Welcome to this Week's DealingWithLearningDisorders Newsletter!

Now that winter is over I hope you are all enjoying getting outdoors and enjoying the beauty of Spring!



Featured Article

Sensory Integration Disorder
Dr. Kenny Handelman

ADD/ADHD and Sensory Integration Disorder: More common than you think

It's not as unusual as you may first think, really. As a parent with a child who has ADD/ADHD or an adult who deal with it daily, you may already recognize some of the symptoms. What am I talking about? Sensory Integration Disorder.

The chances are good that you haven't heard of it, yet. Simply put, sensory integration disorder is the inability of the brain to fully utilize the information it gathers through all the senses in any organized or effective way.


You may recognize some of the symptoms because they're so similar to the ones associated with ADD/ADHD. The list of symptoms is rather long:

* Short attention span * Sensitivity to sounds * Unusually sensitive to smells * Fascination with lights * Walking on the toes * Coordination problems * Indifference to pain or temperature * Refusal to wear certain types of clothing (your child may want to wear long sleeved shirts all year round so his skin isn't showing) * Difficulty with accepting changes * Self-injury or aggression * Avoiding physical contact with people * Strongly reacts to any stimulation on the face, hands or the feet. * Dislike and avoidance of grooming (brushing his teeth, washing his face, having his hair brushed or cut. * Either a very high, or a very low activity level. * An very high level of awareness of background noises * Engaging in the habit of spinning items or taking items apart

When the brain isn't interpreting incoming information properly, then the individual just can't create what we would call a "proper"? impression with the combined use of their eyes, ears, sense of balance and the other ways we grasp the world. And while you may see these reactions as "misbehavior" the person afflicted with this problem is bordering between fear and terror.

Imagine living in a world in which some of the smallest sounds, by our standards, are startling loud . . . not being able to dismiss or get beyond the background noise at a restaurant (or worse yet for your child, in a classroom!) . . . not being able to be comfortable when your feet aren't touching the ground or floor.

Everyday activities can become quite traumatic.

But the oversensitivity of stimuli is just one way sensory integration disorder may manifest itself. Your child may show what you would consider an apathetic response to extreme hot or cold. He may not be engaged in activities as you think he should. Many individuals with this disorder actually display not hyperactivity - but an avoidance of activity.



To read the rest of the article visit my website: DealingWithLearningDisorders.com


Discussion Group

In our “Discussion 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 covered were:

A teleseminar geared towards helping you understand how important setting goals is to someone with ADD/ADHD.

Getting healthy. Ways that we can change our diets and lifestyle to make a difference.

Special camps that our children enjoy and how we feel about them being gone and under someone else's care.

We also talked about how some of our kids have a heightened sense of smell.


Come join us and share your experiences in our forums. You can become a member for only $1.


Tip of the Week

Writing is often a struggle for children with learning disorders.
Here are some tips to help writing become easier for your child.

1: Have realistic expectations of the child's handwriting and neatness.

If you expect perfection you and your child will become disappointed
and discouraged.

2: Do not demand speed.

Be patient and let them write as slowly as it takes for them to form
good letters and correct sentences.

3: Use alternative testing methods for the child, i.e., having the
student answer orally, highlighting instead of writing answers.

4: Encourage letter writing to friends, relatives. Have decorative
paper or stationary with their name on it to help attract the children.

5: Keep a daily journal with your child. Have them write feelings
or happenings to you and you write back the next day. Let them know
that this is a special project between the two of you (also helps to
promote relationships!!).

6: Have the child relate daily activities. Encourage complete
sentences if possible.

Be an encouragement and your child may just learn to love to write!


Blessings to you all.
Robin
www.DealingWithLearningDisorders.com

Valentine's Day Special

If you've thought about joining DealingWithLearningDisorders, now is the time. I'm having a Valentine's Special until Monday at midnight. You get access to all the great resources that are available on the site for just $5.00 a month, for a lifetime!

