Parenting the Special Needs Child

Find out more about the Cleft Palate Foundation

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:41:00 GMT

Did you know...

The most common birth defects in the US is Cleft lip and/or palate--1 in 600 babies.

The Cleft Palate Foundation can refer you to interdisciplinary diagnostic and evaluations teams in your area

There is a place you can go on the web which offers comprehensive information and support resources for families affected by the birth of a child with a cleft lip and/or palate

I recently met with some wonderful, dedicated people who provide information and support to families with children born with a cleft lip and/or palate. They work tirelessly to provide the most current information, resources and services available. The Foundation's mission, "To enhance the quality of life for
individuals affected by cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial
birth defects" is carried out by providing resources which focus on
topics such as "Feeding Your Baby," and listings by state of Cleft
Palate and Craniofacial diagnostic and evaluation interdisciplinary
teams. The website, www.cleftline.org, has information for both families and health care professionals and the helpline--1.800.24.CLEFT--provides callers with local support group resources. Check out the website and find answers to questions from the folks who care and are the recommended source for cleft lip and or palate information.

Time has passed so quickly

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:50:52 GMT

It's hard to believe it's been so long since Ive posted. Well, it's because I have gotten a new job, moved from Illinois to North Carolina, sent our youngest to college and finished publishing a book written with my parent coaching cohorts! PHEW!!!

The Book "Parenting By Strengths, A Parent's Guide for Challenging Situations" is available in paperback and as a download. Just click on the link and to purchase or contact me for your copy. Let me know what you think!!!!!

WANT TO JOIN A COMMUNITY OF OTHERS WHO UNDERSTAND?

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:27:00 GMT

Ever wanted to talk with other moms who have young children
with complex medical issues?

Do you wish you had someone to bounce some new
ideas off of or hear from others who have dealt with the same issues you are
facing with your child?

Are you a mom trying to juggle work and family and home
responsibilities AND make sure your kids get all the therapy they need?

Well, you
have come to the right place! This is a community forum for moms who have young children with special needs and want a community to find resources, tips
and camaraderie.

Interested in talking over the phone with moms who are dedicated to finding solutions and taking action? Join us twice a month for a discussion on topics of interest determined by you! We meet on the telephone using conference calling technology-meaning everyone calls in on a long distance number, punches in an access code on the phone key pad and everyone is connected to each other in a "virtual" room! It is amazing. I am the facilitator and available to keep the discussion moving and positive.

If you want more information about the virtual community group meetings, just email me!

Do you know a picky eater? Feeding teleconference tomorrow!!

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:18:37 GMT

Join
us on the phone--call in to our

Preemies Today
Parents Teleconference

"Food
Chaining: The Proven 6 Step Solution to Stop Picky Eating,

Solve Feeding
Problems and Expand Your Child's Diet."

Do
you know children with a history of any of the following?

* history of prematurity

* dysphagia

*
feeding aversion

* oral motor problems

* poor weight gain

* failure to thrive

* food allergy

* eosinophilic esophagitis

* digestive tract disorders or

* sensory/behavioral/motor-based feeding
disorders

Join
Cathy Rodrigues and guest Cheri Fraker, CCC/SLP pediatric speech pathologist
and oral feeding specialist to discuss her successful technique to help picky
eaters!

After a brief
presentation, you will have a chance to ask Cheri questions.

Saturday,
February 21, 2009

1:00
ET/12:00 CT/10:00 PT

RSVP:
Email Cathy@CathyRodrigues.com for call-in information

Sponsored by
Preemies Today--

**No charge for the teleconference-long distance charges apply**

Cheri
Fraker, CCC/SLP, a pediatric speech pathologist and oral feeding specialist.
She is employed at Koke Mill Medical Center in Springfield, Illinois, where she
sees infants and children at The Center for Selective Eating and Pediatric
Feeding Disorders. Fraker is the author of Evaluation and Treatment of
Pediatric Feeding Disorders from NICU to Childhood (Speech Dynamics Inc) and
Food Chaining: The Proven 6-Step Plan to Stop Picky Eating, Solve Feeding
Problems and Expand Your Child’s Diet (Da Capo Press). Fraker has published and
presented on feeding disorders internationally.

Do you know a picky eater? Feeding teleconference tomorrow!!

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:14:46 GMT

Join
us on the phone--call in to our

Preemies Today
Parents Teleconference

"Food
Chaining: The Proven 6 Step Solution to Stop Picky Eating,

Solve Feeding
Problems and Expand Your Child's Diet."

Do
you know children with a history of any of the following?

* history of prematurity

* dysphagia

*
feeding aversion

* oral motor problems

* poor weight gain

* failure to thrive

* food allergy

* eosinophilic esophagitis

* digestive tract disorders or

* sensory/behavioral/motor-based feeding
disorders

Join
Cathy Rodrigues and guest Cheri Fraker, CCC/SLP pediatric speech pathologist
and oral feeding specialist to discuss her successful technique to help picky
eaters!

