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We all learned poems as we grew up! So, today let’s talk about top poems to teach your child. Poems have several benefits for everyone. In other words, children as young as a year old can follow simple poems. Poems are like a bridge connecting speaking, language learning, reading, writing, and listening. Further, there are excellent benefits of teaching your child poems. Let’s look at some of the benefits. Why should I teach poems? Poetry is the arrangement of words containing meaning and music. Further, poems have rhythm, shape, structure, and content. In other words, the poem is the means to express thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Further, when we teach children poems it helps them perceive the world around them. The rhythm, music, and the content of the poems help them to learn many skills. Furthermore, it promotes skills such as listening, language development, fluency of speech sounds, reading of words, and creative expression. What are the benefits of teaching poems? Here are some of the top benefits of teaching poems to your child. Reciting poetry helps your child’s speech fluency Helps children to articulate and move from one speech sound to another in words Promotes language, sentence, and vocabulary development Enriches language skills and grammar Children learn to listen and perceive the world around them Promotes literacy skills Aids in memory and boosts brain skills They learn to read and write efficiently Overall, the benefits of teaching your child poems are numerous. What poems can I teach? The first step is to choose a poem appropriate for your child. In other words, consider poems based on your child’s age, reading abilities, and preference. I suggest starting with poems that are appealing and easy to grasp. Further, choose poems that are rich in language and music. So, read on for some of my top picks. Top Poems to Teach your Child Here are my top picks! At the Zoo by William Makepeace Thackeray First, I saw the white bear, then I saw the black; Then I saw the camel with a hump upon his back; Then I saw the grey wolf, with mutton in his maw; Then I saw the wombat waddle in the straw; Then I saw the elephant a-waving of his trunk; Then I saw the monkeys – mercy, how unpleasantly they smelt! Mother Doesn’t Want a Dog by Judith Viorst Mother doesn’t want a dog. Mother says they smell, And never sit when you say sit, Or even when you yell. And when you come home late at night And there is ice and snow, You have to go back out because The dumb dog has to go. Mother doesn’t want a dog. Mother says they shed, And always let the strangers in And bark at friends instead, And do disgraceful things on rugs, And track mud on the floor, And flop upon your bed at night And snore their doggy snore. Mother doesn’t want a dog. She’s making a mistake. Because, more than a dog, I think She will not want this snake. I am a Little Teapot by George Harold Sanders I’m a little teapot Short and stout. Here is my handle, Here is my spout. When I get all steamed up Hear me shout: Tip me over And pour me out! I’m a very special pot This is true. Here’s an example Of what I can do. I can change my handle And my spout. Tip me over And pour me out! Snowball by Shel Silverstein I made myself a snowball As perfect as could be. I thought I’d keep it as a pet And let it sleep with me. I made it some pyjamas And a pillow for its head. Then last night it ran away, But first, it wet the bed. Two Little Dicky Birds by Anonymous Two little dickie birds sitting on a wall, One named Peter, one named Paul. Fly away, Peter!   Fly away, Paul! Come back, Peter!   Come back, Paul! Bonus Tips Use actions while teaching poems Further, modulate your vocal pitch to catch their attention Furthermore, use pictures and toy models while teaching the poems Hence, be vibrant and energetic So, encourage your child to repeat words after you Please drop us a comment if you liked the article. If you wish to know more about Speech Therapy , kindly contact us! For more ideas check out our other blogs. #fluencyofspeech #Languagedevelopment #teachyourchild

Emotions and feelings are quite hard for all of us to manage. So, imagine how difficult it is for your child. In other words, learning to identify and manage one’s feelings is a big task for children. So, Ms. Leah Kuypers an OT specializing in Autism developed a curriculum. This is called the “Zones of Regulation”. Further, this curriculum offers resources to teach kids to identify and manage their emotions. So, let’s talk about teaching zones of regulation to children in this blog. Let’s first get some background on the zones of regulation curriculum. What is the Zone of Regulation Program? This is an approach focusing on helping kids identify and deal with their feelings. Further, it is a cognitive-behavioral approach. In other words, it teaches strategies for self-regulation. The various emotional states are segregated into four zones. Further, each zone is color-coded as shown in the picture below. Each color (blue, green, yellow, and red) coded zone stands for a particular emotional state. Overall, these zones help kids to self-regulate their emotions. It further promotes independence. What are the goals of the program? To recognize and communicate in various zones Learning ways to move between zones Individualized set of tools to suit child’s needs Recognizing triggers and dealing with emotional states To recognize others’ emotions Finally, to self-regulate own emotions Why use Zones of Regulation? There are a number of reasons why zones of regulation are useful for a child. Read on: Helps the child to identify feelings, triggers, and emotional states They can self-regulate their zones They learn to manage to stay in certain zones depending on the situation What are the four zones? As mentioned earlier, there are four zones of regulation. Further, each zone represents a particular emotional state. Specifically, it is as below: The Green Zone This zone is a calm state of the mind. Further, optimal learning happens in this zone. Emotions included are: calm, fine, happy, and okay. The Yellow Zone The yellow zone is a heightened state of alertness. This is where emotions are elevated but the child is able to control them. The emotions included are: worried, excited, anxious, and wiggly. The Blue Zone This zone represents a low state of alertness. In other words, emotions in the zone are: bored, ill, tired, and sad. The Red Zone The red zone is where the child is in a heightened state of alertness. This means the child has intense emotions. Further, the child may not have control over their emotions in this zone. The emotions included in the zone are anger, upset, mad, and