With credit to Lisa Chattler, SIG 16 associate coordinator
Seal Beach, CA I provide the list below and thank her on behalf of all of my readers for this wonderful resource!
***SIG=special interest group (language, learning and education) of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association
These are scary times and a number of parents online are asking for guidance in terms of how to explain the reason why their children are not in school. There are ways that you can do so and I saw an article online that will be helpful https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/
Some have voiced online concern about what will happen to their child when school is closed. So that you can plan, an option may be teletherapy.
Considerations With regards to Teletherapy Message for Consumers:
If you are a New York State resident receiving speech-language pathology or audiology services in New York State, your Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist must be licensed in New York State.speech- pathology or audiology services in this State, as long as such services are performed for no more than thirty (30) days in any calendar year and provided that such services are performed in conjunction with and/or under the supervision of Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist licensed under Article 159 of the New York State Education Law.
(a) An insurer shall not exclude from coverage a service that is otherwise covered under a policy that provides comprehensive coverage for hospital, medical or surgical care because the service is delivered via telehealth, as that term is defined in subsection (b) of this section; provided, however, that an insurer may exclude from coverage a service by a health care provider where the provider is not otherwise covered under the policy. An insurer may subject the coverage of a service delivered via telehealth to co-payments, coinsurance or deductibles provided that they are at least as favorable to the insured as those established for the same service when not delivered via telehealth. An insurer may subject the coverage of a service delivered via telehealth to reasonable utilization management and quality assurance requirements that are consistent with those established for the same service when not delivered via telehealth.(b) For purposes of this section, “telehealth” means the use of electronic information and communication technologies by a health care provider to deliver health care services to an insured individual while such individual is located at a site that is different from the site where the health care provider is located.
Sometimes same events re-occur. Years ago, families had rules about the use of television with children and now things have gotten more complex with the emergence of social media, smartphones, and computers for example.
The Family Media Plan-published by the American Academy of Pediatrics talks about the fact that at the age of fifteen months, the use of media is okay so long as a parent watches with the toddler. The controversy around this area is a fascinating one that should be considered by parents and caregivers. In visiting homes it becomes apparent that there are varying opinions and reasons for or against its use being voiced. Research about the use of technology is telling us more and more. The fact that it is showing that there is an influence on brain development is not surprising. How does this affect your children and parenting style around this issue?
THE CHECKUP
Screen Use Tied to Children’s Brain Development
In a study, preschoolers who used screens less had better language skills.
So frustrating… your child enters the world and you are not aware of the hand that you will be dealt with. You have a child – a wonderful child whom you love so much – but they have a different style of functioning. They may respond to the world differently. They may need accommodations in school so that they have an untimed exam. They may need related services such as Speech Therapy and/or a paraprofessional to provide support in the “least restrictive environment least restrictive environment
Your child is evaluated to determine what needs they may or may not have. You go to your local school district office to discuss the plan based on these reports and an Individual Education Plan is developed. The law states that you have rights as a parent to both participate and agree or disagree to an outlined plan for your child. I am not a special education advocate, but I work with children of different ages. Part of my work involves assisting parents with written reports to present at IEP meetings/CPSE meetings and speaking with professionals in terms of suggesting supports from which those whose skills I have evaluated may benefit.
Over the years, I have seen children fall through the cracks and not get the services that they need. It’s in the best interests of your child to advocate on behalf of your own.
available to help guide you as well. Similar programs are offered in other areas so check with parents organizations supporting the needs of children such as your own.
The need to assist families with children who have disabilities to embed tasks into their routines each day may be exasperating. What can you do???https://www.autismspeaks.org/sensory-issues
Examples of accommodations for hyper-sensitivities
Dimmed lights
Incandescent versus fluorescent lighting
Sunglasses or visor to block overhead fluorescent lighting
Ear plugs or headphones in noisy environments
Closed door or high-walled work areas to block distracting sights and sounds
Avoidance of strongly scented products (perfumes, air fresheners, soaps, etc.)
Food options that avoid personal aversions (e.g. intensely spicy, textured, cold, hot, etc.)