Come join us! DealingWithLearningDisorders

Welcome to my newsletter for Dealing With Learning Disorders

My family and I have been busy this last week planning a surprise party for my husband's 50th birthday. We had the party on Sat. and he was really surprised. It was so much fun. We made a slide show of old and recent pictures of him and our family so we could really embarrass him. It worked. Not only did we show it at the party, but also at church the next day. If you'd like to see it, just scroll down and look on the right sidebar to view.

This week at the site I added a new Featured Expert!
Her name is Karen Plumley. She has already made her presence known by sharing in the forums and writing articles about Sensory Processing Disorders. I found her on a The Mom's Entrepreneur group that I belong to online.
http://groups.google.com/group/mom-entrepreneur-support-group?hl=en&pli=1

Welcome Karen!


Featured Articles

A Sense of Disorder
Karen Plumley

Just imagine trying to pay attention in a classroom while someone rubbed your back and neck with rough sandpaper. For a child with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), a tag on the back of her shirt would be an equivalent feeling. Suppose that you were trying to listen to a teacher in a room filled with buzzing chain saws. Would you be able to concentrate? To the SPD child, sitting under a ticking clock would have a similar effect. What would it be like if you were unable to trust the information coming from your five senses: those vital tools in your possession that help you grow and learn?

According to Michele Mitchell, Occupational Therapist from Ohio, SPD is a neurological disorder that can have a "huge impact on a child's well-being, daily functioning, social skills, relationships and self-esteem." It oftentimes co-exists with other diagnoses as well, such as those in the Autism Spectrum, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Sensory Processing refers to our ability to take in the information gathered by our senses and communicate it to our brains so that our bodies can react accordingly. Children (and adults) with SPD many times misinterpret the information coming from their senses and react in inappropriate ways. There are many types of SPD.

Some children with the disorder will overreact to sensory stimuli and respond violently to sensations brought on by such things as loud noises, light, colors, sticky substances, swinging and other types of motion, and splashing water. Still others will not respond at all, even to pain. They tend to seek out sensory input, taking on such actions as head banging and finger flapping in an attempt to stimulate themselves.

If you notice that your child is demanding, nearly impossible to console, and has extreme sensitivities or behaviors that go beyond what you would consider to be normal, when is it warranted to take her to be evaluated by a specialist?

If you're child is school-aged and you are lucky enough to develop a relationship with her teacher, certain accommodations may be made for her at school as well. Simple things like assigning an SPD child the task of taking a load of books to the library or placing her seat away from a noisy door or distracting window may go a long way to helping her function better and navigate successfully through her day.

Come check out my website to see the full article. Become a member to receive all of the great benefits!


Discussion Board News

In our “Discussion 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 covered were:

Programs using Mnemonics to teach memorization.

A website that makes candy and treats that don't contain synthetic ingredients. Perfect for Valentines Day!

How to deal with regression in your children. How to document what the problem is and then take steps to improve it.

What our Valentines day traditions are.

Come join us and tell us about your family.


Protege Retreat- My joint partner Rhea Perry is hosting a Protege Retreat. She is a great Christian woman who helps bring families together through home business. If you or your kids want to learn more about the internet and having a home business, you won't want to miss this! If you are a member of DealingWithLearningDisorders you get a huge discount to all of her conferences. Read more below.

"Don't Miss The First Annual
Protégé Retreat
To Learn Even More About Internet Marketing
And to Meet Members of
Rhea's Proteges!"

As a Member of DealingWithLearningDisorders, Your Family Gets to Attend The Protege Retreat for the Special Price of Just $297!

You Save $100, PLUS the Whole Family Can Come for One Registration!

If you've been around for very long, you've learned that there's no other group that involves children and teens in online entrepreneurial education like Rhea's Proteges does!

So get ready to take the family and join us in Huntsville, Alabama for a weekend that will change your life!