frustration. Overall, these zones act like different traffic signals for a child. Further, they help the child to feel accepted in every zone. Furthermore, children learn to navigate from one zone to another depending on the situation. Finally, the zone of regulation curriculum helps kids to identify triggers, accept emotional zones and find out activities that help them to navigate to a calmer zone. “Contact a therapist certified in Zones of Regulation program and find out how you can help your child.” What are the zone tools? Zone tools are sensory-based strategies or activities. In other words, these are activities or techniques that a child can use to move between the zones. Tools are usually those that are readily accessible and available every day. Further, the tools and activities are based on the child’s needs. An Occupational Therapist certified in Zones of Regulation decides the tools that are most useful for the child. How do I introduce zones of regulation? First, consult with a professional prior to initiating the curriculum. Second, identify your own emotions with your child (eg: say “I am angry” I am in the red zone). Third, talk to your child about the tool you will use to navigate to another zone (eg: say “I am listening to music” I will go to the green zone). Fourth, talk to your child and label which zone your child is in throughout the day (eg: say “You look tired” You are in the blue zone). Fifth, talk to your child about the tools and strategies they can use to navigate within the zones. Bonus points: Remind your child every zone is a good zone depending on the situation Think about your own zone when you discuss what zone your child is in (eg: If your child is in the red zone, analyze which zone you are in at the moment). Validate your child’s feelings and talk about healthy tools to navigate between zones. Model using zones of regulation at all times Make sure to check with a professional certified in the curriculum prior to initiating the program for your child. “Contact a therapist certified in Zones of Regulation program and find out how you can help your child.” Please drop us a comment if you liked the article. If you wish to know more about Speech Therapy, kindly contact us! For more ideas check out our other blogs #Autism #OccupationalTherapist #TeachingZones

Social Thinking methodology is a program for everyone. It is ideal for kids from ages 4 to adults. We are talking about Social Thinking methodology in this blog. Michelle Garcia Winner, a speech-language pathologist created the concept of Social Thinking. In the ’90s. Further, she devised this methodology. As she was working with people with social/ communication and emotional learning difficulties. The method promotes strong social awareness and functioning. The Social Thinking curriculum is used globally. Further in several classrooms, schools, and districts. So, let’s talk more about Social Thinking Methodology. What is Social Thinking Methodology? Social Thinking method is evidence-based. Here the expert will help the person to improve their social competencies. These social competencies are: Self-regulation Social-emotional learning Executive functioning Perspective talking Social problem solving Further, the Social Thinking method helps people understand themselves. Furthermore, helping them to navigate the social world and foster relationships. Overall, it improves a person’s performance. So in school, at home, and at work. Who is a candidate for the program? It is suitable for kids as young as four up to adulthood. Additionally, many kids have social learning deficits. Although they do not have any other specific diagnosis. Also, a few students struggle to maintain social relationships. Basically, it is for any person or child having a social difficulty. Specifically, it is beneficial for people in the below categories: Typical children and adults Autistic persons People with ADHD Persons with social communication disorders People with social anxiety Anyone with social-emotional learning difficulties Further, professionals belonging to a wide range of specializations can avail of the certification in Social Thinking. What is Social Thinking? Social Thinking is a process. Further, by which we interpret the thoughts, beliefs, intentions, emotions, knowledge, and action of others. In other words, it allows a person to understand the deeper meaning of what others do in the world. We typically use Social Thinking in our life. Further, be it at work, school, or in social settings. Social Thinking is critical to success in life. Further, Social Thinking is a three-part process. This is: Social Thinking is our meaning maker. We watch and listen to interpret others’ ideas. Learning strong self-awareness, self-monitoring, and self-control. Using our social thinking to meet our social goals. Being aware of one’s emotions. Predicting and relating to the emotions of others. Our social thinking skills directly impact how other people behave with us. Overall, Social Thinking focuses on Social-Emotional chain reactions. In other words, this means how we act directly affects how other people act towards us. So, this social-emotional chain reaction is taught.  This teaching depends on the age of the person. Activities are different for kids and adults. Further, the tasks focus on specific deficits. People are taught skills to navigate the social world. This aids them to lead better social lives. What are the Red Flags for Social Deficits? Social Thinking can help your child if he/she has the below difficulties, Firstly, difficulty thinking about other’s feelings Secondly, making and keeping friends Thirdly, playing with peers Fourthly, staying calm in stressful situations Fifthly, reading the social cues of other people So, these are some signs that suggest your child will benefit from this method. How can I enroll in the Social Thinking program? Social Thinking is done by professionals who are certified in the program. Find a clinician who is certified to get started. First, the professional will do an assessment. Then they will devise the plan going forward. Consult a professional today! Please drop us a comment if you liked the article. Hope you gained some insights into the social thinking methodology.  If you wish to know more about Speech Therapy, kindly contact us! For more ideas check out our other blogs #RedFlagsforSocialDeficits #SocialThinking #SocialThinkingMethodology

