Picano-Morton.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) are standardized tests that are used to evaluate a student’s readiness for graduate school, law school, and medical school.  GRE, LSAT, and MCAT accommodations are available for these examinations which are among the most challenging and important tests a student will take in their lifetime. However, for a student with a disability, testing can be even more challenging. In these instances, requesting testing accommodations can help a student perform to the best of their ability by leveling the playing field.

What are common GRE, LSAT, and MCAT Accommodations?

Accommodations provide students with disabilities with the necessary support to complete the exam under conditions that allow them to fairly demonstrate their knowledge. Some examples of accommodations include extended testing time, additional breaks, a separate testing room, assistive technology, and large-print materials. Each institution and exam has its own policies for accommodations, and students must submit documentation of their disability to request them.

Why are GRE, LSAT, and MCAT Accommodations Important?

For students with disabilities, taking a standardized test can be an especially challenging task. Accommodations help ensure you are accurately evaluated based on your knowledge and abilities and not impeded by your disability, which would otherwise affect their performance under standard testing conditions.  It does not change what the test measures or its expectations.

How to Request GRE, LSAT, and MCAT Accommodations

The type of documentation required will depend on the specific testing organization or the institution’s policy for the requested accommodations.  The documentation should explain how a disability impacts a student’s ability to take the test under standard conditions and must demonstrate the need for accommodations. Most students with a disability have a history of accommodations provided on the SAT or ACT or from when in school, either from an IEP or a 504 Plan.

For example, if you have a learning disability and are requesting extended testing time, documentation that includes a diagnosis of the disability, a description of how the disability impacts your ability to take tests under a standard condition, and a recommendation for the specific accommodation of extended testing time may be required. The documentation will need to be provided well in advance of your desired testing date and can take up to six weeks for review.

Important Considerations

Requesting accommodations requires careful planning. You should plan to submit your application well in advance of your desired test date to allow sufficient time for processing.

It’s important to review the specific documentation requirements of the testing organization or institution you will be working with to ensure you provide the necessary information.

You should also work closely with your institution’s disability services office to ensure that their application contains all necessary documentation. You may also want to communicate with the organization or institution directly to ensure you understand the specific process and requirements for requesting accommodations.

Call to discuss your needs as we complete evaluations for dyslexia, learning disabilities, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and other processing disorders.  Call (561) 625 4125.

What Makes Kids Anxious?

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Jenny was an anxious adolescent who was an outside the box type of teen girl with uniqueness’s that elementary bullies targeted. This caused her anxiety. When the Corona Virus caused school shutdowns, she enjoyed only online friendships with others having her same interests.  This reduced her anxiety but caused social isolation.  When in person school resumed she experienced extreme social anxiety and school phobia so her mom allowed her to return to online only school.  They came to us for help.

What Makes Kids Anxious?

Jenny was like many children who struggle with anxiety from bullying and other reasons.  Genetics is one reason kids may experience anxiety as anxiety occurs within the family tree.  If a family member has anxiety, your child is at high risk for developing anxiety.

Anxiety from Current Events

Another reason for a child’s anxiety is exposure to world events.  Children who have a predisposition for anxiety worry when the family leaves the television news on all the time.  Despite what some parents think, children listen, watch, and understand more than some adults acknowledge.  Hearing about college murders, war, and violence can create inner angst that manifests as kids not wanting to sleep alone or a general worry that something bad will happen to them or their parent when they leave the home.

Peer Influences

Peer influences also create anxiety.  When you were a child there was not so much technology access but now young kids are exposed to some scary games like Five Nights at Freddy’s, Slender Man or Amnesia.  Kids playing these games often develop fears that events in the games might happen in real life.

How to Help Anxious Children

What can you do to help your child?  First, limit access and prevent your young child from playing scary games. Second, only watch the news in a room where your child does not enter such as the bedroom. Third, if you recognize your child has anxiety read the book “What to Do You’re your Child Worries Too Much” to your child or buy your teen the book, “My Anxious Mind.”  If you want to learn more, read my book for parents Stressed Out! Solutions to Help Your Child Manage and Overcome Stress. Finally, seek professional help if your child’s anxiety starts to interfere with school or life at home.

Call to discuss your child as we test children ages 5.5 through college for dyslexia, learning disabilities, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and other processing disorders.  Call (561) 625 4125.