Breezy Mama

...a breath of fresh air

Autism

How Not to Feel ‘Disabled’ When You Discover Your Child Has a Disability

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As parents, it’s something we always worry about in the back of our minds – the health of our children. With developmental disabilities on the rise (a study from the June 2011 issue of Pediatrics showed that developmental disabilities were reported in 1 in 6 children in the United States in 2006-2008) the likelihood of your child having a disability is real.

So, the question to ask is, would you know what to do if your child has been diagnosed with a disability? Probably not. The good news is that no matter the type of disability or the age of the child when the diagnosis occurs, the steps are similar. Breezy Mama turned to Dennis Allen, CEO of Hattie Larlham (www.hattielarlham.org) for advice on how to navigate services and be your child’s best advocate.

You hear the term “intellectual” and “developmental” disabilities. How are they the same? How are they different?
There’s a great deal of terminology in the field of disabilities. An intellectual disability falls under the broader category of developmental disabilities. Individuals with a developmental disability have a mental and/or physical impairment that impacts their mobility/motor functions, the way they learn or the way they socialize. It’s important to understand that [Read more…] about How Not to Feel ‘Disabled’ When You Discover Your Child Has a Disability

ADHD: Does Your Child Have It?

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Dr. Mark Bertin's book, The Family ADHD Solution

Recently, I was chatting with a friend whose child has ADHD–I was asking her what tipped her off to recognize the problem and she answered that although her child exhibited many signs related with ADHD, it was very hard to pinpoint because ADHD has quite a few of the same signs as many other conditions. My friend remarked that it was like peeling an onion away, layer by layer until they were finally able to see what was happening with their child. She went on to say that when the onion was finally peeled back far enough to show that it was ADHD, it was very difficult to find the right kind of help they needed. Which got me thinking–if she was in this boat, then others must be as well. My perception is that ADHD is common, but kids that have it can get lost in the shuffle. So Breezy Mama turned to ADHD expert Dr. Mark Bertin, a board certified developmental behavioral pediatrician and author of the book The Family ADHD Solution: A Scientific Approach to Maximizing Your Child’s Attention and Minimizing Parental Stress, for help on how to identify the signs of ADHD, and what to do if they’re present in your child.

What exactly is ADHD, and how does it differentiate from ADD?

ADHD is a medical condition in which parts of the brain responsible for self-regulation, organization, and planning (a group of skills called ‘executive function’) are underactive.  There are three subtypes in the most current diagnostic manual.   People who are primarily hyperactive and impulsive have “ADHD-hyperactive/impulsive type,” those with more symptoms related to inattention and disorganization have “ADHD-inattentive type,” and those who have symptoms of both have “ADHD-combined type.”  ADD is the older term for ADHD-inattentive type.

What are signs that one should look for in determining that their child may have ADHD?

While many children are active, get distracted when bored, or act impulsively, what sets children apart with ADHD is that [Read more…] about ADHD: Does Your Child Have It?

Developmental Milestones: What To Do If They Aren’t Met

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Sure, with my first born I was in a panic when she wasn’t the first to take on a new milestone, but by my second – eh. Of course after I became a more “calm” mama, then I would hear how not meeting those coveted skills such as crawling, talking, etc. could be signs of larger problems that could be solved only with early treatment all translating to one thing: panic. Breezy Mama turned to Milestone Mom – a.k.a. Occupational Therapist Nancy Silverman-Konigsberg — to discuss what it can mean when a child doesn’t have a new skill according to their developmental age (and find out when issues such as biting and hitting can be indicative of Autism, PDD, Asperger’s Syndrome and Rett Syndrome), when it’s okay to relax and when it’s time to freak out, er, um, take action.

From Nancy:

Babies are born with [Read more…] about Developmental Milestones: What To Do If They Aren’t Met

Holly Robinson Peete on Raising Autism Awareness on The Celebrity Apprentice, Being Apart from the Kids and More

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After last week’s debacle with John Mayer, Holly Robinson Peete addressed the matter on her blog writing, “I just hate that anyone would have the impression I condone or excuse racist comments in any context…kids tucked and down… Looking forward to a much more typical Thursday.” And now, hopefully this matter is put to bed as well, because, well, she doesn’t have time for this! The actress got frank with Breezy Mama on being apart from her kids while working on the upcoming season of The Celebrity Apprentice that starts March 14th, wanting back into television in general, raising money for Autism awareness and more!

Are you excited to be on Celebrity Apprentice?

I am. I am very excited, I never envisioned myself doing a reality show for a couple of reasons: One because I [Read more…] about Holly Robinson Peete on Raising Autism Awareness on The Celebrity Apprentice, Being Apart from the Kids and More

Autism vs. Aspergers Syndrome: Signs Your Child Might Have Either and Why Jenny McCarthy Upsets the Autistic Community

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quirky

What are the signs of Asperger’s Syndrome and how do they differ from Autism? What should moms do if they suspect their child has either? And how does the Autism Society of America REALLY feel about Jenny McCarthy? Dr. Cynthia La Brie Norall and Beth Brust, authors of “Quirky, Yes, Hopeless No” answer Breezy Mama‘s questions.

Your new book, “Quirky, Yes, Hopeless, No” talks about Asperger’s Syndrome—can you explain exactly what this is?  How does it differ from other forms of Autism?
Asperger’s Syndrome is a form of autism. Often called High Functioning because those with Asperger’s (named after an Austrian psychiatrist in the 1940’s who recognized a group of males that had verbal language and seemingly normal intelligence but significant social delays and behaviors similar to autism) can be very articulate and bright. It’s on one side of the “autistic spectrum” where more classic autism (perhaps someone who doesn’t talk and is very stereotypical in their mannerisms) would be. The spectrum has grown considerably over the past 10 years and the numbers that are growing the most are in this range. A child can get an early diagnosis of autism but when language comes and true measures of intellectual ability are noted they can move into the “high functioning range” and appear very much like a person with Asperger’s Syndrome. However, based on the diagnostic criteria, if they haven’t spoken language at the age of [Read more…] about Autism vs. Aspergers Syndrome: Signs Your Child Might Have Either and Why Jenny McCarthy Upsets the Autistic Community