Augmentative and Alternative Communication for Adults Communication is what binds us in every sphere of our lives. The use of language and technology distinguishes human beings from animals. However,  there are adverse events that steal our ability to express feelings and desires. By the same token, the need for technology, be it low tech or high tech, comes into play here. Over the years, technology has revolutionized the scope of speech, language and communication. This may sound crazy, but technology can completely re-establish broken communication pathways. By way of example, the movie “The Theory of Everything” is a look into the relationship between the famous Physicist Stephan Hawkings and his wife Jane Hawkings. With a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Stephan Hawkings slowly starts to lose his motor functions, eventually, he finds it difficult to speak or walk. Likewise, This movie portrays how his disease did not stop him from communicating with his wife. Moreover, just as speech, technology can also act as a medium through which an exchange of information is possible. Communication difficulties can be caused by conditions ranging from depression to cancer. The role of a speech-language pathologist is to help individuals effectively communicate their needs or desires to their partners or loved ones. SLPs try to establish healthy communication patterns. It can be long-term or short-term, based on an individual’s requirements. For example, if a person suffers from a neurological condition such as a stroke, the brain takes some time to organise all its lost connections. Furthermore, during this period one may have difficulty speaking, identifying people, retaining information and communicating basic needs. In this case, the SLP provides easier communication alternatives to the patient’s caretakers and alternative modes of communication such as gestures, pictures, technology etc. This type of communication is used temporarily until the patient is cognitively and physically stronger. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)  Augmentative and Alternative Communication is a medium of interaction which uses low-tech and high-tech devices. Conventional mediums of communication include speech, writing and gestures. Furthermore, when individuals cannot use these mediums of communication, they use AAC for Adults to meet their communication needs. There are different types of AAC devices: No tech/ Low Tech devices  Writing  Gestures  Pointing to photos and written words High tech Devices  Communication Apps  Speech-generating devices  In addition, Here are some of the areas that research has helped us understand. Age and Dexterity- Since High-tech devices are complicated to use, some aged individuals may find it difficult to operate them for their communication needs  Movement- Paraplegic individuals require a specific type of AAC for Adults that allow them to communicate with just a movement of a finger or the blink of an eye.  Temporary- Individuals who have just come out of surgery and cannot talk momentarily, require a type of AAC that have basic communication prompts  Permanent – Individuals may need devices that have communication prompts that are more complex in nature. For eg, communication apps such as Jellow, Awaz There is a common misconception that people who use AAC cannot enhance their verbal communication skills. This is not true! One of the functions of an AAC for Adults device is to support and enhance the existing communication skills while supplementing healthy communication patterns. What does AAC contain? People who live with expressive language difficulty have difficulty talking about normal things, like an interesting thing that they saw the other day! Moreover, here are some of the topics that are commonly available on AAC devices Greetings and feelings Daily Activities Likes and Dislikes Learning Time and weather Help/ Emergency Places/ People In addition, below are some of the pictures of the existing AAC devices that can be used by individuals who have communication difficulties. Jellow Basic AAC Communicator – giving Voice to Speech Jellow Communicator is a friendly Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) solution that uses icons to aid communication in people learning to speak or with difficulty with speech and language. AVAZ Inc. – FreeSpeech Single message communicators- Big Mack, Talking Tiles, GoTalk one PCS® Classic The Classic style has been maintained for over 30 years. We continue to add more to this set as many of our customers have used this version since childhood and are now adults with additional symbol needs! Classic style PCS symbols offer flexibility and simplicity for our customers by providing basic colour palates, thick black lines and options for gender-neutral avatars #AACdevices #AACforadults #AdultswithCommunicationDifficulties #communicationdifficulties

What is Visual tracking? Visual tracking is the ability to follow moving objects with the eyes without moving the head. It requires several skills in order to efficiently perform fine motor skill that includes eye movement from side to side, up & down, diagonal & circular movement. Several skills include oculomotor control abilities, visual fixation, saccadic eye movement, smooth pursuit eye movements, along with convergence & visual spatial attention. Why is visual tracking important for children? Visual tracking sets foundation of your child’s success in reaching future vision milestones. Visual tracking also helps your baby learn about their environment. The visual sense lets the child take in a lot of information. Baby at first starts to track their caregivers’ movements. Soon after they learn to track, they will begin to work on their hand-eye coordination. Later this will help the child in learning how to read & do copy writing, which is an integral part for going further in academics. Therefore, Visual tracking becomes essential for school-readiness. Some research suggests that object tracking develops rapidly between two & six months of age. By seven months, infants are generally tracking objects with their eyes. At first babies move their head to track object but then this skill advances and babies start moving their eyes to track visually Lookout for these signs to know if your child has difficulties in visual tracking – Loses place while reading Doesn’t track people moving in & out Skips words or lines while reading or copywriting Poor comprehension Moves head excessively, and not eyes while reading Short attention span Difficulty with sports activities Cannot follow a moving object Difficulty with eye hand co-ordination Navigating through obstacles in a challenge Trouble shifting gaze from one object to another (saccadic movement) Activities for improving visual tracking in children Use larger ball or balloon to practice catching –  Balloon tennis is very nice activity for children to improve their visual tracking of moving object while moving and also enhances coordination & motor planning