Recent news stories have highlighted the positive effects that a pet can have on the behavioral development of children affected by autism. Keeping in mind that research on this topic is still new and often debated, some studies have shown that introducing a pet, such as a dog or rabbit, to a special needs child can strengthen social skills such as communication, empathy, and engagement.

While it is important to remember that all children have unique sensitivities and will respond differently to the presence of an animal, here are several ways that regularly interacting with a pet might benefit a child with autism.

• Strengthened communication. In social situations, a pet can serve as a bridge between an autistic child and his or her peers. For example, a child who is hesitant to speak in a group setting may be more likely to join a conversation if others are talking about his or her dog, a subject that is familiar and safe.

• Improved interaction. Children with autism struggle with assertion, a skill that requires the confidence to join an activity or conversation. A child who is playing with an animal, as opposed to an inanimate object like a toy, may be more likely to make facial expressions or physical contact—social cues that are essential when interacting with others.

• Better understanding of empathy. Pets such as dogs and cats offer unconditional companionship to their owners. This bond can be a particularly strong source of comfort to children with autism, as well as encourage empathy toward other animals and people.

• Decreased stress. Autistic children often experience sensory overload as the result of being very sensitive to the sights, sounds, and movement around them. For example, some children may be disoriented or scared by bright lights or loud noises. A pet can provide a point of reference in an overwhelming sensory environment, helping a child remain calm and more at ease.

If you are considering a pet or seeking other ways to strengthen your child’s social skills, contact Peak Potential Therapy today. We offer expert, compassionate advice to meet your child’s unique needs.

Some of the research done on autism may now help brain cancer researchers and patients.  Scientists believe that an elevated protein called NHE9, present in cases of autism, is now part of the problem in some of the most aggressive brain cancers, glioblastomas.

In the human brain, the speed at which information is transmitted and how it is transmitted is a combination of a chemical and an electric process.  Protons have to be moved from place to place and the speed at which they are moved has a lot to do with how a brain functions.

The protein NHE9 may have a role to play in both brain cancer and autism.  Responsible for removing protons from endosomes, NHE9 may slow the process down for patients with autism.  Endosomes, a cellular structure that helps to move protons, are effected by the level of acidity in the cell.  This, then, effects the ability of the protons to move through the cell as well.  Defects in the NHE9 protein makes endosomes too acidic, which causes them to release protons before the proper time.  In the process, protons that are still needed are destroyed.

Researchers are just now scratching the surface as to how NHE9, autism and brain cancers like glioblastoma are related.  What they believe is that because NHE9 with defects causes cells to be more acidic, it can cause cancer treatments to not work as well as in other forms of cancer.  Having a high level of NHE9 can cause radiation and chemotherapy resistance in cancer patients.

While, in the case of brain cancer, NHE9 is overactive, many researchers believe that in autism NHE9 is underactive, causing a slowdown in the “shipping speed” of protons which effects perception and other brain functions.  Over time, researchers are hoping to better understand the role of NHE9 in both brain cancer and autism.

For more information on caring autism therapies, contact Peak Potential Therapy today!  We offer on-site therapy and expert advice.  Call now!

Parents can make an enormous difference for their kids when it comes to developing social skills.  With a little planning and some expert advice, you can see your child achieve gains in social skills and navigating social situations.  How can you help your child with these gains?  Here are some suggestions:

• Schedule short playtimes.  If your child could benefit from additional social skills, scheduling short play dates might be the answer.  Call a friend, family member or neighbor who has a child of a similar age and ask if they would like to come over for a short visit.  Instead of focusing on a whole afternoon, schedule the visit for thirty minutes to one hour.  Provide a small snack and then set up a game or activity that your child loves in an area you and the other parent can supervise.  As soon as one of the children finishes with the activity you can end the visit.  Over time, these can be expanded.

• Expand the group slowly.  While some children can adapt to larger groups with few issues, there are others that benefit from a more controlled environment.  If your child prefers smaller groups, then expand the size of their social group slowly.  For a while, having one friend over might be enough.  After a time you can expand that group to two or three friends for a short visit.  This will help your child to adapt to more noise and stimulation over time.

• Be ready to change the activity.  When you do get started in group activities, be ready to quickly change to a new game if there is tension in the group.  As a parent, it is critical to stay attentive to the kids playing together.  If you sense and competition or negative feelings, then offer to help them bake cookies or go out into the yard to pick flowers.

• Work with your teacher.  If you have concerns about your child’s level of socialization, don’t hesitate to talk to your child’s teacher.  They may be able to offer insight on your child’s progress.

For more information on developing social skills contact Peak Potential Therapy today! Our team can answer your questions and provide expert advice. Call now!

If you are the parent of a toddler, then you are probably watching your child carefully for developmental markers.  While each child hits their milestones at a different rate, if you believe there is something preventing your toddler from advancing, then you might be concerned about autism.