After a brief
presentation, you will have a chance to ask Cheri questions.

Saturday,
February 21, 2009

1:00
ET/12:00 CT/10:00 PT

RSVP:
Email Cathy@CathyRodrigues.com for call-in information

Sponsored by
Preemies Today--

**No charge for the teleconference-long distance charges apply**

Are You Living Your Life with Intention?

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:23:03 GMT

by Cathy Rodrigues
"If what you are doing is not your goal, it might as well be your goal."

I heard this statement and it struck me...What I am working on today--is it going to get me where I want to be in the future? The impact of this simple statement caused me to stop and think.
This powerful notion made me think about the idea of "intention." What
does this mean? What is my purpose? How do I want to live my life? To
that end I began a process of creating a personal mission statement.

Answering the following questions allowed me to begin the process of crafting my personal statement. The questions are adapted from the book, Find Your Purpose, Change Your Life: Getting to
the Heart of Your Life’s Mission by Carol Adrienne:

I love to...
I am...
I would like to have more...
When I was a child, I wanted to be...
The qualities I like best about myself are...
What interested me today, this week was...
I keep being drawn to...

My working mission statement is...

Through
this process I got feedback from my friends, family and co-workers
which helped me validate my sense of who I am in addition to how I
present myself to others. The whole process took some time but it was
helpful, especially during the challenging times.

I found that I was able to create two statements:

"To be of service to others, bringing a sense of peace, joy and beauty into my life and those around me."

"Through
my hands, I want to promote a sense of spiritual connection by creating
gifts of beauty and joy for myself and those around me."

Let me know what you think and if yo want help to craft your own personal mission statement. Send me an email!
Cathy

Preemies Today Teleconference rescheduled for Friday, January 30th

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:11:10 GMT

Parenting and Discipline: The Impact of Prematurity on Sensory Development
The teleconference featuring JoAnn Kennedy OTR has been changed to Friday, January 30th at
2:00 ET/1:00 CT/ 12:00 PT.

If you tried to call in yesterday and got the wrong number, I must apologize for transposing the numbers in the prefix. I understand folks who called in got a very angry person on the line. Please do not let this deter you from participating. If you are interested, please send me an email and I can send you the correct conference number.

Stay warm,
Cathy

Preemies Today-Creating Holiday Traditions Podcast!!!

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:02:31 GMT

Last Monday, I co-led a tele-conference with Preemies Today founder Mary Beth Hazelgrove called Creating Family Traditions or How to Stay Healthy and have Fun Together. With permission of the callers, the one hour meeting was recorded and theDownload Preemies today 121508
is available for listening at your convenience. As a follow-up, I compiled a brief handout which can be shared with family and friends explaining the issues with illness and how it can affect a premature baby.

Our next tele-conferences are scheduled for Friday, January 16th and 23rd, 2009 at 1:00 ET/12:00 CT/ 10:00 PT and we will be discussing discipline and the impact of prematurity on sensory development. Plan on joining us live and participating in the conversation. If you would like to register, send me an email!!!!

National survey shows impact of caring for a child with chronic disorder

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:59:27 GMT

AP: December 1, 2008: CHICAGO - More
than half a million U.S. children have autism with costly health care needs
that often put an unprecedented financial strain on their families, national
data show.

Compared with parents whose youngsters have
chronic health care needs but not autism, those with autistic children are
three times more likely to have to quit their jobs or reduce work hours to care
for their kids.

They pay more for their kids' health needs, spend more time
providing or arranging for that care, and are more likely to have money
difficulties, the study found.

"This is the first national survey that
looked at the impact on families of having kids with special health care
needs," said lead author Michael Kogan, a researcher with the government's
Maternal and Child Health Bureau.

The
results are from a nationally representative 2005-06 survey of nearly 40,000
children with special health care needs. These children have a broad range of
chronic conditions, including physical and mental illness, requiring more
extensive than usual medical care.

A total of 2,088 children with special health
needs had autism, which translates to about 535,000 kids aged 3 to 17
nationwide, the study authors said.

The study appears in December's Pediatrics,
being released Monday.

Autism typically involves poor verbal
communication, repetitive behaviors such as head-banging, and avoidance of
physical or eye contact. Affected children often need many more types of
treatment than kids with other chronic conditions, including speech and
behavior therapy and sometimes medication. Kogan said that may explain the
disproportionate strain on their families.

Jacquie Mace, whose 12-year-old son, Austin,
has autism, said the study presents a "very realistic" picture of the
challenges affected families face.

Mace said she spends "easily $15,000 to
$20,000 out of pocket" yearly on supplies for behavior treatment she
provides for her son.

She's still working to pay off a $7,000 bill
for dental work Austin had last year. He has to be sedated and hospitalized for
dental care because he can't sit still in a chair, Mace explained. Austin's
health insurance doesn't cover any of it, she said.