skills. Play catch with brightly colored ball – This can be done with child being stationary ie standing in a place and catching ball. It enhances & requires gross motor skills along with balance & coordination of body parts. Toss balls with slower speed – Child can be asked to toss ball from one hand to another at various speeds. You can also make it complex by asking him to incorporate claps in between throwing & catching the ball Target hitting activity – The complexity of this activity can be modified according to child’s age – as per distance, with or without obstacle, moving or stable target, size of object thrown & target. It can be fun activity giving reinforcement in itself once target is achieved. Play flashlight tracking game – This can be a fun activity. You can use colored flashlight, laser or flashlight passing through some transparent colored object. You can also use some shapes which can reflect on wall that can be used to track. Complete word/letter search game – As per age you can give child word search or letter search game & increase complexity gradually. Object scavenger hunt – This can be as fun as you decide it to be. You can give child a list of items to be found from a bucket or basket full of objects. This improves child’s scanning ability as well. Tips for infants Show them high contrast color pairs at distance of 8-10inches (Black & white, Purple & orange, Blue & yellow) to engage child at initial stage. You will probably notice that they stare at it instantly. Let them look at it intently as it develops the ability to focus at an object with their eyes. Later start to move the object slowly for them to track it. You can use rattles, soft toys, etc. Spend a lot of time making eye contact with your infant as they get enough stimulation to look back and begin to work their little eye muscles. Bring your face close to your baby and slowly go behind or do the same with an object. Tips for children, especially for reading & writing Take visual breaks at times for while regular intervals Use large print text for reading Provide materials to be copied at the desk rather than off the board Mark place with highlighters to help maintain text in place Place finger on the line while reading or copying Takeaway note – Babies reach lots of exciting milestones in their first year of life, from their first food to uttering their first giggle. Milestones related to vision may be less apparent to parents but are just as important for babies to reach. As with most things, an ability does not appear overnight, try practicing these activities & incorporate tips in daily life. Further, if you cannot observe any changes, approach Occupational therapists as they screen for visual problems in order to determine how they may impact functional tasks. #motorplanningskills #visualtrackinginchildren

Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, India, is home to some of the best speech therapists in india. Speech therapy is a specialized field of healthcare that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of speech and communication disorders. Speech therapists work with people of all ages, from infants to the elderly, who may have difficulty communicating due to a range of factors such as speech and language delays, stuttering, articulation disorders, voice disorders, and cognitive-communication disorders. A qualified speech therapist is essential for effective treatment of speech and language disorders. Look for a licensed and certified therapist who has experience working with clients with similar needs to yours. In this blog, we will highlight some of the best speech therapists in Trivandrum. 1. 1Special Place : A clinic that recognises the need of meeting each patient’s specific listening needs in order to best serve them. Offering individualised hearing, speech, and communication services is 1 Special Place. Regardless of age, we are committed to assisting everyone in enhancing their ability to communicate and achieve long-term career independence. Pratiksha Gupta, a Consultant Senior SLPA at Apollo Hospitals in Noida, founded the online speech therapy clinic 1 Special Place. Our goal is to offer people of all ages with speech and hearing issues comprehensive and expert audiological care, from prevention through rehabilitation. 1SpecilPlace is one of the Best Speech Therapist in Trivandrum. Every patient receives individualized attention tailored to meet their specific needs, resulting in increased quality of life for each one through improved speech and hearing. 2. Ananthapuri Centre for Child Development & Early Intervention It is the goal of the Ananthapuri Centre for Child Development & Early Intervention to become a centre of excellence for early childhood care and education, adolescent care and education, and other related subjects. Our goal is to decrease childhood impairment via organised methods. To every kid with a developmental disability or autistic disorder, we offer individualised, comprehensive care. Their goal is to decrease childhood impairment via organised processes. Every child with a developmental handicap and those with autistic disorders receives individualised, comprehensive care. 3. SFL Hearing Solutions The multi-level, multi-brand chain of hearing healthcare clinics operated throughout India by SFL Hearing Solutions is the fastest expanding in the country. To ensure better hearing for everyone everywhere, they want to be the only retail chain in the nation to offer top-notch hearing care services. They have carved out a market for themselves as a one-stop shop for all hearing issues. SFL Hearing Solutions, with PAN India operations, provides the best hearing solutions to patients with hearing impairment in accordance with their listening demands and specifications. The foundation of their company model is the importance of total focus and attention to detail in their services. 4. Deeksha : We at Deeksha are aware of the value of a skilled speech therapist. All of their therapists hold valid licences and have undergone special training to help those who struggle with speech or communication. To help you develop better communication skills and establish confidence in your capacity to express yourself clearly, their therapists will work with you one-on-one. Also, they will educate you how to use devices like augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), which can facilitate conversation with people who don’t speak to you. 5. Lifecare Klear Speech and Hearing Center : The Lifecare Klear Speech and Hearing Clinic offers top-notch expertise in computerised hearing aid testing and analysis, hearing aid repair and services, schools for speech therapy, autism, stuttering treatment, cerebral palsy, dyslexia, voice disorder training, flotation therapy, delayed language therapy, and writing disorders. 