Here Are the Retreat Details

Who Is Invited --

- Only members of Rhea's Proteges

- Only guests of the Proteges.

- Members of DealingWithLearningDisorders.com

Where Is the Retreat --

Holiday Inn Research Park
Huntsville, Alabama

Special Guest Rate: $84/night

When Is the Retreat --

Friday, April 3 -- Sunday, April 5, 2009

Check in: Thursday, April 2 from 7 -- 9 PM

Schedule:

Friday: 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM

Saturday: 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM

Sunday Non-denominational Service: 8:00 AM to 9:15

Sunday: 9:30 AM to 4 PM

Here's What We'll Be Learning -

*Basics of entrepreneurial education and philosophy
*Essentials for starting a home business
*How to set up blogs and web pages in 30 minutes or less
*Why an article a day will keep recession away and where to submit them
*How to have a membership site that isn't just another job
*What's the big deal about social sites?


Special Guest Experts Will Share Their Expertise!

John Hannah - Named by Sports Illustrated as The Best Offensive Linebacker of All Time

Jim Cockrum - eBay Expert and author of The Silent Sales Machine.

Jeff Herring - The Internet Article Guy

Zach McCullough - Co-creator of the Ask Database

Jennifer Navarette - Social Networking Expert

Drew Perry - eBay Real Estate Expert

Ken Pounders - Evangelist and my personal Levite

Don't Forget to Bring the Kids!

NOBODY invites teenagers to professional business conferences! Often, event planners turn young adults down because they are "kids." If they only knew what "kids" like that can do these days…

At Rhea's event, she invites teens to attend. After all, don't you wish someone had taught you how to use a computer when you were 15? (Like they HAD them way back then…)

So she always makes it possible to bring young adults.

Here's What's Different About THIS Event!

At most conferences, registration is per person.

But at the 2009 Protégé Retreat, one price admits The Whole Family!

Bring the babies, bring Grandma, bring the dog!

Well, maybe not the dog.

Because Rhea professionally records her events, she must maintain a professional atmosphere and so she asks that you not bring babies and toddlers into the ballroom during the sessions.

You are welcome, however, to bring your younger children as long as they can sit still and pay attention through 3 days of workshops.

Please have an attendant assigned to take them out of the session if necessary.

What We Believe About Children

I believe that families should learn and grow together. Even though there are times when adults need to attend sessions without the distractions of children, I believe children learn more than we realize when placed in the right environments and encouraged to pay attention.

Every attendee at this retreat will be expected to bring their own business cards for door prize drawings and networking with others. Yes, that includes kids of all ages.

(You can print your own at home or order 100 or so from VistaPrint.com.)

So What's the Family Registration Fee?

Where can you take your children to spend a fun-filled weekend learning how to build an online home business from Internet marketing experts who are family-friendly?

Other conferences offer charge between $497 and $2,000 for just ONE PERSON to attend.

The guest families who attend will pay $397.

But at this event, you and your spouse can bring all 10 kids plus Grandma for just one price.

As a Member of DealingWithLearningDisorders
Your Family Can Spend the Weekend
With Us for Just $297 per FAMILY!

So mark your calendar and plan to join us for one amazing weekend that WILL change your life! You'll literally never be the same again.

To make sure you don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime event, register today.

If you miss this, you'll kick yourself when you hear others talking about this life-changing event.

P.S. Don't put this off. Space is limited and as soon as they fill the room, they're cutting off registration.

Sign up at www.DealingWithLearningDisorders.com

Welcome to the newsletter for Dealing With Learning Disorders.

Now that the new year is here I hope you all are back into your normal routines after the holidays.

We had a wonderful time relaxing, spending time with family, and enjoying each others company during the 15 days my husband had off work. I must say it was hard to get back into the normal schedule.

We did get to go to Kansas City for a few days to enjoy the lights, see family, visit the museums, and go ice skating.



Come to the discussion boards, introduce yourself there and tell us what's been happening with your family.


