Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Tips on Finding a Dentist for your Child with Autism

scottie — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:05:49 +0000

Teaser:

Natan Gendelman, founder of Health in Motion Rehabilitation, has written an article about finding a dentist for your child with autism.

Body:

Natan Gendelman, founder of Health in Motion Rehabilitation, has written an article about finding a dentist for your child with autism. Gendelman interviewed Jennifer Vishnevsky of Top Dentists for her suggestions. Her first tip was to talk with other parents of kids with special needs about their experiences with local dentists. And then, ask your pediatrician if he or she can recommend someone. Take your list and interview a couple of the dentists; talk to them about your child and their experience. Another good resource for dentists might be your local Easter Seals or autism organization. Finally, be sure to find out what your insurance may or may not cover.

Original Article:

Finding a Dentist for a Child with Special Needs

Sleep and Dental Aids for Kids with Autism

scottie — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:59:05 +0000

Teaser:

This article highlights two new tools recently provided by Autism Speaks.

Body:

This article highlights two new tools recently provided by Autism Speaks. The Sleep Strategies Guide and the Tool Kit for Dental Professionals can be found on the Tools You Can Use page. The Sleep Strategies guide is organized so that parents can begin simple changes in their child's bedtime routine, in order to make it easier for the child to go to sleep and stay asleep. The Tool Kit for Dental Professionals helps dentists and hygenists learn to understand and work better with the autism population. Both aids are available for free download.

Original Article:

Autism Speaks Provides Sleep Strategies and Dental Treatment Toolkits

Listening Therapy Center Opens in the Philippines

scottie — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:28:10 +0000

Teaser:

Dr. Gina Diaz-Cembrano recently opened the I Listen Enhancement Center for Maximum Learning in the Philippines.

Body:

Dr. Gina Diaz-Cembrano recently opened the I Listen Enhancement Center for Maximum Learning in the Philippines. Although a dentist by training, Gina felt teaching preschool was a better way to help families who had children with autism and other developmental issues such as ADHD. The center uses the Tomatis Method. Gina explains, “The Tomatis method re-trains the listening system by using electronically modified music and language to re-educate, stimulate and improve the way in which we process auditory information.” Children with learning disabilities often have difficulty in communication and social interaction, the Tomatis methods attempts to increase listening skills, communication, and memory and attention. Gina has seen that Tomatis worked well with other therapies including occupational therapy, sensory integration, and speech therapy.

Original Article:

All Ears for the Tomatis Method

Dentists Use Social Stories to Ease the Fears of Children with Autism

scottie — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 17:11:20 +0000

Teaser:

Dr. Alan Milnes and Dr. Terry Farquhar are dentists who wrote an article about taking your child with autism to the dentist.

Body:

Dr. Alan Milnes and Dr. Terry Farquhar are dentists who wrote this article about taking your child with autism to the dentist. These pediatric dentists have advanced training in working with children with special needs. One of the tools they suggest is social stories, which can be made by the parents to show what will happen at the dental office. The dentists also suggest using the child’s natural desire for routine and excellent memory. Visits to the office can begin with a simple tour, and then expand to sitting in the chair, and looking at the equipment. It's a good idea to meet the hygienist and dentist beforehand to become more comfortable with their interactions. The kids learn new behaviors that may be repeated at each visit. Milnes and Farquhar explain, “This process is identical to that used in applied behavioural analysis (ABA) and relationship development intervention (RDI) therapies.” The dentists remind parents that good dental hygiene should happen at home on a daily basis; they have suggestions to help with tooth care at home.

Original Article:

Dentistry and Autism

New Jersey College Opens Center for ABA

scottie — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:48:35 +0000

Teaser:

Caldwell College in New Jersey recently opened the Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis.

Body:

Caldwell College in New Jersey recently opened the Center for Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis. This program, directed by Dr. Sharon Reeve, trains undergraduate and graduate students in intervention treatments for kids with autism. Reeve explains there is no one program that works for all and the center focuses on customized therapies. The center includes intervention rooms, research lab, and a community integration program. People with autism are also taught life skills such as going to the dentist, getting a haircut, and attending church.

Original Article:

Caldwell College Leading the Way in Autism Research

Taking Your Child with Autism to the Dentist

scottie — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 16:30:51 +0000

Teaser:

Drill noises, sharp objects, smells, strange lights – all of these can bother a neurotypical child at the dentist – a child with autism may suffer from serious sensory challenges.

