Category: Recent Posts

Teaching Eco-Values to Kids with Learning Disabilities

Whoever we are and whatever our circumstances we can all benefit from learning eco-values; it is our shared planet after all. Our environment directly impacts upon our communities right around the world. You cannot have one without the other. Life is dependent upon a clean and healthy environment; all ecology on the earth requires this fundamental. Kids with learning difficulties are not immune to concerns about our ecology. They may have some challenges that the rest of us do not have, but they are still members of Planet Earth.

Getting kids who may be having a hard time of processing the world around them involved in eco-awareness can be particularly enriching for all concerned. Feelings of empowerment can accrue to these children through enabling them. Greening kids with learning difficulties can also be a healing process for both teachers and recipients. Eco-values are all about experiential things and not so much theoretical stuff; and this can be a blessed relief for these kids. We impose far too much intellectual stuff on our children, generally, these days. Let them feel and touch what we say rather than having to always imagine situations.

Teaching Eco-Values to Kids with Learning Disabilities

Dealing with our own trash is a good place to start. We at the ACM Green Group love to treat our own trash first. Waste management begins with looking after your own rubbish. Knowing what trash goes in which bin is a basic premise that we must all master early on. Too many parents shield their kids from basic responsibilities when they are young, but empowerment comes with responsibilities. Many kids are destructive through their youth because they have been marginalised from the process of living. If mummy and daddy are always doing everything for you, then you are a passenger and not a driver. We all need to drive our own bus when it comes to the environment; our environment.

Get your kids involved in eco-awareness early on and see them blossom. Teachers are doing at primary schools and kindergartens, showing their students how everything is holistically linked together. Children with learning difficulties can understand the connections between their actions and the consequences. If we do not waste manage, then, we are surrounded by our own rubbish. Recycling is a caring and value added process, which these kids can usually comprehend. In fact, recycling can reflect positively on their own situation. Nothing is wasted whether it conforms to expectations or not; everything has a valued place in the system.

 

How Can Parents Who Are Financially Struggling Access Health Specialists?

Sometimes the hardest lot falls to those least able to cope; and that is especially true in the case of parents with sick kids who are living on Struggle Street. How can parents who are financially struggling access health specialists? In the instances when that healing modality is not recognised by government health agencies, and so, not subsidised, it is almost impossible. Desperate parents have been known to sell their possessions in a bid to pay for expensive specialist treatments for their children. Watching your child suffer when you know that there is something you could be doing about it is an unbearable pain.

Many of these parents borrow money from family, when that is an option; but it does, often, put strain on interfamily relationships. Other parents, in this diabolical situation, reach out to friends; and that too can put an end to many friendships. Appeals to church groups, welfare agencies, charities and social groups can raise money in some cases. However, many parents living in relative poverty, do not have the networks and associations necessary to pull together enough energy and material assistance required.

In a number of cases, parents in this situation are reduced to applying for no credit check loans; as a last resort to achieve the outcome they are looking for. Getting that specialist medical care for their sick kids is more important than sound economic management in these dire circumstances. Until government health agencies become less bureaucratic and more able to service the unique needs of parents in this situation, this state of affairs will continue. Is it right, in the twenty first century, that parents who cannot afford specialist medical health are forced to turn to high interest loans containing excessive fees for their short term relief?

Surely, parents in these kinds of heart breaking circumstances should be supported by our elected representatives? Governments are supposed to be reflective of our societal attitudes and beliefs. Do we as a nation support these kinds of heartless, hardline economic decisions in the face of real suffering for children and their families? Health needs to be taken away from the bean counters, and profiteers, and put in the hands of carers and health professionals. There are layers of unnecessary medical procedures being carried out in aged care, when those funds could be directed to children; who hopefully have their whole lives in front of them.

20 Kid-Friendly Things To Do in Sydney

  1. Armchair Racer in Artarmon

http://www.armchairracer.com.au/

Armchair Racer has a large slot car “museum” which includes thousands of slot cars and memorabilia spanning from the early 1950’s.