We've had some great things added to the site recently. Here are just a few.

Featured Articles

The Diagnosis of ADHD
Dr. Kenny Handelman-Featured Expert on the site

Essentially to get the diagnosis of ADHD you really need to see a professional who has expertise in assessing and diagnosing ADHD. It may be helpful to listen to (or read) educational products like this or go to web sites or get other information but to really get the diagnosis you're going to have to see a professional and have a thorough assessment.

Now let's go through the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. There are two main categories for the diagnosis: Inattention and Hyperactivity/Impulsivity.

Here are the DSM-IV criteria are for Inattention:

1. fails to give close attention to details and makes careless mistakes in school, work or other activities
2. often has difficulties sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
3. often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
4. often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish school work, chores or other duties in the work place (and this is not due to oppositional behaviour or failure to understand instructions)
5. often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
6. often avoids, dislikes or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort like schoolwork or homework
7. often loses things necessary for tasks or activities like toys, school assignments, pencils, books or tools
8. is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
9. is often forgetful in daily activities

Here are the DSM-IV criteria for Hyperactivity/Impulsivity:

1. often fidgets with hand or with feet or squirms in ones seat
2. often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations which remaining seated is expected i.e. church or family meals etc.
3. often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate. In adolescents or adults may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness, so they may not be so overtly hyperactive.
4. often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
5. is often on the go or acts as if driven by a motor
6. often talks excessively
7. often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
8. often has difficulty awaiting one's turn
9. often interrupts or intrudes on others - like butting into conversations or games


Could Dyslexia Be the Cause of Your Child's Reading Difficulty?

JoAnn Collins

According to Susan Barton of Bright Solutions for Dyslexia the word Dyslexia can be defined as this:

-Dys: Difficulty with -Lexia: Reading

Dyslexia is also described as: A specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding skills. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to the child's cognitive abilities, and the provision of effective classroom instruction.

Most special education personnel believe that Dyslexia occurs very rarely, and does not account for most children with Learning Disabilities. I disagree with that thought and believe that many children with Dyslexia go undiagnosed.

Susan Barton also states that some of the Warning Signs of Dyslexia are:

1. Delayed Speech

2. Late establishing a dominant hand

3. Trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet.

4. Dysgraphia (inability to perform the act of writing

5. Extreme difficulty learning cursive writing

6. Slow choppy inaccurate reading

7. Terrible with spelling

To see the articles in full join: DealingWithLearningDisorders.com and get full access to the membership area where you will find all kinds of great resources.

Discussion Board News

In our “Discussion 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 covered were:

Places to get audio books, motivation for losing weight, finding healthy meal plans for the whole family, and the tragic death of John Travolta's son.

Come join us. You can try it out for only $1.00


Tip of the Week

Raising a special child takes 180% of parenting. Often a spouse or other siblings feel left out.

Consider the following:

1. Family Reward Chart. List several special things to do. When a reward is due, have the LD/ADD child pick from that list. (It could be as simple as a trip to the park.) When the family goes or does the special event, others in the family can compliment the special child because they are all rewarded. (Builds self esteem too!!)
2. Try to maintain family dinners as much as possible. Each one should tell what happened during the day.
3. Mom and Dad need to support one another. If one has given a rule or punishment, the other should support and enforce what has been said. NEVER allow the child to come between you and your spouse. If you disagree with what has been done, do it later when the child is not around.

Blessings to you all.
Robin
www.DealingWithLearningDisorders.com

Merry Christmas from Robin at Dealing With Learning Disorders.

Hope you all are getting ready to celebrate a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.

I love Christmas because of the special music, wonderful programs, tasty food, spending time with my family, having a break from school and work, and most of all we get to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. May you find Peace in Him this Christmas.

Thanks to all of you who participated in sending things for the care package to help the Lile's family. I gave the gifts to them this last week and they were so grateful. Blessings to you.

Many things are going on in our community at www.DealingWithLearningDisorders.com
We are here to help.


