School nurses are critical to the health care of children with autism since they work with a population susceptible to malnutrition, says a Ball State University nursing professor. “These children are often picky eaters,” said Connie McIntosh, An associate Professor in the College of Health. “Parents and schools
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By David Tennyson For many people “Thomas the Tank Engine” was just a cartoon character, but its powers were realized when research conducted by the National Autistic Society discovered that children with autism respond more strongly to Thomas the Tank Engine than any other cartoon character. Many
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By Amy Pinder, MA, CCC-SLP The holiday season brings a sensory-stimulating buzz of joy and excitement for many. It also brings along many stress-inducing interruptions to daily routines, an array of unwritten social rules and expectations, and increased social interactions. Preparing mindfully for each event, setting boundaries,
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Family mealtime can be challenging for a variety of reasons, including the varying taste buds of all family members. Although there is no consistent definition of picky eating, according to a report published in the journal Frontiers in Pediatrics, the term is generally used to characterize children
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By Amy Pinder, MA, CCC-SLP Halloween is a wonderful opportunity for fostering creativity, imagination, and pretend play. However bright flashing lights, large crowds, sugary treats, scary and itchy costumes can present challenges for children with autism and other sensitivities. To make the most of of your Halloween experience,
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October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that is caused by an error in cell division. When a person has Down syndrome, he or she has a third chromosome 21, also called Trisomy 21. This extra chromosome causes intellectual disability and medical
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“A Spanish lady came to me, she lays on me this [salad that] spirals round and round, it trembles and explodes!” -The Grateful Dead By Sam Huber Chicken nuggets, PB&J sandwiches, candy, and ice cream were all I ate for 20 years. New foods made me want
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Parents can best help their children overcome obesity and develop healthy eating habits by adopting a “family treatment” approach to positive habits, including acting as a “champion” for good choices and being a healthy role model. That’s the message to families with children who are overweight or
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(News In Health) Teenagers have their whole lives ahead of them, they’re often told. The idea that a teen could be thinking about ending that life might be hard for their friends, families, or other people in their community to believe. But the risk of suicide should
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By Kelsey Fox Bennett, M.Ed. Most people haven’t heard of Brain Gym® – a form of Educational Kinesiology that uses simple intentional movements to reduce stress in the body and reconnect areas of the brain – but for me, it was and still is a natural part
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