Fall Newsletter 2011

• Halloween Costume Photo Contest for Kids

Now you can get even more information about some of the autism treatments used today including:

• Relationship Development Intervention
• DIR/ Floortime
• Autism Biomedical Treatments

Bonus Child Behavior Tip

Fatigue

Do you ever feel like you just can't get out of bed some days? If you don’t have energy it can be almost impossible to positively deal with the daily struggles of parenting and child behavior. Fatigue can be a sign of low thyroid, anemia, candida overgrowth or adrenal fatigue. Statistics are showing that about 1 out of 20 individuals have an undiagnosed thyroid disorder. There are also other contributing factors that may be causing fatigue, such as lack of physical activity; poor sleep quality due to sleep apnea or too much TV, and vitamin deficiencies.

I notice that I am personally more tired when I have an inconsistent bedtime. When you go to bed at the same time every night and then get up at the same time your body comes to depend on that schedule and gets proper rest during that time. However, going to bed at 9 p.m. one night, 1 a.m. the next and the 11:30 p.m. the following night can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.

The most restorative sleep is during the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., so you may especially be chronically tired if you regularly miss sleep during these hours. Having energy when you are a parent is not only important, it is absolutely necessary. It’s even more important when you have a child that frequently engages in attention seeking behavior. Giving attention to others requires a lot of energy. Have you ever noticed when you are listening to someone talk you start to get tired and when you are talking you feel more energized?

So, never underestimate the importance of getting quality sleep not only for children, but also for parents. An adult should get 7 1/2 to 9 hours a night. This will also boost your mood and make you feel better overall making you more fun loving and patient with your children, a win-win for the whole family!

What’s in the News?

Parent skills training proves to be effective for preschoolers with ADHD

A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) shows that formal training in parenting strategies, also called parent behavior training or PBT, is a low-risk, effective method for improving preschool-aged children's behavior. The interventions are free of complication and not harmful, but parents who drop out of the therapy program jeopardize successful results.

This includes those that are at risk for developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), whereas using medication for children below the age of 6 years shows less evidence. The report also found that methylphenidate (Ritalin) and atomoxetine (Strattera) to treat ADHD symptoms are generally safe and effective for improving behavior in children above the age of 6 years, although few studies have been conducted regarding their effects beyond 12 to 24 months. There is also little knowledge about the long-term effects of other medications for this condition.

Read more on medical news today