Featured Article

ADHD medications - Do they pose a risk to the heart?
Aslam M

The cardiac risks of the drugs used for treating ADHD have attracted interest recently following the recommendation by the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee of the FDA to include a black-box warning describing the cardiovascular risks of stimulant drugs used to treat this condition. However, this recommendation has subsequently been toned down by the Pediatric Advisory Committee of the FDA.

Why are these drugs supposed to cause heart problems?

These stimulant drugs belong to the class of sympathomimetic amines. Cardiovascular
effects of these compounds have been well studied. They act by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system and increase heart rate and blood pressure significantly. One study with a commercially marketed formulation showed an increase in systolic BP by about 5 mm Hg in treated adults. Such a rise of BP, argues the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory committee, can cause definite adverse effects on long term therapy.


To see the full article sign up as a member for only $1 at: DealingWithLearningDisorders.com and get full access to all the other resources.


Discussion Group News

In our “Discussion Group” 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 covered were:

Do your kids believe in Santa?, resources for art education, leadership roles, kids playing sports, and how important music is to children.

Come Join us! We would love to get to know you and your family!


Tip of the Week

Communicating with your child is very important. The clearer you can
communicate with children with learning disorders, the better your
relationship with them will be, the easier it will be for them to
remember instructions, and the stress level of both of you will
decrease.

1: Make sure you have facial contact with the child when communicating
with him.

2: Allow sufficient time for the child to process and respond to
the given task.

3: Remember to give one step at a time.

4: Give multiple forms of instructions, i.e., visual, auditory,
written (charts),tactile.

5: Alert the child to important information, i.e., this is important
please listen carefully.

Communication is the key to understanding.


Have a Merry Christmas!


Robin
www.DealingWithLearningDisorders.com

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

Hope you all are gearing up to have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

Find out how our community is helping a family who lost everything to fire.
What a wonderful way to be a blessing this Thanksgiving.



Featured Article

Music Therapy: Hope For Kids With Learning Challenges
Bette Miles-Holleman

Music, with its powerful effect to stimulate the brain by triggering memories and emotional responses, can also help special needs children physically, by improving relaxation, muscle coordination and range of motion.

Other benefits attributed to Music Therapy include:

Motivation for physical exercise

Independence and increased self esteem

Development of functional speech and communication skills

Improved interaction with others

Does music therapy sound like a good option for your child? Would you like more information? Check out my website and sign up as a member to freely access all of the articles and resources available to members.


Discussion Boards

Our “Discussion Board" introduces 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 we discussed the traditions each family has for Thanksgiving. Ideas were shared on how to create a project that can be added to every year. And one mom shared on how she and her children got involved in a community food drive.


I shared how my family likes to string popcorn and cranberries on thread and put it on the trees so that the birds have a treat on thanksgiving. My kids love to watch the birds.


Come join us and share your experiences in the Forums.


Tip of the Week

Last week, we explained watching for the ways your child
learns best.

Another easy tactic for building your child's self confidence is to
let your child help with household chores. This can build
self-confidence and concrete skills.

Keep instructions simple, break down tasks into smaller steps, and
reward your child's efforts with praise. Once they master simple
skills, then add more complex parts to the chore.

Have them set the place mats and napkins on the table. After
they're getting the place mats and napkins relatively straight,
have them set the forks on the napkins and the plates on the place
mats. Continue with this pattern until they have mastered
setting the whole table.

Giving children chores gives them a sense of accomplishment and helps them know they are an important part of the family.


Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Robin

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

Want to help a family in need this Thanksgiving season?

Rhea Perry and I are starting a care package campaign for the Liles family whose house burned down this last week. They are friends of mine in our homeschooling group. They have 5 children. Last week their house caught on fire and they lost everything. They think it started from a furnace in the basement. They all got out safely, but they did lose pets. They have nothing left.

Read more here. http://tinyurl.com/64za5x