Some states require insurers to cover certain
autism treatment while similar proposed measures are pending in others,
including Illinois.

Mace
hasn't had to quit her job helping local families find autism resources, but
knows of many parents who've had to leave work to care for their autistic kids.

She is divorced — another common casualty,
she said, of the challenges of caring for autistic kids.

10 Tips to Make Your Thanksgiving Better--Thanksgiving Wishes

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:21:46 GMT

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. It is a time to give thanks and share time with family and friends or the community. Here are some ways to help enrich your day that are easy and don't take a lot of effort or time.

Take the time to tell others that they matter

Savor the activities that you experience

Do one thing nice for someone that you love that is unexpected

Do something for others who have less than you

Share your favorite holiday stories with others

Create one tradition

Accept compliments that you get

Look others in the eye and smile

Take time to do one thing that you love that is just for YOU

Get outside for a walk and express your gratitude

Enjoy your day today and the days ahead. The great thing about these ways to make your Thanksgiving better is that they are things that you can do any day! Make your day the best it can be!!!!
Cathy

Infant Formula Notification

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:54:05 GMT

Every week I get news stories that are gathered from Google searches on prematurity. This morning I was looking though the stories and found a series of alarming stories on the use of Enfamil powdered breast milk fortifier

Formula For Tragedy: Milk-Based Powdered Formula

Powdered Baby Formula Could Be Dangerous For Some Infants

CHICAGO (CBS News) ―

Connor McGray and his twin brother, Logan, were born prematurely on Nov. 16, 2007 at an Illinois hospital.

Connor
appeared to be the healthier of the two. It wasn't until their parents,
Amanda Carlin and Tim McGray of Somonauk, Ill., received a call from a
doctor at the hospital a week later saying the infant was lethargic and
refusing to eat.

Doctors discovered Connor had meningitis and "they basically told us, all we could do was pray," their parents recall.

On May 3, 2008, their baby died at home.

"He knows there's something missing," Amanda Carlin says of their surviving child, Logan, who turned 1 last week.

Officials
listed the cause of death as hydrocephalus and bacterial meningitis.
The bacterial infection, according to a memo from the Illinois
Department of Public Health, "may be associated with the consumption of
a powdered breast milk fortifier."

The Enfamil brand powdered
formula was fed to the Connor during his time in the the Neo-Natal
Intensive Care Unit at Rush-Copley Medical Center.

In a statement released on Nov. 13, 2008, Rush-Copley said: "We have the utmost compassion for the baby and his family."

Hospital
officials noted 4,000 babies are born at the facility each year and
"the procedures followed here are consistent with the standards of care
provided to prematurely born infants in the U.S."

"There was nothing I could do. I felt helpless and part of me was gone forever," Carlin said.

During
an investigation by the CBS station in Chicago, research found Connor's
death was not the only associated with the tainted baby formula claim.

The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the danger with
powdered formula is that -- unlike the liquid kind -- it cannot be
sterilized, which makes it vulnerable to bacteria growing in it, CBS
station KTVT-TV reported.

The most severe cases involve babies
exposed to a bacteria called Enterobacter sakazakii, or E-sak. The CDC
notes e-sak can lead to raging infections, severe brain damage and
ultimately death, as in Connor McGray's case.

The baby
suffered from seizures and brain abscess. According to official health
records, his blood and cerebral spinal fluid tested positive for the
organism.

Premature Infants or those with weak immune systems
are at greatest risk of getting infections, the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services reports.

There is even a warning on
powdered formula containers. One brand warns: "... powdered infant
formulas are not sterile and should not be fed to premature infants or
infants who might have immune problems unless directed and supervised
by your baby's doctor."

During the week before Connor's
illness, a health department memo notes he was fed ready-to-feed liquid
formula, as well as, breast milk with powdered infant fortifier.

Hospital records show the powdered formula the hospital used was Enfamil by Mead Johnson.

From Nov. 20 to Nov. 24, Connor was fed the product orally and through a nasogastric tube.

The
same health department report noted the product was prepared at the
hospital in a prep area/station, not a dedicated formula preparation
room.

On Dec. 3, 2007, Connor was transferred from Rush-Copley
to the University of Chicago because, Tim McGray said, the family
wanted the twin boys together. Logan was being treated at the
University of Chicago for an intestinal condition.

His mother said the hospital did not tell her about the risks of powdered formula.

She said she also didn't learn about her son being given the powder, until she hired The Collins Law firm in Naperville.

"We
didn't find out until afterward, when we got a hold of whatever medical
records we could get," McGray adds. "That's the only way we knew."

The
CBS2 investigation also uncovered other cases in which powdered formula
was blamed for causing brain damage or death in infants. There have
been at least two Illinois cases and cases in at least 17 other states,
including Texas.