6. Timscare : The first multi-rehabilitation & disability centre with exceptional specialisation in physiotherapy in Kerala. The most cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic tools are available at TIMS, together with qualified personnel from various specialties. Using the most up-to-date methods and procedures, patient evaluation, diagnosis, treatment planning, intervention, prognosis, and follow-up are offered. Under one roof, they offer a variety of rehabilitation programmes, including orthopaedic, neurological, cardiopulmonary, geriatric, paediatric, and sports. To deliver high-quality services, they combine clinical competence, expert opinion, outside scientific information, and client, patient, and carer viewpoints. 7. Hope: Hope, The Center for Child Development and Therapies was founded in July 2017 by the S. Suleelan Foundation with a holistic approach to child development in mind. For Soya Suseelan, a sensory integration therapist and the institute’s director, hope is the realisation of a dream. She founded the centre to carry out the wishes of her late father S. Suseelan, a great visionary, politician, social worker, and above all, a great human being. Hope, located in Trivandrum, offers services to parents, teachers, and students with the goal of maximising each student’s academic and social potential as well as helping them overcome developmental delays and learning challenges. In conclusion, Trivandrum has several highly skilled and experienced Best Speech Therapist in Trivandrum who provide excellent care for people with communication and hearing impairments. If you or a loved one are in need of speech therapy services, consider reaching out to one of these professionals for an evaluation and personalized treatment plan. With their expertise and support, you can improve your communication skills and achieve your full potential. #bestspeechtherapistinIndia #BestSpeechTherapistinTrivandrum #OnlineSpeechTherapy #speechtherapist

What is school readiness? School readiness is an important part of every child’s development. It is a process of developing skills, attitudes, and behaviours that will help children succeed in school. Moreover, school readiness is a state in which children are prepared for the challenges and demands of school. It includes children’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. In order to be ready for school, children need to have strong relationships with adults as well as their peers. They also need to have good language skills and be able to follow directions. Why are school readiness skills important? School readiness skills are important because they help children to be successful in school. School readiness skills include things like being able to sit still, follow directions, and take care of themselves. In short, these skills are important because they help children to be successful in school and have a better chance of succeeding later in life. Read a detailed blog on Activities for pre-school kids with special needs What are the prerequisites necessary to develop school readiness? School readiness is the ability to do well in school. In other words, it is a set of skills that children need to learn and develop as they grow up. Some of these skills are: Basic language and literacy skills Social and emotional skills Basic numeracy skills Basic life skills (such as hygiene) Healthy lifestyle habits (such as proper nutrition) Basic understanding of the world around them (such as knowing the days of the week) Understanding their own feelings, thoughts, and behaviours Self-regulation Tips to Promote School Readiness: Parents and teachers should take the time to create an environment in which children are able to learn and grow. One way is by being mindful of the child’s surroundings. Children need a lot of stimulation from their environment, so parents and teachers should encourage them to explore different areas in their homes or classroom. Another way is by making sure that children have a chance to be creative. Parents and teachers can do this by introducing them to art projects, music, dance, or other activities that allow for creativity. There are many ways to promote school readiness in children, but the following tips will help you to get started: Prepare your child Talk with your child about what they will be learning in the coming year. Talk about what they are expected to do at school, school-appropriate behaviour, sitting in class etc. Foster independence Help them become independent with basic tasks such as eating, dressing etc. Give verbal instructions rather than physical help. Follow routines Write down their homework assignments and finish them with your child. This helps them build and follow a routine. Use pictures to help them understand and sequence their routine. Make these part of their daily schedule. In short, children learn better with schedules. Moreover, this will also help your child be more organised. Make math fun Look for ways to make math more interactive. For instance, nowadays there are various fun ways to learn math. Try to start using these with your child. Early literacy skills Encourage reading by providing a variety of books on different topics. For example, encourage reading activities at home. Use colourful pictures with large print to start off. Secondly, do a lot of writing activities at home. This will help improve your child’s fine motor skills. And this is very important. For example, you can practise cutting, drawing, scribbling etc. Good night’s sleep: Early to bed and early to rise, make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Make sure your child is getting enough sleep. Have a routine for waking up and going to bed. Familiarise new places Visit new places with your child. Take them to places like the library, school playground, etc. This will help your child get familiarised with the new school setting. Foster socialisation At school, your child will spend a lot of time with other kids. Help your child engage with children of their age. Arrange for play dates or activities with other children of your child’s age. Get help if needed Talk to your child’s preschool teacher to identify any signs of deficit or slow development so that these areas can be targeted before the child starts school. Make school fun Get your child excited about going to school. For example, Talk to them about your experiences. Tell them stories about their siblings’ first day at school. Talk about all the fun they will have. #childsdevelopment #schoolreadiness #Schoolreadinessskills

