Attention Parents: Real Advice from the Mother of a Special Needs Child

by Jacky G. Interviews
Laura's Kids on the First Day of School

Courtesy: Laura

This week, Laura of Down Syndrome – Up Up Up and Away! is sharing her family’s story of life with Down syndrome (DS). DS can cause a range of physical and cognitive symptoms, including speech and language delays. Laura’s daughter K has Trisomy 21, which means that there is an extra copy of chromosome 21. Like other special needs children, K has more than proven that she can flourish with the proper therapies and treatments. Not only did K begin reading before she was 2 years old, she also began reading new books by the time she was 3 1/2. Laura also points out that for the typical special needs child, reading is a visual form of speech, and it can positively impact verbal communication.

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Speech Delays in Children: Could it Be Neurofibromatosis?

by Jacky G. Speech Disorders
Hypochondriac Cartoon

Image source: Someecards.com

If you’ve spent any amount of time researching disorders and speech delays in children, you probably already know how easy it is to acquire a slight case of hypochondria. And if you’re a parent, you may know just how easy it is to become a hypochondriac by proxy. You want the best for your child, so you do some in-depth investigating on WebMD or the Mayo Clinic’s website into every sniffle and sneeze. But sometimes a seemingly innocuous issue like a communication problem really can be a sign of a more serious medical condition. Speech delays in children should be evaluated by a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP). If your child has speech and language problems, and also has other symptoms like multiple birthmarks and skeletal abnormalities, he may also need to be evaluated for neurofibromatosis.

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Can Cord Blood Cure Autism?

by Jacky G. News
Cord Blood Bank

Image source: Kunstallations.blogspot.com

When your child was born, you may have counted his fingers and toes and checked him for other signs of health. But not all medical conditions are immediately obvious judging by physical appearance alone. If your child struggles with social interactions and communication, it is possible that he has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a developmental disorder. Researchers have long sought to cure autism, but to date, there is no magic bullet. Now, the Sutter Neuroscience Institute in Sacramento, CA, in collaboration with the Cord Blood Registry, has announced an FDA-regulated clinical trial to evaluate a new way to treat or cure autism.

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Using Apps for Aphasia Therapy

by Jacky G. Speech Therapy Techniques
Private Investigator Silhouette

Image source: Asianfanfics.com

When your child is first diagnosed with a speech disorder like aphasia, you might feel a bit like a private investigator – you’ll do a lot of background research on the issue and figure out what your resources are. One great way to stretch your resources when it comes to speech therapy is the use of specialized tools, such as Speech Buddies for articulation or apps for aphasia therapy. The symptoms of aphasia can range from mild to severe, and they will also vary depending on the part of the brain that sustained damage. Work with your child’s speech-language pathologist (SLP) to select the right apps for aphasia therapy that would best help his specific trouble areas.

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Making Special Education Plans with Your Child

by Jacky G. School
Daddy Dancing with Daughter

Image source: Tscpl.org

When it’s apparent that your child requires some extra help, you and your partner are the ones responsible for setting up the special education plans in collaboration with the school district. When your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) is not being properly implemented, it’s your job to file a complaint. It’s also your job to make sure your child has the speech therapy sessions and tools he needs, like Speech Buddies for articulation work. But is it ever your child’s job to get involved in their own special education plans?

Parents often instinctively shield their youngsters from the more unsavory issues in life, like bureaucratic red tape. And indeed, a young child should not dive headfirst into a pile of IEP paperwork. But having your youngster become at least partially involved in his own special education plans can introduce a human element into the process and remind the IEP team of why they are meeting in the first place. After all, it’s his education that the team is discussing. But there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and parents should always consider their children’s unique situation.

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