Parent Recommended Pediatric Neurologists and Developmental Doctors by State

Parents often have a difficult time finding the right doctor when they are concerned about their child's development. For this reason, I am creating a list of pediatric neurologists and developmental doctors by state. This list will be updated as I receive information from parents, so please share your recommendations and comments.

New Jersey

■Dr. Ronald Barabas, MD; Wall, Belmar, Long Branch

■Dr. Dorothy Pietrucha, MD; Neptune

■Dr. Roopal Karia, MD; Neptune

■Dr. Richatd Sultan, DO; Neptune, Brick

■Dr. Denise Aloisio, MD; Neptune

■Dr. Anne Roth, DO; Neptune

■Dr. Yvette Janvier, MD; Toms River

■Dr. Thomas Rugino, MD; Toms River

■Dr. Eveline Traeger, MD; Toms River

Top 20 Signs to Teach a Special Needs Toddler

As an Early Intervention Special Educator, I use simple signs to help children communicate on a regular basis. Although some parents express concern that the use of sign language may discourage their child from talking, research has shown that this is not the case.  In fact, the opposite is true.  Sign language helps to alleviate frustration and gives a child who is not yet able to verbalize a way to communicate.

When choosing which signs to teach a child, I typically recommend starting with signs for food, objects or activities that a child likes.  If you think about it, it makes total sense. Why teach a child to sign for something he/she does not want? There is no motivation in that.  Here is a list of the simple signs I teach most often and recommend for speech-delayed toddlers: 

1. All done
2. Eat
3. Drink
4. Juice
5. Milk
6. Water
7. Cookie
8. Cracker
9. Apple
10. Candy (use this for fruit snacks)
11. Book
12. Block (I typically use the sign for build as the sign for block is difficult for young children)
13. Ball
14. Car
15. Color
16. Swing
17. Me (I also use this for "my turn")
18. Give me / want
19. Animal
20. TV / movie

Sometimes children make up their own signs; this is perfectly acceptable. In fact, I would encourage it.  Remember, it is the intent that matters most!

Here are some suggestions to get you started:

          

Could Stem Cells Treat Autism? 

The US Food and Drug Administration is giving researchers the opportunity to determine if a child's own umbilical cord blood can be effective in the treatment of autism.  Read the full article Could stem cells treat autism? Newly approved study may tell.

Creative Gift Baskets for Special Needs Kids: Colored Rice and More

This weekend I worked on putting together a gift basket, which I will be donating to one of the families that I work with in Early Intervention.  The basket will be used in an Autism Speaks fundraising event in May.  I like to be creative with my gift baskets, so my primary items include an innovative matching game, a therapy ball for motor coordination , an activity for social-emotional development, communication and imitation, and a sensory activity   .  Today I’ll be sharing with you how I made the sensory activity - a colored rice activity kit.  I had great fun making it and, truth be told, I found mixing the rice to be very relaxing.

In order to make the colored rice activity kit, you’ll need a mixing bowl, spatula (or gloves if you prefer to mix the rice with your hands), and

rubbing alcohol

dry rice

and food coloring

Making colored rice is incredibly easy and fun:

Pour the dry rice into a mixing bowl 

Add a spoonful or two of rubbing alcohol and mix well

Add a few drops of food coloring and mix with a spatula or your gloved hands.  (Don't be afraid to add more alcohol and/or coloring if you want.)   

Next, you can either spread the rice out onto waxed paper or leave it in the bowl to dry.  I chose to leave mine in the bowl and periodically stir it to ensure it dried evenly.  It dried relatively quickly, but just to be sure you may want to let it sit overnight.   

Once the rice was dry, I added some sea creatures and a net to make my colored rice sensory activity kit, which I named Sensory Me! Under the Sea.

Sensory activities like the one described in this article have many benefits, including:

• Expanding creativity and imagination
• Providing sensory input 
• Encouraging self-expression 
• Promoting exploratory learning 
• Providing relaxation
• Developing eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills 
• Presenting opportunity for experimentation with weight, volume, and measurement

When my son was younger, I would make sensory bins from all sorts of things. In the winter, I would fill a large tub with snow and we would make miniature snowmen and igloos. In the fall, my son and I would go for a walk and collect acorns for the bin. He would pretend the acorns were boulders and spent many hours pushing them around with a bulldozer.  Some other great ideas for sensory bins include:

• Salt
• Oatmeal
• Cornmeal
• Pasta
• Craft beads
• Shaving cream
• Beans
• Corn kernels
• Pebbles or gravel (check your local pet supply store)
• Styrofoam packing materials.

When it comes to sensory play, you are only limited by your imagination. Why not give it a try?  Don't be surprised if you enjoy it as much as your child.

4 Ingredients Gluten-Free

I recently attended a presentation by Australian author Kim McCosker on her new book, "4 Ingredients Gluten-Free" (co-authored by Rachel Bermingham).  The delightful presentation was held in New Jersey’s  Barnegat Public Library where the attendees were not only treated to Kim’s entertaining stories, but also tasty samplings of food made from the recipes in her book.

I was drawn to the presentation because many of the children that I treat in Early Intervention are on gluten-free diets and I wanted more information on the subject.  Although some research suggests that a gluten-free diet is not a remedy for developmental disorders like attention deficit or autism, many parents vehemently disagree.  Gluten-free diets are not only about easing the symptoms of developmental disorders, however.  Eliminating gluten from your diet can reap you all sorts of benefits, some of which are listed here and here.  

If you are wondering what gluten is, simply put, gluten is a composite protein of wheat, barley and rye.  (You can find a more in-depth definition here.)  Gluten is found naturally in the environment.  It is also used as a thickener, binder, flavor enhancer and protein supplement and as a result it is found in food that you would not otherwise expect to find wheat, barley or rye.  (As an example, Walmart’s Great Value brand of salsa contains wheat, whereas Paul Newman’s organic brand does not.)  Some people have a sensitivity or intolerance to gluten and symptoms can range from subtle (indigestion) to overt (Celiac Disease , Irritable Bowel Syndrome).  Additional information on wheat and gluten sensitivities and allergies can be found here.

I purchased Kim’s book and look forward to trying out her recipes when I start a gluten-free diet in April.  I have never been tested for gluten sensitivity. (I do not see the point as the tests can be inaccurate and misleading.)  I am curious, however, and want to experience first-hand the benefits of a gluten-free diet.

     

Novel mouse model for autism yields clues to a 50-year-old mystery

Check out this interesting article from Science Daily - Novel mouse model for autism yields clues to a 50-year-old mystery.

WANTED: Your Stories

If you would like to share a story about a special needs child in your life, please contact me. I would love to share your story with my readers.