  1. Marrickville Waterplay Park

http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/en/outandabout/recreation/sport-and-aquatic-facilities/waterplay-park/

This is a free venue which runs only in the summer months with water fountains and sprinklers providing an exciting recreational and environmental initiative.

  1. Taronga Zoo

https://taronga.org.au/taronga-zoo

Taronga Zoo provides a picturesque backdrop and unique setting that is guaranteed to make any event truly memorable. In addition, children under 4 years of age get a free pass.

  1. Centennial Parklands

https://www.centennialparklands.com.au/

Centennial Park is a large public, urban park that occupies 189 hectares in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney with tons of activities for kids which include pony rides.

  1. Sydney Observatory

http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/

At night, you could see stars, planets in the solar system, the Moon or even nebulae that are light years away. By day you can observe the active Sun with special lenses.

  1. IMAX Theatre Sydney

https://www.imax.com.au/

IMAX Theatre Sydney is home to the World’s Biggest Screen. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the highest quality giant screen images with your kids today.

  1. Australian museum

http://australianmuseum.net.au/

The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology

  1. Circus Arts Sydney

http://circusarts.com.au/sydney/

Circus Arts Sydney provides circus classes suitable for ages 5 years and over.

  1. Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre

http://www.aquaticcentre.com.au/

The Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre has a wide range of facilities to offer hours of enjoyment for the whole family.

  1. Sydney Bike Tours

http://www.sydneybiketours.com.au/

Sydney Bike Tours provides hire a bike services along with one of their 3 self guided tours. Experience all the major attractions the city has to offer.

  1. Powerhouse Museum Sydney

https://maas.museum/powerhouse-museum/

The Powerhouse Museum is the major branch of the Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences in Sydney. With free entry for kids 16 years and under, Powerhouse Museum is the perfect family destination for exploring the interactive side of arts and science.

  1. Luna Park Sydney

https://www.lunaparksydney.com/

With Spectacular views of the harbour, Sydney’s much loved Luna Park is a superbly restored 1930’s amusement park where everyone goes just for fun!

  1. Kids at the House Sydney Opera House

http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/about/program_kids_at_the_house.aspx

The Sydney Opera House has an awesome kids programme with circus performances, musicals, films, or dance and more.

  1. Manly Surf School

http://manlysurfschool.com/

Manly Surf School provides surf lessons for kids and adults alike in Sydney.

  1. Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre

http://www.cpequestrian.com.au/

A visit to Sydney is not complete without a horse ride in beautiful Centennial Park. Kids riding lessons are available regularly.

  1. Nutcote

http://www.maygibbs.com.au/

Located in Sydney’s Neutral Bay and now a house museum surrounded by delightful gardens, May Gibbs’ Nutcote is an enchanting venue to be enjoyed by everyone, all year round.

  1. Art Gallery NSW

http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/

The Art Gallery of New South Wales is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia.

  1. Aim For Fun Archery

http://www.archerycentre.com.au/programs_and_activities/aim_for_fun

Aim for Fun archery program is designed for people who want to try archery. It includes the basics of archery with all the equipment provided.

  1. ANZ Stadium Explore Tour

http://www.anzstadium.com.au/the-stadium/stadium-tours/explore-tour/

An Explore Tour is an inside look at one of the world’s finest and most technologically-advanced stadium

  1. Birdwatching – Centennial Parklands

http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/things_to_do/birdwatching

Birdwatching is a highly popular activity in Centennial Parklands due to the wide number of bird species that can be seen here throughout the year.

Creating the CAPD-Friendly Home

When a child has a disability, the impact on the family can be devastating, but there is perhaps no other place in the world where acceptance is more needed and expected than at home, with family and loved ones.

A child with Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) must feel loved despite of his or her condition. However, members of the family may inadvertently send the message that the child suffering from this condition is a burden, unloved and unappreciated. Coping with and compensating for APD can be exhausting and parents, most especially may find themselves having trouble communicating at the end of the day, especially after a hard day at work as they can be petulant. But are there ways to create a more harmonious home for a child with central auditory processing disorder, or sensory processing disorder, or learning difficulties in general?