There are signs of autism that can emerge relatively early in a child’s life.  While only a physician or other medical professional can make an accurate diagnosis, there are a few occurrences that might suggest that a trip to the pediatrician would be wise.  One sign to look carefully for is if your child is having challenges in communicating with other children and adults.  If you see your child trying hard to accomplish a task, but not looking for other people to step in to assist, that may be a sign that they need to be evaluated.

Another concern may arise if your child doesn’t use toys as they were designed.  While every child can find unique ways to play with toys, they should have an understanding of how the toy was meant to be used.  If you give your child a toy car and they try to color with it that may signal a problem that is worth chatting with your pediatrician about.

How is their eye contact?  If your child has challenges with eye contact and communication, that can be a source of concern.  Toddlers should look to their parents and follow their facial expression.  They may also look to other children to communicate.  If they do not it can be a sign of issues with development.

Limited communication is another signal that an evaluation is in order.  Toddlers who have autism have a limited amount of words in comparison with their peers.  This can be diagnosed by a speech pathologist or therapist.  Therapies can help with communication issues over the long term.

Are you concerned your toddler may have autism?  Call the friendly experts at Peak Potential Therapy today for more information and to have your questions answered.

Many first time parents are concerned about their child’s ability to talk.  Luckily, there has been a lot of research completed that has identified landmarks that can be used to see where your child’s speech development falls on the spectrum.  Here are just a few major speech milestones that are commonly accepted:

• Babies less than one year old.  During the first year, most babies spend a lot of time babbling and cooing.  By the time they are near the nine month mark, babies may be able to add a few sounds together to create words such as “mama” and “dada.”  Even when babies aren’t speaking, it should be clear that they are reacting to sounds in their environment.

• One year to fifteen months.  A child’s babbling ability by this age includes many different sounds and they generally have one or more words in their vocabulary.  You may find that your child can say simple words and can follow basic directions when asked to by a parent.

• By the age of two years old.  By the time a child hits two years old, they may have a vocabulary of up to fifty words!  You may even notice that your child can string two or more words together to make a simple sentence, such as “me drink,” when they want something.  Two year olds can usually identify basic objects in their environment and in books or online and should be able to point to their own body parts, such as eyes and ears.

• Once they are three years old.  By the time your child is three, they should be saying so many words that you can no longer keep a count of their vocabulary.  They should also be able to follow basic directions and understand colors.

Do you have questions or concerns about your own child’s speech development?  Give the friendly staff at Peak Potential Therapy a call today and talk to us about your worries.  We would be happy to help you determine what next steps to take and even offer you a convenient time for an assessment.  Call now!

Are you ready for the holidays?  Do your plans include traveling to another city with your family and your special needs child?  If so, there are many things that you can do to ensure that your vacation goes as smoothly as possible.

Traveling with a special needs child requires a bit more preparation than would normally be required.  This is especially true if you are flying.  Flying during the holidays can be challenging enough, but with a little planning ahead, you can make the travel time much easier.  The first place to start is by calling the airline and letting them know that you will be traveling with a child that has special needs.  You can follow up by emailing or faxing them a one page summary of your child’s diagnosis, their medication needs or allergies and how they best communicate.  The airline can assist you with making any special arrangements once they have this information.

On the day of travel, make sure that your child has identification on them.  From tags you can attach to their shoe laces to necklaces or a bracelet, having some form of identification is critical in case they get separated from your family.  If your child has a cell phone, you can call the carrier to ask that the GPS locator is turned on.

Packing a special bag for the child while they are traveling is also helpful.  A backpack or carry-on bag can contain items that make them feel comfortable and secure, such as a favorite pillow, blanket or toy.  Bringing books or electronic devices with headphones or earbuds can be helpful during waiting times or to drown out too much noise.  Adding favorite snacks and drinks can quickly take care of hungers without exposing them to new foods.

Traveling with a child with special needs just requires a bit more planning than normal.  From chatting with the airline to packing special toys, you can make the travel with your child an enjoyable process.  For more tips on travel, please call the Peak Potential Therapy office today to speak to one of our supportive therapists.  Call now!

The holidays are supposed to be a wonderful time of the year, filled with friends, family and fun things to do.  Unfortunately, many families get stressed during holidays with all of the extra things that need to be completed.  From decorating to buying gifts, the pressure on families can be astounding.  Here are a few tips to decrease your family’s level of stress during the holidays, which will help your special needs child:

• Know that it is okay to say no.  One of the biggest sources of family stress during the holiday is simply trying to do too much.  While your whole family may have travelled in the past or you have been invited to several different holiday parties, which would mean that you would need additional childcare, these plans may need to change in order for you to control your stress level.  Say yes selectively as the parent of a child with special needs.  In order for your child to be at their best, you need to be rested and relaxed.  Saying no is the best path to that type of mindset.

• Limit the amount of time with extended family.  If your special needs child doesn’t see extended family regularly, then limiting that time is a good idea.  This will also decrease your stress level as you won’t be worried about how to manage the situation.

