All Search Results
-
What every parent should know about mental health in kids and teens
As a mental health provider, I often hear how parents and guardians of children tend to think their child is “too young” to have a mental health diagnosis. It is unfortunate, but I have noticed that the stigma of having a mental health condition gets in the way of understanding and treating children many times. Mental health conditions and disorders don't only affect adults. Children and teens can experience mental health problems, too. In fact, research shows that most mental disorders follow a developmental course that typically starts early in life. According to the National Institute of Mental Health “this is true not only of conditions such as autism and ADHD, which are well known for having onset in childhood, but also for mood, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. So, many people who suffer from depression, social phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia showed signs before they were 24 years old.”
-
How to prepare for a hurricane if you have a child with a chronic illness
Hurricane season is officially upon us, and forecasters predict the 2017 hurricane season to be more active than average. The 2016 hurricane season was the most active since 2012, with 15 named storms, including four major hurricanes (one of which made landfall on the Florida coastline), and 2017 is predicted to be similar, with experts expecting anywhere from 11 to 17 named storms with two to four of these becoming major hurricanes.
-
How (and why) to prevent mosquito bites
Summertime in Florida inevitably means mosquitos and lots of them. More than a mere nuisance, though, mosquitoes carry a variety of different illnesses that can be spread to people, so it’s important to avoid mosquito bites as much as possible.
-
If your child has been diagnosed with cleft lip or palate, here’s what you need to know
You may be surprised to learn that cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth defects in children born in the United States, occurring in about one in every 600 to 700 births. The good news for families who find themselves faced with a diagnosis is this- while a cleft lip or palate requires ongoing medical care throughout childhood and into adulthood, the condition is highly treatable and children go on to lead normal, healthy lives.
-
So you have a child that isn’t talking yet. What should you do?
As a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist, I see children with a variety of speech and language disorders. One of the most common is what is known as expressive language delay, which is when a child is not using the vocabulary and phrase/sentence length that is appropriate for their age. Although there can be specific medical reasons for the delay, it can also happen with no other diagnosis. For those kids who seem to understand everything but are not communicating at their age level, I encourage parents to work on building their child’s “intent to communicate.”
-
Pet turtles can make your kids really sick. Here’s how.
My kids have asked me on numerous occasions if we could get a pet turtle. We’ve found tiny turtles scurrying in the grass near the lake, big ones wandering alone in the park or sweet little creatures in the tank at pet stores. My kids wouldn’t care where they came from, but they want one, badly. I’ve said no every single time.
-
How motility studies offer new hope for kids with gastrointestinal disorders
When it comes to our bodies, there are a few constant rhythms that must take place in order to maintain life. Our hearts must beat, our lungs must breathe in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide, and oxygen-rich blood must be carried to every tissue in the body. There’s another rhythm that must take place, too, for the body to sustain itself- nutrition must be taken in and waste must be expelled. This doesn’t happen every minute of our lives like heartbeats and breathing, but the repeated cycle of taking nutrition into the body and expelling waste is a basic principle that every body must accomplish to stay alive.
-
Keeping Your Kids Safe From Fireworks Injuries
Kids and fireworks have long been a dangerous combination, but now parents have even more reason to be concerned. Studies show a dramatic increase in the number of children seriously injured by these holiday pyrotechnics.
-
Learn How You Can Keep a Child From Dying in a Hot Car
One of the greatest threats to your child’s health may be sitting in your driveway, and a life-threatening accident can occur in the blink of an eye. It’s not something we want to think about, but as parents we must think about the risk in order to prevent it from happening in our families.
-
How to Prepare for a Hurricane When You Have a Child With a Chronic Illness
Hurricane Irma’s visit to Central Florida last year reminded us of the many ways tropical storms and hurricanes can wreak havoc on our everyday lives. These weather events become especially critical when there’s a family member with serious medical needs.