A child with central auditory processing disorder needs to feel loved and accepted in spite of his or her disorder. In order to do this, members of the family should always remember the following:

1. Blame the disorder, not the child. Don’t make things worse by faulting the child because it’s not his or her fault but the disorder itself.

2. For a child with CAPD, acknowledging good listening behaviors are important. Family members, out of frustration sometimes bring up past miscommunication incidents and failures. Talking about letdowns can only make children suffering from this condition feel unloved, and worst, a failure.

3. Remember that the disorder does not define a person or a child so separate them from the disorder. It should be apparent that having an aversion to CAPD is different from disliking the person or the child with the disorder.

4. It’s important to always evaluate problem situations. Assessing the circumstances and talking about them provides family members an opportunity to understand each other better.

5. The majority of children with central auditory processing disorder will perform better when in a structured situation like that of a school. Comparing the listening environments should be avoided as you can’t expect them to have the same type of focused effort at home.

Creating and managing a CAPD-Friendly Home is not easy, but with the help of the entire family, it can be done. The effective strategies done in school may also be adapted at home.

With central auditory processing disorder, the ultimate goal of home management is to facilitate communication as smooth as possible whilst maintaining the warm, friendly, accepting atmosphere of safety and family.

 

Auditory Processing Disorder – Playing Team Sports With APD

Often, as a coach, you’ll encounter situations where you issue instructions to your team members but one or two members of your team fail to act. In such scenarios, you must be keen to distinguish between ignorance and an underlying disorder.

As a coach/teacher, you must get deep into the problem and be able to figure it out. Such knowledge will assist you to understand your team better, specifically the few young members who’ve problems listening or following directions.

First off, let’s see what Auditory processing disorder exactly is.

Auditory processing disorder

It’s a neurological dysfunction which affects how somebody processes auditory input. It may not necessarily be the inability to hear sounds but rather a slow sound input processing or difficulty differentiating between sounds either in background or foreground.

A glitch between the brain and ear could lead to the difficulty in making sense or understanding what the affected persons hear.

Several strategies can be implemented to deal with the condition. Here’s a look at some of them.

Bringing teammates together

It’s vital that a coach provides a positive first experience for the team members. Young people will always engage in a sport in order to have fun, socialize and stay fit. However, those with exceptionalities tend to be extra sensitive during the first contact.

Therefore, instructors should discreetly observe how peers relate with the affected students and then quickly address any issues involving bullying or exclusion.

Making it clear to the teammates the relevance of sharing as an effective tactic while at the same time highlighting the strengths of the affected player will motivate them and increase total interactions.

Visual Aid

In most cases, an athlete with APD will emerge as an excellent visual learner in what they are doing. Coaches should engage the affected persons by showing hand signals, pointing in a specific direction or just tugging on the person’s jersey.

This will not only call attention to the affected teammate, but also make the rest of the team quite more resilient soon as they face noisy environments.

As a perfect supplement to talking, non-verbal communication will assist the young players to enjoy and play the game better.

Knowing your team

Soon as a coach begins to work on an athlete with disorders such as APD, it’s important that they know the player and develop a profile of them based on their needs and strengths. Doing this early is an effective way to be familiar with their needs and what they aim to achieve in the sport.

Developing an inclusive environment

Functional exclusion normally happens when an athlete is part of a team but doesn’t receive the same treatment and opportunity his/her peers receive.

Instructors should thus train the affected student in an inclusive environment. Successful coaches have often recorded excellent results with affected athletes when they provide an inclusive environment with differentiated instructions.

Clear and concise instructions

A.P.D affected athletes tend to have challenges focusing their listening abilities for an extended time to hear a long or ambiguous instruction.

Coaches should thus provide detailed and clear feedback and instruction during the game, time-outs, training in order for them to understand better. However, one should be careful that the talk/conversation won’t call attention to the affected persons.

Other tactics that have proved effective and could as well be used by the instructors include:
• Offering non-judgemental feedback
• Fostering anticipation and awareness
• Loading drills purposefully

Conclusion

Successful integration of all the aforementioned tactics will assist the APD athletes to build confidence, get rid of stigma, work together and inspire future participation the sport.

