The following is a summary of the criteria in DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) and describes what doctors look for when diagnosing ADD or ADHD. A. INATTENTION ( the individual must display 6 or more of these characteristics) makes careless mistakes difficulty sustaining attention doesn’t seem to listen does not finish schoolwork, chores or duties difficulty organizing tasks and activities avoids tasks that require sustained mental effort easily distracted forgetful and/or B. […]
Read complete blog post
The main developmental tasks for a toddler are: – to learn he is a separate person – to learn his body is his own – to learn his ideas and feelings have value Life becomes increasingly frustrating for the toddler as the demands and expectations placed on him increase. He will discover that he is unable to do many of the things he wants to do himself eg. feed, dress himself, etc.) Guidelines for toddlers […]
Read complete blog post
Lori’s psychiatrist asked her to write something describing her life: “Everybody is hurt sometime in his or her life. For me it started with my parents. But let me start further back. I was adopted in 1986 by my parents. In elementary school, people were not very nice to me. They spread rumours about me that I was a lesbian, which by the way, I’m not. Anyway, I had very few friends and was what […]
Read complete blog post
Prenatal alcohol consumption does not ALWAYS result in neurological damage. Variables: dose (amount of alcohol) timing (stage of pregnancy) genetic factors (mother and baby) (some ethnic groups are more susceptible) metabolic factors (mother and baby)(some individuals have reduced enzymes to breakdown alcohol) Some other factors: maternal weight fetal weight cell development at time of alcohol exposure age of mother maternal use of cigarettes & other toxins oxygen deprivation due to maternal liver dysfunction Some heavy […]
Read complete blog post
The first scientific study conducted regarding FASD was done by Dr. William Sullivan in 1899 in Liverpool England. Sullivan compared the mortality rate of offspring of “female drunkards” with that of the offspring of their sober female relatives. He discovered that the death rate of “drunkards” children was 2.5 times greater than death rate of the sober relatives. Sullivan’s study was rejected by the scientific community of the day as being “simplistic and moralistic” It […]
Read complete blog post