Clothing that accommodates personal sensitivities (e.g. to tight waistbands and/or scratchy fabric, seams and tags)
Request for permission before touching
Examples of accommodations for hypo-sensitivities
Visual supports for those who have difficulty processing spoken information
Sensory-stimulating toys (e.g. safe chewies and fidgets)
Opportunities for rocking, swinging and other sensory stimulating activities
Strong tasting and/or textured foods, cold beverages, etc.
Firm touch (according to preference)
Weighted blankets
Fun opportunities to practice physical skills (catching, dancing, jumping, running, etc.)
Furniture arrangements that reduce chances of bumping into sharp or hard surfaces
Just published this week on the American Speech-Language Association website:
The Healthy Communication and Popular Technology Initiative is an effort led by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to safeguard healthy communication in a technology-driven world. We’re a force for moderate tech use that encourages conversation, human interaction and practicing safe listening.
The technology we use every day has helped us accomplish great things, but it’s also had a profound impact on how we communicate. If current habits continue, experts are concerned overuse of popular technology could lead to diminished speech, language and hearing abilities”.
I agree.
Within the context of home care intervention, I may walk into a family’s home with a child who has a diagnosis of receptive and expressive language delay. Apparent are different scenarios related to this phenomenon
*****I am not trying to be critical of any parent or parenting style, but merely pointing out what has been observed
a parent on the phone and a child pulling at their clothes, but the parent ignores them.
the parent is on the phone and the child is playing on a tablet or phone and neither acknowledges each other or after opening the door – a newcomer in the home.
While speaking to a parent all of a sudden Elmo across the room starts to dance. When asking how that happened, the parent pointed out that their daughter had learned to push a red button on a cell phone that then activates Elmo. That’s what happened. Inquiring as to whether or not the child could actually manipulate the toy and make that happen or request help in doing so, you could feel the tension in the room. I never got the answer.
Like many a scholar before and since, Bertrand Russell confidently asserts that certain traits—“speech, fire, agriculture, writing, tools, and large-scale cooperation”—set humans apart from animals. Although we appear to excel in many domains, such claims are not typically founded in any thorough comparison. In fact, if you set the bar low, you can conclude that parrots can speak, ants have agriculture, crows make tools, and bees cooperate on a large scale. We need to dig deeper to understand to what we owe our unique success—what separates us from other animals in the domains of language, mental time travel, the theory of mind, intelligence, culture, and morality. In each domain, various nonhuman species have competences, but the human ability is special in some respects—and they have much in common.
Only time will tell if this continues to be the case.
The frustration of not able to communicate or express their wants can have a negative effect on individuals with autism. They may tend to stay aloof, throw tantrum and indulge in negative behavior For autism, assistive technology can benefit individuals (of all age groups) in promoting communication and social interactions. Assistive technology refers to hand-held gadgets such […]
Welcome to a new decade! Where have you been and where you will go this year. I hope my readers will be able to increase their connectivity to others and opportunities to engage with those in many different venues. As you do so- pause and think about how we are doing so. My question to you is where did talking face-to-face vs. FaceTime go?
Changes Over a Decade in How We Talk:
Absolutely fascinating how it seems that social media has taken over so much of our means of communicating with one another! Take a look at the statistics https://www.oberlo.com/blog/social-media-marketing-statistics and recall that social media only became a phenomenon of the late 1900s. Remember the movie “Social Network” and how famous Mark Zuckerberg became as a result?
Regardless of how it has affected us, the use of technology has changed communication, the way that we think and live our lives each day. There are positive ways in which we can use technology at home and the guidelines posted by the American Academy of Pediatrics indicate that the key is to use it in moderation and with parental supervision.
I’ve posted other potential activities that do not involve screen time so please scroll back for those and please don’t forget to look up at each other and look!
The Truth about Fussy Eating by by Claire Gillespie shared from The Week It’s no big secret that a lot of kids don’t like vegetables. Or they think they don’t like them, because they don’t really know — they won’t try them. Another non-secret is that one of the most exhausting aspects of parenting isKeep…
There are serious sensory components to eating and these are illustrated through another remarkable post that was recently featured; well worth a look. For example, the sensation for some may be illustrated with the following image. https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/77902889/posts/2550462747