Coaches should, therefore, expand their skill and knowledge and learn all the listed strategies so that they can become more confident and successful in their effort to assist APD athletes.

Auditory Processing Disorder in Kenya & Africa

Auditory Processing Disorder in Kenya/Africa

Auditory processing disorder (APD) – also known as the central auditory processing disorder (CAPD) – is a hearing complication, which normally affects school-aged children such that they cannot process sounds they hear in the same way as normal kids of their age do. It manifests itself in three ways namely: sound discrimination, language processing and auditory memory complications.

In the first instance, the affected child cannot pronounce words clearly using its specific sounds. Auditory memory complications interfere with the kid’s ability to memorise facts and numbers especially if the former case involves complex verbal instructions. Language processing presents the toughest challenge to children with APD because they cannot understand the questions asked of them as well as socialise with their friends.

APD in Kenya

Awareness levels about APD as well as other learning disabilities have increased among health professionals as well as the public in developed countries. Sadly, the same cannot be said of the developing countries – especially Africa and more specifically, Kenya – where there has been limited research on learning disabilities, including APD. In Kenya, most of the research has focused on reading difficulties experienced by school-going children without being cognisant of the fact that learning disabilities is a complex area.

A study by Grace Kwamboka in 2004 perhaps underlines the extent of learning disabilities – including CAPD – in Kenya. The research, conducted in Starehe division of the defunct Nairobi Province, identifies auditory processing disorder as one of the main learning disabilities facing children in various schools in the area including; Pumwani, Parklands, St. Bridgits, Catholic Parochial as well as River Bank primary schools. Interviews with teachers and headteachers in these schools revealed problems, such as, slow acquisition of skills required for children of their age, memory retention problems and difficulty in arithmetic calculation – symptoms which are all reflective of APD.

Treatment of APD

The good news is that children with APD can undergo treatment to enable them lead normal and fulfilling lives. Adoptive Families, an online forum for parents interested in adoption, advises that this can be achieved in the classroom or home setting. This includes speaking slowly and clearly to the affected kid to help him understand what is being said. At school, acoustics in the classroom can be improved for their benefit by closing a window or addition of a rug to drown out background sounds that may distract the kid’s focus on what the teacher is saying.

Professional means of treating APD are also available including the use of sequencing routines to help the child improve his listening skills by repeating a series of directions and numbers. A professional will also help the affected kid differentiate sounds even in environments with loud background noise.

Parenting Tips for a Child with Central Auditory Processing Disorder

Central auditory processing disorder can be a huge struggle for kids especially during their growth and development. The reason behind is this that it affects the way the brain processes auditory information. Hearing is one of the main concerns for parents as well as with their child as it can be quite hard to effectively convey your message to them in an effective manner. It is important for parents to quickly assess if they child is showing early signs and symptoms of central auditory processing disorder. This is to ensure the right amount of treatment and care is given to their child.

CAPD affects 5% of school-aged children making it quite a one of a kind and it can be quite hard for parents to find the necessary treatment and care. Providing them with right background and setting is also important to ensure their learning is not hindered. Fortunately, you can find several topics revolving around central auditory processing disorder over the internet as well as individuals who share the same sentiments and cause over this problem. Listed below are some parenting tips for a child with central auditory processing disorder to give you a firm overview on how to handle this condition.

1. Use simple sentences emphasizing key words.

As mentioned earlier, CAPD affects one’s auditory information. It is important for parents to use simple sentences to avoid confusing to your child. Emphasizing key words is also ideal as this is what they will oftentimes remember instead of the whole conversation.

2. Slow your speech and, where appropriate, increase the volume slightly.

It is important for parents to be considerate when talking to a child that is affected by CAPD. If you are a fast talker, slowing your speech is important to help your child catch up. Increasing the volume slightly without the need to shout is also advised.

