Welcome to this week's Dealing With Learning Disorders Newsletter.

Featured Article

How Brain SPECT Imaging Can Help with ADHD

Dr. Daniel Amen

ADHD: How Brain SPECT Imaging Can Help With clinical history, SPECT scans can help decide whether or not you have ADHD

* Help determine your type of ADHD to direct treatment
* See if the treatment is working at an optimal level
* See if there are other co-occurring conditions that need to be treated
* Decrease the emotional pain of stigma and increase compliance
* Help families see the biological nature of ADHD to better understand the illness.

6 Types

Here are the 6 different types of ADHD, each with different brain function issues and treatment protocols.

Type 1: Classic ADD

Type 2: Inattentive ADD

Type 3: Overfocused ADD

Type 4: Temporal Lobe ADHD

Type 5: Limbic ADD

Type 6: Ring of Fire ADD

Common Treatments for All Types

1. Take a 100% multiple vitamin everyday.

2. Adults, take 2,000 -- 4,000mg of high quality fish oil a day (1,000 -- 2,000mg for children).

3. Eliminate caffeine from your diet.

4. Intense aerobic exercise daily for 30-45 minutes.

5. Turn off the television and video games, or limit them to no more than 30 minutes a day.

6. Food is a drug. Most people with ADD do best with a higher protein, lower simple carbohydrate diet.

7. In dealing with kids, employees, even spouses -- NO YELLING!

8. Test ADD kids and adults for learning disabilities.

9. Apply for appropriate school or work accommodations.

10. Never give up seeking help.

Copyright Dr. Amen 2008

To learn more about the 6 different types of ADD be sure to sign up as a member at my website to freely access all of the articles and resources available to members.

Discussion Boards

There's really a lot of talking going on. The discussion boards are a great place to be. Come try it out.

This week we discussed the process of how we elect a president. I shared this video that explains this process in an easy to understand way.

We talked about ADHD and the use of Ritalin. We discussed the pros and cons of this medication.

Another topic we discussed was how each family deals with Halloween. Some moms shared how they handle all of the candy that is given and how it effects special needs diets for their kids. Ideas were shared on costumes for sensitive kids and others shared how they totally avoid Halloween.

Do you have great ideas to share? We would love for you to join us in the Discussion Boards.

Tip of the Week

This week, let's consider how to find the ways your child learns best.

Does he or she learn by hands-on practice, looking, or listening? Help your child learn through his or her areas of strength.

Consider reading The Way They Learn by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias

It will save much frustration between you and your child if you can teach them they way they learn best.

--Robin

To learn more about how you can help your child with learning
disorders visit:
www.dealingwithlearningdisorders.com

Featured Article
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Problem: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a pattern of mental and physical defects which develops in some unborn babies when the mother drinks too much alcohol during pregnancy.

Possible FAS Symptoms:

* Growth deficiencies
* Facial abnormalities
* Organ deformities

Size of the Problem: Recent studies by researchers Ernest Abel and Robert Sokol suggest that the incidence of FAS can conservatively be estimated at 0.33 cases per 1,000 live births.

Recommendations: The Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse urges women who are pregnant or anticipating a pregnancy to abstain from drinking alcoholic beverages.

To read the details of this article join DealingWithLearningDisorders.com where you can find all kinds of information and resources for helping your special needs children.


Discussion Boards

In honor of Down Syndrome awareness month, some parents shared about the joys, trials, and new meaning their child has brought to their lives.

We shared about unusual places that we have found our kids doing their schoolwork.
I shared a picture of my son doing school, outside in a cage my kids had made, with the rabbit, reading about Colonial Times. So funny.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f322/jojodicks/wesley1.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f322/jojodicks/Wesley2.jpg

Another mom told us that it was common to find her oldest son on the roof with a mattress doing schoolwork. Oh my!
This was a fun topic.

I love the discussion boards! It's a great place to receive tips, tidbits, make friends, and brag on our kids.
Come share with us!