In Natural Language Acquisition process, children will start to understand speech and tell it. This is a developmental process. All children are born with an innate capacity to learn language. It starts from infancy and goes on until they are able to speak well. When a child is born he/she starts communicating by making some sounds to communicate their needs. The first sound an infant makes is crying, then cooing, vocalization and so on. These sounds are not taught by anyone. It happens naturally. Later on, natural language acquisition doesn’t just happen innately. Furthermore, it develops with environmental exposure the child is getting. There are two ways of language Acquisition. One is Analytical Language Development and the other is Gestalt Language Processing. Now let’s see what does each one of them mean. What is Analytic Language Development? In this, the children start speaking with sounds, then moving on to words, two word sentences, simple phrases and sentences and narration. In Analytic language development, each single word carries individual meaning like Milk, Fruit etc. Stages of Analytic Language Development. Children start using single meaningful word to communicate his/her need. Gradually, they use 2 word combinations. Sentence length increases. They start to use proper grammar. Intonation develops later. For eg: Milk—More More—–Mom, More Milk—–Mom, I would like to have more milk please. Click here to know about Normal Speech Milestones. What is Gestalt Language Acquisition? There is another kind of language acquisition. This is also a normal way of language acquisition. This happens mostly with Autistic children. And, that is called as Gestalt Language Processing. Gestalt means Wholes which mean whole word, whole sentence or whole song. This is mostly understood by their melody. They are often unclear too when the children say it first. To make it simpler, we will look into an example. Usually, children start saying word and then move on to two word utterances, but what if the child doesn’t start with single words, instead sing a nursery rhyme or dialogue they heard in a Television. We call it as Echolalia which means, they repeat back what they heard. So this is Gestalt Processors, also referred to as intonation Babies. For a Gestalt language Processor, they a take a sentence as one, like if we say, ‘I need to go out’, they understand it as whole. They will not take the words separately like ‘I’, ‘need’,’ to’, ‘go’, ‘Out’. Click here to know more about Gestalt Language. How do intonation babies learn Language? They focus more on music and melody of language. They tend to use words, complete sentences. Use echolalia to communicate that is they repeat a dialogue from movie or sing a rhyme to communicate their need. They learn to use grammatical skills later. Stages of Gestalt Language Processing There are four stages of Gestalt Language Processing. Children use whole words to communicate their needs like echolalia. For Example:  Milk is from Cow Partial or Mitigated Gestalts In this parts of a phrase are taken and then combined with other parts. For Example: Milk is + good. Single words are used mainly In this stage, children start picking single meaningful words from the phrase they used. For Example: They pick Milk as a single meaningful word. Original sentences or Phrases are formed. For Example: Milk and Biscuits are my favourite. What are the signs that your child is Gestalt Processor? Echolalia- The child will repeat what he/she hear. They tend to speak in third person. For example: The child might say ‘He is hungry’. They reverse pronouns. This happens because they just repeat what they hear without understanding the meaning of it. They use more intonation or melody in speech. They are mostly Autistics or Hyperlexic. Gestalt Language Processing is also a kind of natural way of acquiring Language. But mostly, it’s seen in children who are Autistics or Hyperlexic. Their Languages are inflexible They mostly use the same type of utterance they hear. They keep using it in the same way for a long time without modifying it. Later, they start using it normally.   Sentences are unclear They imitate long sentences which they hear. Most of the sentences will be unclear. In summary, Natural Language Acquisition is a process in which children understand and express language. There are two types of learning Language and that is Analytical Language Processing and Gestalt Language Processing. Both are normal ways of language acquisition. In Analytical Language Processing, children tend to learn language from simple one word to simple utterances, sentences and so on. This kind of learning takes place with most of the children. But in Gestalt Language Processing, the children mostly repeat phrases or sentences. They don’t take words as single units. They rely more on melody and intonation of speech. Both of this Language Processing follows stages and children go through stages to achieve Language. #developmentalprocess #LanguageProcessing #NaturalLanguageAcquisition

You set an alarm early in the morning to prepare breakfast and lunch boxes for the whole family. Just put in a lot of effort and love while you pack your child’s school box. You ensure it is not junk, it is your child’s favourite food, and it’s healthy and interesting. When you open your child’s tiffin box in the afternoon, you realise that your child has not even touched the food or has just nibbled it. When this situation repeats over and over, you get discouraged. Children are fussy as toddlers but as they grow theoretically they should get over it. But there are some reasons for them to grow into picky or fussy eaters and I can help. As parents, we want to pack our child’s tiffin in such a way that it tempts them and gets them to complete their tiffin. If they skip eating their lunch often, it can deprive them of essential nutrients to grow, study, focus, stay stable emotionally, stay stressed, and prevent inflammation and performance. Here are some reasons for pickiness and some tips that you can try to get your child to finish their tiffin at school with or without any help. Here are the reasons for pickiness: Some eating disorders can interfere with your child’s appetite. There is slow growth to no growth between ages 3-8, which is another reason for poor appetite. If you have been forcing your child to eat or “force-feeding” him/ her then it can lead your child to hate eating and food. When you serve food your child might not eat because he may not be hungry, the previous meal is not completely digested, and the gap between meals is short or late breakfast and early lunch can reduce appetite. First, it begins with keeping the following in mind: how your child eats at home, your child’s eating habits, and their preference. Does your child have a habit of watching TV and eating food? If so, then there is less chance of them completing their tiffin since they haven’t been seeing their food and eating. It might be boring to eat food without a TV. Or it could be a distraction and easier to eat the food without eating or smell it. Here are 6 tips to get your child to complete their tiffin box: 1. Approved foods: When you observe meals that your child can complete without any distraction and relishes, make a note of it. One can up with enough options, and start giving them in tiffin. Their tastes keep changing, so make sure you continue observing their preferences. 