3. Only give him one or two directions at a time and where feasible ask him to repeat them back to you.

Again, since the CAPD, affects the way the brain processes auditory information, giving your child a lot of instructions may often end up to confusion. Give him one or two directions or an alternative method is to make use of a pen and paper and write these up for them to bring.

4. Where possible reduce the background noise – using sound-absorbent partitions, felt on chair feet etc.

Children with CAPD are quite sensitive to background noises adding an extra burden on receiving auditory information.

5. Provide him with a quiet place in which he can do homework.

As mentioned above, a quiet and calm environment is greatly appreciated as it helps promote learning.

6. Encourage good eating and sleeping habits.

Good eating and sleeping habits reduces the occurrence and development of stress as well as helps kids feel relaxed

These are a few of the many parenting tips for a child with central auditory processing disorder and you can definitely look up additional information over the internet today.

Auditory Processing Disorder Specialists around the World

  1. The Nuffield Hearing and Speech Centre

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk/OurServices/ServiceA-Z/ENTS/NUFF/Pages/Home.aspx

The Nuffield Hearing and Speech Centre are able to assess, diagnose and manage disorders of speech, hearing and balance in all children including those with complex and special needs.

  1. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children

http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/

One of the world’s leading children’s hospitals, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a suitable place to seek ADP treatment.

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

http://www.chw.org/

This hospital has a considerable number of branches which gives their patients the convenience to find a nearest hospital with them. This along with a variety of doctors and specialists makes it a great place to visit. Listed below are a few of their branches along with their noteworthy specialist.

  1. Forest View Pediatrics

4855 S Moorland Rd,

Ste 150 New Berlin, WI 53151

A mother of three children, Kristen Adamo has been under the supervision and care of Forest View Pediatrics since 2004 providing primary care to children as they work hand in hand together in treating their condition.

  1. Downtown Health Center

1020 N 12th St Milwaukee

WI 53233

Liza Zetley enjoys working with children while at the same time, is able to advocate to their health needs and addresses in a timely manner.

 

  1. Floating Hospital for Children

https://www.floatinghospital.org/

You will not find any shortage of staff and doctors who specialize in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology at the Floating Hospital for Children.

  1. Central Manchester University Hospitals

http://www.cmft.nhs.uk/childrens-hospitals

Find a wide range of services for patients found in one of the largest and busiest Trusts in the country.

  1. Cincinnati Children’s

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/p/auditory-processing/

A huge number of healthcare professionals as well as researchers working their best in providing the most appropriate treatment for APD await clients on their visit.

UCLA Health

https://www.uclahealth.org

UCLA Health has a dedicated center which focuses upon a child’s needs. This allows children to have their own dedicated method of treatment which can be found below.

  1. Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA

757 Westwood Plaza

Los Angeles, CA 90095

Basic child care services can be found at their establishment and both parents and their child can benefit greatly from the services that they provide.

  1. Mattel Children’s UCLA Pediatric Specialists

1131 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 202 (12th Street & Wilshire)

Santa Monica, CA 90403

A vast and expansive field of childcare is available on a regular basis with Mattel Children’s UCLA Pediatric Specialists. Pantea Sharifi-Hannauer, MD is a Pediatric Neurology which specializes in Autism & Epilepsy.

  1. Department of Speech and Hearing Science (Ohio State University)

https://sphs.osu.edu/clinic

This clinic specializes in Speech, Language and Hearing which is essential for communication.

  1. American Academy of Audiology

Home

Get the latest updates and news revolving around the field of Audiology while at the same time be able to find an audiologist near you at American Academy of Audiology.

  1. Learning Rx

Corp – Corporate Home page

Learning Rx allows children with APD and other related issues and concerns to be able to live normally while helping them find their potential.

  1. Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Empowering Students to Pursue Possibilities

Learning is an important process to every child including those who are suffering from APD. It is good to hear that Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is able to help provide them with their needs.

  1. Women’s and Children’s Health Network

http://www.cyh.com/SubDefault.aspx?p=98

Their establishment provides free hearing assessment service across South Australia for children 0-18 years old which is great for APD.

  1. Foundations Development House

Home

Speech and language classes are provided as an extra support services for special needs children in a form of Language Acquisition Enrichment Preschool (LEAP). Find them here.