Body:

Drill noises, sharp objects, smells, strange lights – all of these can bother a neurotypical child at the dentist – a child with autism may suffer from serious sensory challenges. The Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA) has put together some information on going to the dentist and the Autism Support Network as reprinted it. First you should talk with the dental office about any issues your child has; find out if they deal with children on the spectrum. If your child is unfamiliar with brushing, consider working with an occupational therapist, using pictures to show how to brush, and a timer to indicate how long to brush. Other things to consider are having the exam chair already lowered, letting your child wear a weighted vest, or use headphones and music to drown out the unfamiliar sounds. The most important thing is communication with your child and the dentist about expectations.

Original Article:

Taking your Son/Daughter With Autism Spectrum Disorder to the Dentist

The Pears National Centre for Autism Education Utilizes Entire Building Space for Therapy

scottie — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 14:52:00 +0000

Teaser:

The Pears National Centre for Autism Education building was designed completely for the child with autism, right down to the room temperature.

Body:

The Pears National Centre for Autism Education building was designed completely for the child with autism, right down to the room temperature. Penoyre-Prasad, architects, worked with the TreeHouse Trust to build a space conducive for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. There is a training center, a work space, and a school for kids ages 3 to 19. Everything about the building has been designed to act as a teaching or therapy tool, for example, the delivery and maintenance areas have been designed to help with job skills. The center even has a simulated dental office to help acclimate children to having their teeth worked on. Another example of the architecture as ABA tool is explained, “Bathroom areas include a range of the different types of taps, driers etc that pupils may encounter outside the school environment. Autism can result in rigid behaviours hence the ability to practice activities of daily living in familiar but subtly differing surroundings is a necessary precursor to generalising skills."

Original Article:

National Centre for Excellence Supporting Young People with Autism

Dental iPhone App Helps Kids with Autism

scottie — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Delta Dental of Minnesota and Fraser autism services have collaborated on My Healthy Smile, an app for the iPhone.

Body:

Delta Dental of Minnesota and Fraser have collaborated on My Healthy Smile, an app for the iPhone. The app consists of 11 audio and visual social scripts – everything from brushing teeth to getting a cavity filled. Ann Johnson (Delta Dental) and Pat Pulice (Fraser) hope that My Healthy Smile helps kids with autism feel less anxious about visits to their dentist. Johnson says, “Pain and more costly dental treatment will result in the case of not establishing the basic daily and preventive dental care.” Pulice explains that the app works especially well for people with a developmental age of between 3 years and 10 years old.

Original Article:

Delta Dental Collaborates with Fraser for iPhone App

Two Moms in the Philippines Offer Tips on Good Dental Health for Children with Autism

scottie — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Going to the dentist can be scary for any child, but two moms in the Philippines have some tips for going to the dentist with a child with autism.

Body:

Going to the dentist can be scary for any child, but two moms in the Philippines have some tips for going to the dentist with a child with autism. Tiffany Tan from Autism Society Philippines interviewed Barbara and Chyril about their boys and visits to the dentist. The moms spoke about preparing their children for the visit using social stories, visual schedules, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). They have also both found dentists willing to learn about autism and to accept their children’s behaviors. The moms both say that flossing is the most important thing to do, along with brushing. Other tips included finding a dentist who will allow your child to touch the dental tools, visiting a dental office before the procedure visit, and bring a favorite toy or book along.

Nevada Dentist Adapts ABA Therapy to Treat Children with Austim

scottie — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:13:50 +0000

Teaser:

Dr. Jeff Kinner, a pediatric dentist in Nevada, sets aside one day a week to treat children with autism.

Body:

Dr. Jeff Kinner, a pediatric dentist in Nevada, sets aside one day a week to treat children with autism. He has adapted the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to ease children's fears, "establishing eye contact, calmly repeating instructions and praising good behavior while not drawing attention to poor behavior." While he does not have special needs children of his own, Dr. Kinner saw the need and sought training from occupational therapists because he could not find dental ABA training. He likes for the parents to participate in the dental process and talk to their children about the office visit in terms their children best understand. One mom "told her son, who loves the movie 'Transformers,' that Dr. Kinner would look for robots in his mouth," and if there were bad robotshe would take them out.

Original Article:

original article