2. Let your child plan and pack their lunch- Some children like to know what is in the lunch box and involving them in the kitchen while packing can help increase the chance of completing their tiffin. If your child is not interested, then your child comes home without eating the tiffin, you can ask them the reason after they come home. You will have to make a note of their preferences. This leads to the next step which is planning all meals. 3. Building a habit of planning meals- Plan easy foods which smaller portions to eat. It will help you prepare food more efficiently without you feeling bad and discouraged to cook. 4. Quantity matters- Some children are more likely to eat food if they see less quantity or portions rather than more portions. So observe the quantity that eats at home and serve the same quantity in their tiffin box. You can serve smaller portions of 3-4 ingredients along with the meal instead of just 1-2 dishes. Ex: 1 Chapathi, 2 tbsps sabji, 3 pieces of fruit, 5 nuts and 1/2 cup curd. 5. Some children are not comfortable self-feeding or have not learnt to self-feed. they might require help to eat. there is nothing to feel ashamed of. We self-feed and learn skills when it’s time, we just need to give them a chance at home to learn to self-feed. Hence, it’s sure your child has helped to complete their tiffin. Children self-feed themselves when they observe their friends eat by themselves. 6. They may be comfortable self-feeding only some utensils or tiffin boxes. They might be comfortable eating only with a spoon and not by hand. This can be another reason for leaving their tiffin untouched. These tips may seem simple, but it’s the simple things that solve the problem when done consistently as a family, to learn your child’s preferences, teach your child eating skills and etiquette and involve them in the process of cooking. This will increase the likelihood to get your child to finish their tiffin. Share your thoughts and tips that worked for you. #activitiesforchildren #activitiestomakechildtalk

The incidence and prevalence of swallowing issues are alarming. Are you someone who has swallowing difficulty? Do you know anyone with a feeding issue? In this blog, we are giving an overview of Vital Stim Therapy for Swallowing difficulty. First, let’s talk about swallowing issues or Dysphagia . Specifically, dysphagia is defined as any difficulty in swallowing while eating. In other words, issues in any of the three stages of swallowing (oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal) will result in dysphagia. To give you an idea, the causes of dysphagia are many. So, ranging from organic to non-organic reasons. Moving on to the treatment for feeding issues. The method of treatment depends on many factors. A swallowing therapist is a professional certified in providing intervention. Vital Stim Therapy is one approach widely used by therapists globally. Hence, keep reading to know more! So, let’s talk more about Vital Stim Therapy for Swallowing Difficulty. What is Vital Stim Therapy? Vital Stim Therapy is a non-invasive procedure to treat dysphagia. In other words, the vital stim equipment uses electrical current to stimulate swallowing muscles. Electrical current is passed through electrodes. This is fixed on the patient’s swallowing muscles externally on the skin. It provides sensory stimulation to the muscles, in order to improve muscle strength and function. The vital stim device is evidence-based with research backing up its benefits. Further, it is FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) approved for swallowing therapy. How does the device work? Specifically designed electrodes are attached to the patient’s neck on the skin. This is further attached to a device that delivers electrical current. In other words, a small calculated current is given from the surface electrodes to the motor swallowing muscles. This contracts the muscles to improve swallowing. Further, it also helps the brain to remap the swallowing. It uses Electro-muscular Electrical Stimulation (NEMS) to target muscles. Repeated therapy helps to improve muscle function for swallowing over time. Who is certified to conduct Vital Stim? A swallowing therapist, occupational therapist, or a speech-language pathologist certified in Vital Stim Therapy. These are the only professionals who can carry out the therapy. These professionals undergo training and certification to practice using the device. Hence, it is crucial that you get treated only by a registered practitioner. Who is a candidate for vital stim therapy? Vital stim is applicable for adults, infants, and children with dysphagia . If you have one or more of the below signs, you can be a candidate for this therapy: Coughing or choking while swallowing Difficulty completing a meal The feeling of the presence of food in the throat Drooling Spillage of food and liquid from the mouth while eating Wet voice or poor voice quality Feeling pain or discomfort while eating Chronic lung infections and cold Unable to eat certain food consistencies (liquids, solids) Have to swallow multiple times while feeding Poor nutrition status Weight loss due to the inability to eat Patients with neurological swallowing issues Anyone diagnosed with dysphagia What is the therapy process? The therapist first evaluates the patient. Further, during the first testing, a detailed swallowing assessment is done. Then, therapeutic goals are framed. The clinician finds out which muscle will benefit from stimulation during the assessment session. Patients undergo one hour of therapy twice or thrice a week. This depends on the need of each patient. Furthermore, during the therapy sessions, the therapist will attach and place the surface electrodes at various points in the neck region. Then, a calculated amount of current is delivered to the muscle. At the same time, the therapist will start with traditional swallowing exercises. So, the patient exercises the muscles for up to one hour in each session. Over a period of time, therapeutic gains are noted. Tips for caution: Only a certified person can use Vital Stim on patients It is not suitable for patients with seizures, deep brain stimulators, and pacemakers. It is avoided for people with cognitive impairments It has to be conducted in a safe clinical setting only. If you wish to know more about Swallowing Therapy, kindly contact us! #childrenwithdysphagia #VitalStimTherapy