  1. Ace Clinics

Home

Advanced Cognitive Enhancement (ACE) clinic specializes in treating children and adults suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities.

  1. East Tennessee State University Audiology Clinic

http://www.etsu.edu/crhs/aslp/audiology/default.aspx

Audiology testing are provided on a day-to-day basis to their patients at their clinics for complete hearing evaluation.

  1. UK HealthCare

http://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/ENT/apd/

UK HealthCare is able to shed some light with the issues revolving around APD as they work with their patients in find the best possible cure.

  1. Sound Skills

Home Page

Effectively diagnose APD with a variety of tests available at Sound Skills along with their training and therapy sessions which is available on a regular basis.

  1. Mainland Hearing

http://www.mainlandhearing.com/apd/

Make use of free hearing test provided by Mainland Hearing which is available over their website today.

Technologies that can Help Children with CAPD

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), also known as Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a complex hearing problem affecting about 5% of school-aged children. Children have normal ability to hear sounds, but have difficulty understanding what the sounds mean. Children can’t process the information they hear in the same way as others because their ears and brain don’t fully coordinate. If CAPD is not identified and managed early most of these kids will have speech and language delays and academic problems.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder treatment should be individualized; there is no cure-all method of treating CAPD. But several technologies are available to help children with CAPD. It is best to get specific recommendation first from an audiologist before trying it at home. These technologies are designed to help children become better listeners and readers, learn faster, improve memory and become better thinkers.

Technologies that can Help Children with CAPD:
– Assistive Listening Device (ALD) is any device or product, including hearing aids, which improves or “assists” hearing. It is typically used for specific listening environments like theaters, at church, in conference rooms during meetings, in schools or with televisions and radios.

– Specialist assistive technology – personal frequency modulation listening devices allows wearer to hear one voice via microphone directly into their ear through a FM receiver. This is sometimes called remote microphone.

– Possible Extrinsic AT Software are voice output, web browser, and text editor programs intended to help individuals with learning disabilities to read, write, study, and comprehend text more effectively.

– Personal Listening Systems (Auditory Trainers) usually consist of Frequency Modulated Systems have the ability to increase the volume of a particular sound source and deliver it directly to an individual without increasing the amount of background noise.

– Digital Voice Recorder can be used for recording class lessons and verbal instructions. It is less expensive compared to software and other devices.

– Direct Audio Input is an Assistive Listening Device that is compatible with a hearing aid. An induction loop is usually worn around the neck that allows for hook-up to a TV, radio/stereo, microphone, CD player, FM system or other assistive device.

– Activity Table designed for younger children. It is good for auditory stimulation combined with visual cues treating auditory limitation by using its functional visual capabilities.

– Electromagnetic Induction Loop is used for amplification it is a special cable typically wired around public places. These cables emit electromagnetic signal to the person’s ear either by wearing headphones or hearing aid.

– FastForWord is a computer based program with games that teaches processing of speech sounds and works on short term auditory memory and auditory sequencing.

– TV Listening Systems one popular version of this type of ALD is called TV Ears. It is designed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the television (or radio/stereo) over other environmental or background noise.

– SAMONAS Sound Therapy and The Listening Program (TLP) – specially produced music that is available on CDs effective tool in stimulating the brain’s processing regions and engineered to have a calming effect on the body.

– Telephone Assistive Devices phones that have specially-designed receiver that amplifies sound. It has a built-in telecoil and picks up the telephone signal without causing feedback (whistling) or interference from background noise.

– Infrared Systems uses light waves instead of radio waves. The receiver usually a headset turns the signal into sound. Infrared Systems are commonly used in personal listening devices, and can also be used in large areas such as meeting halls, theatres and churches.

Hearing technology holds great promise for helping children with CAPD. It is not an over-the-counter commodity; avoid internet and mail-order purchase. The government requires that children be seen by an Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT) physician for medical clearance, then by an audiologist, not just a hearing technology dealer. Consult a physician then an experienced audiologist before making a purchase.