Tip of the Week

It is very important is to praise your child when he or she does well.

Children that have trouble academically are often very good at a variety of other things.
Find out what your child really enjoys doing, such as dancing, working with children, playing soccer, or working with computers. Give your child plenty of opportunities to pursue his or her strengths and talents. There are so many successful people out there that may not have known what they were created to do and be if their parents and teachers wouldn't have helped them along the way.

Watch for next week's tip on finding the ways your child learns
best.

--Robin

To learn more about how you can help your child with learning
disorders visit:
www.dealingwithlearningdisorders.com

Welcome to this week's Dealing With Learning Disorders Newsletter.

Featured Article of the Week

ADHD and Ritalin- Pros and Cons

Ritalin is one of the medications commonly prescribed to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) as well as narcolepsy. It works as a basic mild stimulant to the central nervous system by increasing dopamine (a neurotransmitter) in the brain. This increase is associated with attention, movement, and to a small extent, pleasure. When a therapeutic level is reached, the patients hyperactivity decreases and they are able to cope with daily stresses as well as concentrate on tasks.

In this article I discuss a few of the pros and cons of taking Ritalin.

Pros:
1. When a therapeutic level is reached, the patients hyperactivity decreases and they are able to cope with daily stresses as well as concentrate on tasks.

2.In narcolepsy, Ritalin helps keep the brain stimulated so the patient is able to stay awake and focus on tasks at hand.

Cons:
1. Among the controversies surrounding Ritalin is the possibility of the ADHD adolescent patient becoming addicted to stimulants and other drugs later in life.

2. There can be unpleasant side effects to Ritalin, even when the taken as prescribed by both the ADHD or narcoleptic patient.

3. If Ritalin is abused in high doses (it is a stimulant) by the patient or someone else, effects similar to cocaine abuse can result.

Choosing to use Ritalin is a personal decision for each family, one that must be thought out, researched and prayed about. For some children this approach works well, for others it can be a horrible experience.

No one loves and knows your child like you do. May you find the wisdom to do what is right for your child.

Robin


Message Board

On our “Message Board” we talk about many interesting topics every week.
Here we find a private place to share with others, make friends, and ask questions of the Featured Experts on the site.

This week some of the topics we talked about were:

Flu vacccines, being left handed, Fireproof- The Movie, and I shared about a wonderful book series for boys who are reluctant readers.

Come see what we're talking about!


Tip of the Week

Ten Things Your ADD Child Wants You To Know

HELP ME TO FOCUS ... Please teach me through my sense of touch. I need "hands-on" and body movement.

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT COMES NEXT ... Please give me a structured environment where there is a dependable routine. Give me an advance warning if there will be changes.

WAIT FOR ME, I'M STILL THINKING ... Please allow me to go at my own pace. If I'm rushed, I get confused and upset.

I'M STUCK, I CAN'T DO IT! ... Please offer me options for problem solving. If the road is blocked, I need to know the detours.

IS IT RIGHT? I NEED TO KNOW NOW ... Please give me rich and immediate feedback on how I'm doing.

I DIDN'T KNOW I WASN'T IN MY SEAT! ... Please remind me to stop, think, and act.

AM I ALMOST DONE? ... Please give me short work periods with short-term goals.

WHAT? ... Please don't say "I already told you that." Tell me again, in different words. Give me a signal. Draw me a symbol.

I KNOW IT'S ALL WRONG, ISN'T IT? ... Please give me praise for partial success. Reward me for self-improvement, not just for perfection.

BUT WHY DO I ALWAYS GET YELLED AT? ... Please catch me doing something right and praise me for the specific positive behavior. Remind me--and yourself--about my good points when I'm having a bad day.

{Author Unknown}

Be blessed this week with the children God has intrusted you with.
Robin Dicks

To find other helpful articles on children that learn differently go to DealingWithLearningDisorders.com