Picky eating has been one of the major concerns in children belonging to ASD. Parents have suffered a lot of pain and stress while feeding their children. The Most common homemade food among these children is rice and dal. They also love fried snacks and crisps. Sensory aversions towards foods are another reason for not being able to eat a variety of foods and the amount of food needed in a day. Hence, decreased calorie intake becomes the obvious reason. So how can you get your special needs child to gain weight? Being one of the Indian autism dietitians has given me the opportunity to help so many children excel in their academics and careers along with adjunct therapies. In this article, I will share diet modifications that you can implement immediately and see improvements in weight gain. 5 areas you can focus on to get your child to increase weight are: 1. Calorie intake check Making sure your child is eating the required calories per day is the most important factor and is the solution to weight gain. It begins with understanding your child’s BMR, physical activity, and stress factors. Once you are sure about the calories required per day add an extra 200 – 300 kcal depending on how underweight your child is. To increase the intake of food for weight gain there are associated problems or habits that hinder your child’s intake. The following points explain just that. 2. Work on a variety of foods There are various reasons for not being able to eat a variety of foods. The solution is to treat the cause before increasing the calorie intake. A variety of foods are classified into food groups like cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, nuts & seeds, meats & eggs, and other food groups. 3. Neophobia Fear of trying new foods or being a choosy eater makes it difficult for you to increase your child’s intake of foods. Sometimes it is nearly impossible to get your child to eat foods that are soft or slippery. Do not lose hope because of your child’s current preferences. There are solutions for most problems like these. Always keep an open mind in these situations and follow the right strategies. Finding similarities or linking a food that is acceptable and preparing a new food the same way makes the new food more acceptable. 4. Sensory food aversions, weak oral muscles, or poor muscle tone. The biggest barrier for a child to eat a balanced meal is your child’s sensitivity to the texture, taste, smells, and colors of food. In this case, your child may tend to avoid certain foods or entire food groups, have difficulty biting hard foods, prefer only mashed foods, have disinterest to eat foods because of unpleasant sensations while eating, needs a distraction to eat food, cannot handle too many colors or texture in one meal,  difficulty in swallowing and many more sensory or oro motor issues.  5. Last but not least solving the pickiness A great way to tackle pickiness is to start from outside the kitchen. You need to create a bucket list of activities with your child. Some examples are: Visit the supermarket especially to shop for new food/ingredients. Research the food like where it is grown. How to prepare that food? Visit a farm eventually. Also, other activities can help your child connect with food. Another way to tackle picky eating would be by making meal times a routine. Children with ASD struggle with meals because of various stress factors like a busy kitchen, the way furniture is arranged, a messy houses or even bright lights. You can reduce your child’s stress or tantrums by serving meals at the same time every day. Children cannot read the time hence routines help them understand the time of the day. Conclusion To conclude, you can get your child to gain weight only when your child eats more than his or her caloric requirements per day. It is difficult to do so when your child is a picky eater or has other symptoms or diseases that could reduce the quantity of food.   Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders tend to have difficulty focusing on a task for a long period. Hence, completing a meal may be a little difficult for them and they eat well with a distraction that is with television or any other screen. This is fine for some situations, when your child is hungry but irritated and cannot focus on eating, the screen can help them complete their meal. Otherwise, you need to provide a low-pressure environment for your child to become a more flexible eater. You must focus on positive ways to help improve your child’s intake of food. Make sure you follow the above tips which will surely show improvements in your child’s weight. Still feel it’s not working. No worries. I am here to help with your child’s nutritional status. Book now. #childrenwithautism #childsnutritionalstatus #specialneedschild #specialneedschildtogainweight #ChildrenwithASD

Does your child get enough sunlight during the day? How often does your child go out to play? Does your child eat meat and dairy? Is your child vegan or vegetarian? Are you giving vitamin D supplements during the winter? Are vitamin D-rich sources sufficient to treat the deficiency? In this article, you will get answers to the above questions and learn how to detect vitamin D deficiency. Towards the end, you can keep some nutritional advice in mind. Children with ASD are very prone to Vitamin D deficiency due to increased demand by the body. It is not sufficient in the blood based on the portions children eat and the exposure to sunlight these days. If your family is a vegetarian, there may be an increased chance of vitamin D deficiency. The best way to help increase Vitamin D levels in your child’s body is by increasing the time your child is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient which can be obtained in abundance by sunbathing or exposure to sunlight. You can also take your child to play between 10 am to 12 pm with minimal clothing for 15-30 minutes depending on the weather. It is an essential vitamin for maintaining bone health, a healthy immune system and the development of the brain. It can also help reduce inflammation and free radicals as it is an antioxidant. Here are some signs of vitamin D deficiency in children with ASD: Your child may fall ill frequently due to poor immune function. You may notice your child is not growing tall or growing very slowly. You may notice a delay in your child’s milestones, development and skills than children of the same age. