Language is a pattern of rules we use in order to communicate. These rules represent certain concepts and expressions to denote meaning. Without language, we would not be able to communicate properly. The reason we understand one another is because innate rules exist.

As children we are introduced the concept of language and its characteristics as a subject called “language arts.” In that class you learn about verbs, nouns, adjectives as well as the composition of a sentence. Some children have a difficult time grasping some of these concepts, although they use them correctly daily in spoken form. Here are some great ideas for helping your children master language!

Practicing Word Families: on flashcards, write down words from the different categories of word families. For example, for nouns, you can write “bird,” “girl,” and/or any other noun. Depending on your child’s level, you can use verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, etc. Once you have about 25 cards, you can begin quizzing your child. Hold up the flashcard and ask what word group the word is from. You should practice each word family separately until your child gets the hang of it, and then jumble them all together! Of course, at the end of the game there has to be some kind of treat!

Opposites and Synonyms: here is a cool game you can play while you’re driving. Basically you will call out a word, and your child responds by either saying a synonym or the opposite. You can practice opposites an then synonyms or mix them together. So before the word you say, “the opposite/synonym of _____.” Here is an example: the opposite of up is? And your child should respond, down.

Story Telling: during your child’s early years in school they will be required to put sequences together. A fun game would be to write a story on 3-4 flashcards. Not a long story, but maybe each flashcard has one or two sentences.  You mix them up and ask your child to put them together in order. It does not have to be a story, but maybe a statement, like: “If I do this correctly, I will get a treat.” This would be for beginners, but the point is that there is a beginning and then a clear ending.

If your child loves computer games, check out this website. I played a few games myself and thought they were pretty fun. Some of them are a little bit hard, and some younger children may have a hard time, but for the most part they are fun, easy, and user friendly!

http://www.primarygames.com/reading.htm

These are all great exercises to practice at home. During the school year you will see many other similar exercises as part of their homework. Help them strengthen their language skills by making it a fun and easy game!

“Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.”
“Travelers, there is no path, paths are made by walking”
Author: Antonio Machado

As a Graduate Student from Florida International University, I’m required to do four semesters of internship. My FIU supervisor provided me with a list of places that were available to do my first rotation. Overwhelmed by the long list, I started to get nervous; many questions came to mind. What kind of services do they offer? From what place am I going to learn the most? What is the right place, anyways, if there is one? Among many others.

I decided to do some research. The first thing that caught my attention from Speech Therapy Center website was their commitment, which is that of “Following our heart and our passion has brought us here, and our dedication to those who we serve will help get them to where they want to be.” PASSION and DEDICATION…Then I knew that that was the place where I wanted to do my first semester of internship. There is nothing better than to feel welcome; especially for a first time intern. That’s how I felt from the first day I met the supervisors Barbie and Becky.

During these four months, I have had the opportunity to work with a population that ranges from 3yrs to 20yrs old. My responsibilities were not only assessing and implementing therapy, but also communicating to the parents or caregivers the daily progress of the patient. More than once, I was asked by the parents “do you think my child will ever talk?” I truly believe that the day I stop thinking that a child with potential to talk will NOT; that day, I will change my career. It is not only the responsibility of the therapist, but also that of the family and teachers to help the child in his/her developmental progress; we are a team. As Barbie always said, “we need to have and set high expectations for the patients and we will obtain great results.”

I have felt blessed since the first day I started with Speech Therapy Center. I have developed the confidence and the knowledge necessary that a book can’t give me. This I gained, not only from my supervisors, but also from the patients and their families. I am very thankful for this opportunity to be an interim at the Speech Therapy Center, and especially for the support and guidance that I have received from all. Now than ever before, I know I am walking on the right path.

They also share some yummy recipes to hide these healthy treats and promote a healthy and appetizing meal. Blueberry’s, tofu, tomatoes, and salmon are amongst the top 10 healthy foods that should be a part of your child’s diet. So if they are not, you better start adding them to your child’s meals!

Read the full article at:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/07/10/superfoods.kids/index.html

•    Evidence shows that stuttering is hereditary; if a family member has been diagnosed with stuttering chances are other members of the family will have it too.

•    If stuttering begins before the age of 3, the child will most likely outgrow it.

•    In most cases, children will only stutter for 12-24 months and then suddenly outgrow it. For those who stutter for longer than 12-24 months, they will need intervention to aid the stuttering.

•     Girls are more likely than boys to outgrow stuttering, making boys more prone to having a stuttering difficulty

•    Normal disfluencies occur, but usually disappear within a short period of time. You should be concerned if these disfluencies prolong over a period of time.

Remember, just because your child shows any of these signs does not necessarily mean he/she is a stutterer.  But be sure to check in with a professional for more information.

To read more about these 5 risk factors, please visit: http://www.stutteringhelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=111

To find out more about these fun activities, please visit:
http://www.autismspot.com/blog/Summer-Fun-Scavenger-Hunts

Although the cause and cure for autism are unknown, we do have ways to advocate it. Through speech, behavior, and occupational therapy the effects and symptoms of autism can be reduced. Here is a site that can tell you what to expect from an autism screening and the tools that will be used to administer it.