• Take a break.  Take time each day to do something for yourself.  While you may be working on making the holiday as wonderful as you can for everyone else, your own exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed won’t make anyone happy.

• Scale back on decorations.  If you have decorated elaborately in the past, take a year and allow it to be minimal.  Not only will your child respond to less stimulation, but you won’t spend energy on decorating.

Need help managing the holiday stress for your family? Call the friendly experts at Peak Potential Therapy today for support and to learn about our services.  Call now!

Preschoolers can develop at different rates depending on their brain function and overall maturity.  Knowing if your child is developing at the rate that they should be can be a confusing and daunting issue, especially if you are concerned about their ability to speak and communicate well.  How can you know if speech therapy for kids is right for your child?  Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Can you understand most of what they are saying?  For preschoolers, you should be able to understand most of what they are saying, unless they are attempting to say a new word or phrase.  You should see a general improvement in their language skills over time.  If they aren’t speaking very much, then it is time to schedule a visit with your pediatrician. Many times there is a simple reason, such as a hearing deficiency, that can make an almost immediate change in the situation.

• Do they repeat what you say instead of answering?  If you find that your preschooler is repeating what you say instead of actually answering their question and this is a regular occurrence, that is another warning sign.  Called echolalia, this repeating of the question can indicate that there is something else going on, such as the early signs of autism.  Remember that the more quickly you respond by getting your child evaluated, the sooner your child can get help that will make a difference for them.  Autism speech therapy can help.

• Are they having a hard time with pronouns or gender?  Children sometimes have a hard time understanding proper pronoun use or get genders confused.  This can be rapidly solved by a qualified speech therapist who can quickly identify the issue and teach your child what they need to know about language.

Overall, the best advice is to bring all of your language questions to a qualified children’s speech therapist or pediatrician who can evaluate your child and assist you in determining what services may or may not be needed to keep your preschooler on track.  Call Peak Potential Therapy today for a complementary evaluation of your child or to speak to one of our professional, friendly speech therapists.  Call now!

For kids with special needs, wandering can be a real and life threatening issue.  While they may not realize they are in danger, the proximity of a school to busy intersections, strangers and cities can pose a threat to kids that they simply aren’t aware exists.  There are ways you can prevent wandering in the school atmosphere.

First, make sure your school knows that wandering can be an issue for your child.  This is critical information to include in everything from your child’s IEP to any communication with your school.  In fact, it may be prudent to write a separate letter to your school indicating that you are concerned that your child may accidentally wander off and ask that you not only be notified of your child’s behavior if this should happen, but request that your child not be left alone for any reason.  Attaching a copy of an article on wandering in special needs children will help them to be aware of the seriousness of your child’s issue and help you to enlist their cooperation.

In communicating with the school, talk with them in person about the dangers of wandering and help them to understand where your child has gone in the past.  If your child is fascinated by rocks, shiny objects or birds, as an example, helping the school officials to understand that those things may increase the likelihood of a wandering issue will help to protect your child.

One of the best ways to protect your child is to walk around the building and the school grounds and note things that you believe would attract your child as well as noting any hazards.  While many kids love the water, falling into a pond can cause a tragedy that no school official or parent would want to ever happen.  By walking around the property, you can alert your school officials to areas that may be an issue for your child or others.

Lastly, take the time to introduce your child to the security present at your school.  Provide them with a picture as well as information on how to approach your child and keep them calm.  This information can also be provided to local law enforcement in case your child wanders off campus.

If you are concerned about wandering, let us help! Call Peak Potential Therapy for speck therapy for kids today!

Technology is currently at the forefront of helping kids with autism to develop better social skills.  A study just completed where kids spent an hour a week using virtual reality is showing help for children with autism in assisting them with their facial expressions and interaction with others.  The technology has been called Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training and features:

• The ability for a therapist and other “people” to interact with the individuals.  Using a virtual reality construct, the person using the therapy is presented with their therapist as well as other people and a problem to solve.  This allows the individual receiving the therapy to work in a group in a way that is non-threatening and helpful.

• There is a purpose.  During the therapy session, the individual is challenged with a situation.  This could be everything from explaining their view on an issue without offending anyone to practicing how to meet someone for the first time, apply for a job or other social skills.  The virtual therapist works with them to understand the nature of the social skill they will be developing.

• The research indicates that virtual technology does make a difference.  When tested after virtual reality treatments, individuals with autism are showing that their brains are reacting in a positive way.  Areas of the brain that had not been highlighted during social interactions were shown to respond after the treatments were complete.

• Ideal for young adults and those with social skill issues.  For young adults who are trying to land a job or hone their skills, this reality training is ideal.  In the future, additional options for treatment may become available.

For more information on autism therapies, call Peak Potential Therapy today!  Our caring, expert staff will be happy to speak to you about your child’s needs.  Call now!