Ed Manzke, one of the attorneys hired in Connor McGray's case said it's not an isolated problem.

"There
have been deaths all across the country related to powder infant
formulas. And what is so shocking about it, is hardly anyone knows it.
It's like leaving a loaded gun in a nursery."

A 2001 E-Sak outbreak in Tennessee led to a 2002 U.S. Food and Drug Administration warning to health professionals.

In
a letter the FDA wrote: "FDA recommends that powdered infant formulas
not be used in neonatal intensive care settings unless there is no
alternative available."

FDA officials also said there are sterilized liquid fortifiers on the market that can be used as an alternative.

The
FDA stopped short of issuing a complete ban on the powder, but said it
may be used in the NICU when no appropriate liquid product is
available.

Despite the warning, five years later Connor McGray
was given the powdered formula. His family says he was getting stronger
and doing well until he got the powder.

Daniel Korte also was
fed powdered infant formula and was struck with the same infection and
meningitis. His parents said the contaminated formula was fed to him at
Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Daniel survived, but is living in a nursing facility on a ventilator.

"It
basically turned his brain to mush," said Michelle Korte, Daniel's
mother. "He is ventilated and his upper brain is destroyed."

Korte said the hospital in this case also never warned her about the risk associated with the formula.

An
attorney she hired, Andy Weisbecker, said powdered formula
manufacturers need to do a better job of informing doctors and parents
about the danger.

"More needs to be done to increase the level
of knowledge about this deadly bug," Weisbecker said. "Who knows how
many parents are out there with affected children who may still not be
aware of a possible connection between these illnesses and contaminated
formula."

Federal regulators believe the number of cases are
underreported. There may be other infants diagnosed with meningitis
that have not been checked for E-sak.

"They pretty much just
want to sweep it under the rug and it's not an issue you can just sweep
under the rug. I mean it took a baby's life," Copley stresses.

Babies
are not just being sickened by formula in hospitals, however. Parents
unknowingly are buying the powdered formula for at-risk babies.

Stephen
Meyer, an attorney at the Law Office of Nick Stein in Indiana, has
spent nine years working on E-sak cases. He said the FDA's warning
should have gone to consumers.

"Most moms would think 'If it's marketed to me, it's safe' … especially if it comes in a hospital gift bag."

Mead Johnson officials said its products are safe as long as they are used according to label directions.

The
company said it has "taken the position that powdered infant formula
should not be used in neonatal intensive care settings unless no
alternative is available."

Tracey Noe, a spokesman for Abbott, which manufactures formula including Similac, said it uses rigorous testing procedures, including bacterial testing, on its powdered formulas.

"Abbott
agrees with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration/Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention joint recommendation that powdered formula
should not be used in hospital neonatal intensive care units — unless
no nutritionally suitable alternative is available," Noe responded.

Both manufacturers have been sued by families who say they were affected by the tainted formula.

The
parents of Connor McGray and Daniel Korte also are planning to file
lawsuits. In the meantime, they are talking about what happened in
hopes of warning — and educating — doctors, hospital staff and other
parents about the potential danger of powdered formula.

"I want other people to be aware of it so they don't have to go through what I did," Amanda Carlin said.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Parenting Depression During Pregnancy Can Double Risk of Premature Birth

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:40:15 GMT

It has been a while since I wrote on my blog. Thank you to my loyal readers. Here is another article I found which presents research on the impact of depression on premature birth. Let me know what you think. I'll write more later!!
Cathy

By: Allie Montgomery

Published: Friday, 24 October 2008

Mothers-to-be
who suffer from depression have been shown to have twice the risk of
delivering a premature infant than pregnant women that have no symptoms
of depression. This risk for premature infants increases as the
symptoms of depression become more severe.

In a new study, which
is among the first to study depression and premature births in a
representative and diverse population in the U.S., looked at
approximately 791 pregnant Kaiser Permanente members that were in San
Francisco City and county from October of 1996 through October of 1998.
According to the researchers, the findings provide preliminary evidence
that reproductive and social risk factors, stressful events, and
obesity may exacerbate the depression-premature delivery link. Because
the majority of the mothers in this study did not take
anti-depressants, the study provides a clear look at the link between
the premature delivery and depression.

The researchers
interviewed the mothers around their tenth week of pregnancy and found
that 41 percent reported significant or severe depression symptoms. The
women that had symptoms that were less severe had a 60 percent higher
risk of premature birth when compared with the women without
significant symptoms of depression. However, the women that had severe
symptoms of depression had more than twice the risk as the other for
premature birth.

The lead author of the study, Dr. De-Kun Li,
who is a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at Kaiser
Permanente’s Division of Research located in Oakland, said, “Preterm
delivery is the leading cause of infant mortality, and yet we don’t
know what causes it. What we do know is that a healthy pregnancy
requires a healthy placenta, and that placental function is influenced
by hormones, which are in turn influenced by the brain.”

The
study has also added emerging evidence that depression during the early
stages of pregnancy can interfere with the neuroendocrine pathways and
in turn, function of the placenta. The placenta and neuroendocrine
functions play a key role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy and
determining when labor will occur.

Li also stated, “Postpartum
depression has been extensively studied and discussed by the public,
but depression during pregnancy is significantly under-recognized and
under-diagnosed. Clinicians should pay close attention to depression
during pregnancy to catch it early…. If prenatal depression is indeed
as prevalent as reported in this and other studies and doubles the risk
of preterm delivery, then brining depression to the forefront of
prenatal care could lead to a significant reduction of preterm
deliveries.”

Premature birth is the leading medical expenditure
for infants. It is estimated to cost the United States $26 billion
dollars annually. Presently, other than previous history of premature
births, and some complications during pregnancy, very little is known
of the origins and risk factors contributing to premature delivery.

The
key strengths of this study are that it ascertained that symptoms of
depression early in the pregnancy, long before the premature birth
occurred, therefore avoiding recall bias. In addition, the study was
not clouded by the women taking medication for depression because only
1.5 percent of the study population had been prescribed antidepressants
and could be excluded from the study analyses.

Music Therapy

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:56:42 GMT

I found this post and thought you might be interested in the content.
Cathy

Sounds of Healing: Music Therapy

"Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast,
To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak."
-William Congreve

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by a mellifluous strain that tears have streamed down your eyes in a wave of catharsis? Or has a soulful melody opened the flood gates of old memories, to transport you back in time to a beautiful reverie? How often have you rocked your blues away listening to feet tapping music?

From infants to the infirm, music’s appeal is universal and nonpareil, wafting its way to the heart!

Dan Ellsey, a 33 year old cerebral palsy patient couldn’t agree with this more, for him music has become a novel way of expression. On his specially designed computer program called hyper score, Ellsey breaks into a composition to convey the innermost feelings in his heart. Just like Ellsey and for a many others, the repertoire of musical notes has helped convey a myriad of emotions, which words often fail to do.

The quintessence of communication, sound, is evident right from the instant of birth. A baby’s cry is endowed with a certain rhythm, pitch, intensity and purpose, to attract an appropriate response from the parents.

Our hearts beat to an internal rhythm. It is further believed that sounds influence the complete human energy system, increasing our response to them, which is perhaps one good reason why we are also called ‘musical beings’.

Music Therapy is "the prescribed use of music by a qualified person to effect positive changes in the psychological, physical, cognitive, or social functioning of individuals with health or educational problems" (American Music Therapy Association 1999).

Body Tunes into Melody

Wondered why a baby sleeps peacefully hearing a lullaby?

Human behavior is profoundly influenced by music, according to the book ‘Biomedical Foundations of Music as Therapy’ by Dale B. Taylor. According to Dale, the brain is absolutely captivated by music and this positive influence is transmitted to the rest of the body.

"Musicophilia”, a book by neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks, tries to delve into a deeper understanding of the brain’s responses to music. Offering an explanation he says, “It’s unclear why humans are so uniquely sensitive to music - certainly music shares many features with spoken language, and our brains are particularly developed to process the rapid tones and segments of sound that are common to both."

It is said that the moment we hear a tune, deep breathing increases, which is a good way to beat stress. Music also reduces heart rate, and regulates the body temperature appropriate for relaxation to set in. Further, the body secretes more of serotonin, in response to music. This is perhaps why a lullaby calms the baby, soothing it to sleep.

Research Sings Paeans

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." -Red Auerbach

The state of ‘happiness’ while listening to a favorite number shows up in brain scans as evidence of positive response to music, report Scientists from the Montreal Neurological Institute. Appealing music is thought to titillate certain regions in the cortex of the brain, importantly regions associated with ‘thinking’. There have been many scientific studies that have enumerated the benefits of music therapy. Results of some of these are enlisted below:

• A 2001 study conducted on burn patients, whose burns required to be periodically scraped to lessen the formation of dead tissue, found that music therapy helped alleviate extreme pain occurring during the procedure.

• A 2007 endeavor by Cochrane Collaboration, studied the data from 51 ‘pain’ studies and it showed that music helped reduce pain and the requirement for narcotic drugs.

• Cochrane Collaboration also found the immense benefits of music therapy in the improvement of certain mental conditions, for instance schizophrenia.

• Premature infants who listened to lullabies were found to be quick in learning the art of ‘sucking’ which helped them gain weight faster, compared to preemies not exposed to the benefits of music therapy.

• Hospitalized children suffering cancer showed a boost in their immune system when they sang, played and listened to music as compared to children who were not exposed to music therapy according to Deforia Lane, director of music therapy at the Ireland Cancer Center in Cleveland. Stroke patients and music therapy for regaining speech: Music’s impact on the brain is certain, according to Dr. Gottfried Schlaug, chief of the Cerebrovascular Disorder Division and Stroke-Recovery Laboratory at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Schlaug found those suffering a stroke on the left side of the brain, with their speech centers damaged, responded very well to “melodic intonation therapy." Using two tones to sing and communicate this form of music therapy helped patients graduate into actual speech much faster than others.

• Paralysis and Music Therapy to regain gait: Music therapy has helped patients suffering partial paralysis to regain their gait, according to research from the Center for Biomedical Research in Music at Colorado State University. Walking to the rhythms of music, patients retrain to walk much faster than patients who were not exposed to music therapy for rehabilitation.

• Autistic children and music therapy: To understand how the autistic brain processes music, a new study is proposed to be conducted by Istvan Molnar-Szakacs, a researcher at the UCLA Tennenbaum Centre for the Biology of Creativity. Explaining the background of the study, Istvan Molnar-Szakacs said, "Music has long been known to touch autistic children. Studies from the early days of autism research have already shown us that music provokes engagement and interest in kids with ASD. More recently, such things as musical memory and pitch abilities in children with ASD have been found to be as good as or better than in typically developing children."

Healing is undoubtedly a divine manifestation of music. From ‘touching a chord’ to ‘touching a cure’ the world of medicine is swaying to the boundless repertoire of music. ‘Without music, life is a journey through a desert’, Pat Conroy said, and medicine agrees to it wholeheartedly!

In a Foreign Land or School Daze

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:21:22 GMT

What’s it like for parents as they get ready to send their preschooler with a disability off to school?

Imagine that you are the parent of a three year old who has
developmental issues or a medical condition. For the past three years
you have grown accustomed to a new language and new people. You have
welcomed strangers bearing bags of toys into your home who have given
you tips about how to play with your baby to enhance development. To
change or add to your child’s services in early intervention, in
general all you really needed to do was ask, maybe have a re-evaluation
of your baby’s current level of strengths and needs and attended a
meeting. Sometimes your early intervention team even used finding from
the hospital follow-up clinic to implement changes to your Individual
Family Service plan.

Just to reach today, you had to learn that your baby has a diagnosis
affecting her growth and development. You had to learn about the
differences between physical and occupational therapy, allow strangers
into your home and into your life.

All that as changed…This morning you put your three year old
daughter or son with special needs on the bus and sent her to school
for the first time. You made it through the first three years of your
child’s life. (click to continue reading)

And now, all those relationships you built are gone. You face a whole
new bureaucracy, new people, and a new language, all in order for your
son or daughter to start public school. The early childhood school experience is on
the horizon.

Parents ask themselves so many questions,

"How will I ever know whether the services the school offers are the best for my child?”

“Will they take the time to get to know my child’s strengths and needs?”

“How will I know what goes on during the day?”

It’s like they are in a foreign land, with all new experiences, and in a daze…

How can you find the support you need? By becoming educated on what
to expect from the public school system and by always having your
advocate hat close at hand. Know your rights and responsibilities so
that you can ask for what you want and think your child needs.

The eligibility criteria for public school services is different
from early intervention. In early intervention, the focus is on
acquiring developmental skills and abilities whereas, preschool
(through public school) eligibility evaluates how a child's condition,
diagnosis or development impacts learning in the classroom.

Your early intervention service coordinator should assist with the
transition process usually starting the referral process to the public
school system when your child is approximately 2 years 6 months of age.
If this has yet to happen, check with your service coordinator and ask
what the process for transition to public school entails. You can also
contact your school district to determine where the communication
begins.

A great resource for families is through NEC*TAC--National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. The NEC*TAC website at http://www.nectac.org/topics/earlyid/partbelig.asp
. This link will take you directly to the Part B, Section 619
Eligibility set forth from the federal law IDEA-Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act. This website is rich with information. If
you need additional help navigating the transition process, just email
me-- cathy@cathyrodrigues.com--and I can offer some support and
guidance!

Sleep Tips for YOU!!

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:23:52 GMT

Babies who are born prematurely will likely sleep a lot at first due
to the fact that their neurological system is not fully developed. But
that doesn’t mean that their sleep pattern will remain the same, or
that they will always drop off to sleep easily.In fact, 80% of all
children with developmental concerns have some form of sleep issue.

Premature birth adds complexity to the challenging and sometimes
bewildering issues that all parents face with newborns. Understanding
sleep needs of babies with developmental issues is important to promote
healthy development and bonding.

Below, are eight tips to help parents understand and manage the issues associated with prematurity
and sleep. (Continue reading)

Get active

Adjust your expectations

Recognize signs of fatigue and stress in your baby

Keep track of your baby’s development in relation to her adjusted age

Establish a sleep routine

Make her crib a sleep safe haven

Encourage napping-try to get her ready for nap before she is exhausted.
Waiting until she is beside herself with fatigue and over stimulation
helps no one.

Begin to look for signs of fussiness and tiredness 1 ½ to 2 hours after
waking in the morning.--Often times a baby can’t usually stay awake
longer than two hours at a time. For the first few months, however, go
with the flow and get to know your baby—Once she grows older and
sometime after about 3 months, babies can begin to show signs of a
pattern and some may begin to be getting their days and nights
straightened out.

Mother's Day Celebrations-Memory Jar

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Mon, 05 May 2008 00:12:25 GMT

My family is always asking me--"Hey mom, what do you want for mother's day?" I always say "no dishes, cooking or laundry." This year I have an additional suggestion. I recently read a description of a wonderful way to celebrate being a
mom--creating a memory jar.

As a mom I love the time I spend with my kids and family. Those
time we make memories together are the best. Sometimes in my sheer
exhaustion, my daughter will ask me "Mom do you remember the time..."
Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't--true confessions here folks :-}

So the idea is to make a memory jar to trigger those days you want to remember.
Here are the supplies:
1 empty small-ish jar
pretty paper
scissors
markers
wonderful memories

To make the memory jar, have someone ask the kids to think about memories that are special to them. Either have the kids write down or dictate the memory. Write each memory down on a piece of paper. Cut each memory out and put all the wonderful recollections in the jar . You can either decorate the outside of the jar or not.

I have already put my order in for a memory jar and I can't wait to read all the thoughts! Let me know what you think about this idea or others that you know.

Have a wonderful Mother's Day--you deserve it!!

Ways to Nurture Yourself

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:45:00 GMT

N-notice what you say to yourself
U-understand the impact of chronic stress
R-regularly connect with your spouse, and supportive friends and family
T-take time to focus on the moment
U-understand as much as you can about your child’s developmental strengths and needs
R-redefine priorities regularly
E-enjoy and relax—trigger the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system

Y-yowl at the moon
O-open up and ask for support
U-use your promises to fulfill your own needs and thus the needs of others

Saying "Yes"

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 07:28:26 GMT

How is it that we are able to maintain our energy with all the juggling that we do in our day to day lives? Many times moms get caught taking care of everyone else and leave our own care for last. We get caught up in adding more and more tasks to our plate. These additional things are claiming our attention, but the things that matter the most, often times get put off. Our priorities are shuffled to the background and often times we feel like we can never get anything accomplished. There has got to be a better way than saying "yes" to everything.

Recently I began the practice of paying attention to the things I automatically agree to do. I started asking myself a question, " When I say "yes" to something, what am I saying "no" to?" It has been an interesting exercise and one that helps maintain focus when everything else is claiming attention.

Consider taking a moment before you agree to add "one more thing," to think about how you might take care of yourself just a bit by asking yourself the question, " When I say "yes" to something, what am I saying "no" to?" I would love to hear about your experiences!

"What...My Baby...Stressed Out?"

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:22:33 GMT

Your new baby is finally home. So much time has been spent in anticipation of his arrival. Emotions are running high, and so is the uncertainty.

“How do we become a “family?”
“What can I do to make sure my baby stays healthy?”
“When will I ever get another good night’s rest?”
“I just feed him. He still seems upset. Is something wrong?”

Most people do not realize the newborn baby might be feeling stressed by his environment. New sounds in the house can cause him to startle; he needs to adjust to the hum of activity and the rhythms of your home.

By learning to recognize his signals of stress as you and he interact will help you ease him into your family life and help his adjustment into the world.
Not only is it important to understand his stress signals, it is also helpful to be able to notice his levels of alertness to better understand his needs.

Many of the stress signs are familiar, such as crying, irritation, agitation and arching of the back. Other signs might include squirming or restless movements, twitches, droopy eyelids or eyes closed, grimacing, or just a worried look.

Less obvious signs of stress include tightly fisted hands, burping or passing gas, splayed fingers, hiccoughing, yawning and looking away. Some signs are very subtle like skin color changes that may look like baby is pale, grey, blue dusky or mottled. Breathing can become erratic and movements can become increasingly disorganized— i.e., baby can’t get fists to his mouth to calm himself.

Interacting with your baby is what you have been waiting for during all the months before birth. Other questions parents ask include, “When do I know he is ready to interact with me?” or “When is the best time for me to play with my baby?” and “Don’t babies just either sleep or cry?”

Many parents think their baby either sleeps or cries but babies have a range of moods or states. There are two sleep states and four alert states that babies move through. Understanding the different characteristic behaviors that your baby displays will help you have a better idea what your baby needs. Despite what seems like an erratic schedule, your baby responds in his own way but typically in an organized way. The six different states help your baby control the amount of input that they can manage from the environment.

The Six States of the Newborn
The level of stress expressed by your newborn may be classified into six different states, or categories. Each state can be identified based upon body activity, eye and facial movements, breathing pattern and level of response.

State 1-Quiet Sleep/Deep Sleep
This stage of sleep is restorative and helps the body grow.
-Lasts only 5-6 minutes
-Eyes are closed
-No visible rapid eye movements
-No sucking and almost no body movements
-Slow steady heart rate
-Regular breathing
-Difficult to arouse or wake-up
-May occasionally startle but easily returns to sleep without upset.

If you try to feed him while he is in quiet sleep you will likely feel frustrated because he will probably be unresponsive. It may be easier to feed him when he is sleeping less soundly. Even if you try to disturb him, he will likely only awaken briefly and then go back to sleep.

State 2-Active Sleep/Light Sleep or Rapid Eye Movement (REM Sleep)
This state is associated with processing information that is associated with learning. Babies spend most of their newborn sleep in this state which precedes waking up.
-Random body actions
-Rapid eye easily seen
-Sucking movements
-Facial grimacing or twitching
-Irregular breathing and heart rate
-More fluctuations in color
-Likely to move into a more alert state

Even though your baby is asleep, he can react to hunger and handling. Sometimes parents try to feed when babies are in this state as babies may fuss or cry. These sounds typically occur during light sleep. If you try to feed him while he is in this stage of sleep he may not be ready to eat and he can stay asleep, go into quiet sleep or awaken.

State 3-Drowsy Sleep
If your baby is left alone at this stage, he may return to sleep or he may awaken. If you want to him to wake-up you can give him something to suck, hear or see to help him become more alert.
-Higher level of activity that states 1 or 2
-Transitional waking state
-Stretching movements or head turning
-Glazed appearance in the eyes
-Obvious color changes
-Readily goes back to sleep
-More fluctuations in heart and breathing rates
-Unsustained crying
-Easily awakens in response to stimulation

State 4-Quiet Alert
This is the best time to do any activity and the best time for learning as your baby is most attentive.
-Eyes open
-Awake and alert
-Very little body movement
-Responsive
-Regular breathing
-Lower muscle tone
-Limited color changes
-Frequently displays cues to engage in interactions

Some newborns experience a longer period of alertness in the first few hours after birth before going into a long sleep period. As you baby grows older, he will spend more time being quiet and alert. Giving your baby things to look at, listen to or suck will help prolong these periods of
quiet alertness.

State 5-Active Alert
Your baby is moving more during this stage than in the
previous state.
-Eyes open but not as brightly as in the quiet alert state.
-More spontaneous motor movements, may kick, squirm or stretch
-Irregular heart rate and breathing
-Rapid and obvious color changes
-Possibly fussy or irritable
-Crying less than 15 seconds
-May be giving stress signals

Your baby is more susceptible to noise, excessive handling, fatigue and hunger and may start to become fussy. You can help your baby calm before he gets too upset. Helping him to bring his fist to his mouth to teach self-calming will be a great relief to your baby.

State 6-Crying State
Crying is the most difficult state for parents to manage. It is the sign that your baby has reached his limits.
-Crying more than 15 seconds
-Irritable, fussy, upset
-Obviously stressed
-Very high motor activity level
-Needs help to calm
-Usually red in color
-May become blueish in color the longer the crying continues.

Babies tend to cry to communicate, as a response to something unpleasant in their environment or because of hunger, fatigue or discomfort. Sometimes babies can comfort themselves and return to an active or quiet alert drowsy or sleep state and sometimes he will need help from you to calm.

Signs Indicating that it’s Time to Interact
Your baby can show you signs that he is ready to interact with you. These indicators might include being in the quiet alert state (State 4), brighten facial expressions, open hands, places hand toward mouth, cooing, slows or stops sucking. Other positive signs of interaction are when he has his eyes wide open, intently gazing, relaxed muscle tone —not too stiff or too loose, turns and looks toward you or an object. His face or body is pink or evenly colored. Knowing how to read your baby’s signs of readiness and stress will help ease transition and help make the dance between you and your baby more fluid.

Taking Stock-Setting the Course for '08

PARENTING SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 09:15:24 GMT

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. ~Will Rogers

I love this quote. To me this means that we can be on track with the the things we want to accomplish and still get overwhelmed by what happenings on a day to day basis. Since we are in early January, it is a great time to take stock and set a new course helps us make sure we are going in the direction we desire.

As we look ahead to 2008, consider taking a few moments and answer these questions.
Taking time to reflect is a good way to embrace the accomplishments, acknowledge the disappointments and to enhance the meaning in our lives.

1. What 10 accomplishments are you most proud? List them.
2. What are the mistakes, regrets, things you wish you hadn't done or said in the past year? List them.
3. Where appropriate, make amends.
4. Who are the people who most made a difference in your life this year? List them.
5. How will you let these people know about it in some way?
6. What are three things that you want to accomplish in 2008.
7. What is the smallest step you can think of to take toward your desired accomplishments in 2008?

Let me know what you think.
Happy Healthy and prosperous New Year you!!