For more information, please visit the following link:
http://www.firstsigns.org/screening/asd.htm

Taken from Amazon

Nothing makes one more keenly aware of health risks lurking in the everyday world than becoming a parent. Most know the importance of using cabinet locks and child gates, but research is showing many more ways we need to be childproofing our homes. Tens of millions of American children now face chronic diseases and illnesses including cancer, autism, asthma, birth defects, ADD/ADHD, allergies, learning and developmental disabilities, as well as a host of lesser but disruptive ailments. And the growing research points to much of the increases on unseen threats wrought by exposure to chemicals in everyday products like cleaning supplies, beauty care and cosmetics, home furnishings, plastics, some foods and toys as contributing to these ailments. With that in mind, the non-profit organization Healthy Child Healthy World offers parents a definitive guide to creating a healthy, nontoxic, and environmentally sound home.

Filled with easy steps and simple solutions to improve family living without wreaking havoc on schedules or budgets, this book includes inspiring ideas for safe, eco-friendly cleaning methods, choosing healthier food, pet and garden care, nursery and home building materials, plus extensive tips for energy saving and family fun. With contributions from environmental science and public-health experts such as Dr. Phil Landrigan, Dr. Harvey Karp and Dr. Alan Greene, as well as many celebrity supporters (including Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, Tobey Maguire, Sheryl Crow, Vanessa Williams, and Tom Hanks), Healthy Child Healthy World is the essential guidebook for parents wanting to go green.

This is an excellent book for all parents. Today our world is full of harmful and toxic pollutants and chemicals. Learn how to detoxify your home and teach your children how to be green and healthy. This book has been rated a 5 star read and is definitely worth your time!

For more information on this book, please visit:

http://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Child-World-Creating-Cleaner/dp/B001KOTU8S/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281465658&sr=1-1

To learn more about the organization that sponsored this book, look at our “Organizations in Review” blog, at:

http://www.myspeechtherapycenter.com/?p=824

Read more about Healthy Child Healthy World on: http://www.healthychild.org/main/

To read a book that this organization has sponsored, look at our “Book Review” blog, at:

http://www.myspeechtherapycenter.com/?p=826

What is Casein?

Casein is a protein found in dairy products; basically anything that comes from a cow. So cheese milk, butter, and yogurt willcontain a high percentage of casein. Casein is a bonding type protein and many times used when mixing foods and chemicals. Because of this “binding agent” some people may have a hard time digesting it, and therefore may develop an allergy to it.

What is Gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in rye, wheat, and barley; typically found in grains. Bread, rice, cereals, and other carbohydrates will contain this protein. Gluten is useful for certain reasons, it is the substance that makes dough rise when baking, and is also used as imitation meat for vegans and vegetarians. Unfortunately, gluten has also found to be the factor that makes breads go bad.

Gluten, Casein, and Autism: What is the Connection?

Recent theory tells us that there seems to be a link between gastrointestinal problems and autism. Children under the spectrum will experience symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting. All these symptoms are due to the fact that these individuals may have a difficulty with digestion; specifically digesting gluten and casein.
Like mentioned before, some people develop allergies to casein. This is most likely the case here. When these children experience these bellyaches, and bouts of constipation, they do not know how to express their symptoms and therefore have tantrums. If we could alleviate the negative effects of GI problems, children with autism would have better behavior and tolerance towards foods.

How It Works

Unfortunately the body harbors gluten in the body longer than casein, so if you would try out this diet, professionals suggest waiting at least six months for results. This is not a “cheap” or easy diet; these ingredients and foods are both expensive and time consuming.

First of all, you would have to be very careful about the foods you are feeding your child. Reading all the ingredient labels will be your new task. Anything that contains casein, which is sometimes labeled as caseinogens, would need to be eliminated. Gluten products, basically anything containing wheat, rye, or barley, would also need to be eliminated. Fortunately, wild rice, corn, fruits, veggies, and soy can still be on the menu! Some people say that eliminating all starch carbohydrates, including corn and corn products, is a more effective method.

Helpful Books on GFCF Diet

There are many recipe and advice books on the market that you can purchase. These will come in handy for specific questions you may have about this diet. It will also make your grocery shopping a little bit easier! Check the following books out!

The Autism Cookbook: 101 Gluten Free and Dairy Free Recipes, written by Susan K. Delaine. This book has an assortment of delicious recipes for you to cook for your little one.

The Kid-Friendly ADHD @ Autism Cookbook: Ultimate Guide to the Gluten Free Casein Free Diet, written by Pamela Compart and Dana Laake.  This book contains both recipes and great tips for administering the GFCF diet.

Special Diets for Special kids, written by Lisa Lewis. Not just a cookbook, but also teach you about the GFCF diet in detail. It will teach you how to shop for this diet as well as explain to you why you are feeding your child these foods.

For more information on the GFCF Diet, please click on the following link:

http://www.autismweb.com/diet.htm

Taken from Amazon.com

Dating is difficult for everyone, but it can be especially overwhelming tor teens with Asperger Syndrome, who typically struggle with social issues. Written in a question-and-answer format, this much-needed resource offers insight into and practical advice on dating challenges. Special education teacher Jeannie Uhlenkamp tackles some of the specific issues facing teens with AS in a logical progression, from how to know if someone likes you and how to ask someone out, to actually dating someone and breaking up. Each topic is followed by Discussion Questions (to get conversation flowing between teens and parents/teachers) and a Main Idea (to succinctly wrap up the main point). Also included are special notes to define the more elusive vocabulary and concepts of today’s dating world.

Dating can be a confusing world and having Aspergers may make things a little bit more difficult; dating is already confusing as it is. Help your teens face the challenges of dating, breaking up, and coping with the tribulations of dating with this great book. It acts as a guide and soothes the transitions between emotions, boyfriends, girlfriends, and all other related topics.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Dating-Teenagers-Asperger-Syndrome/dp/1934575534/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279558868&sr=8-1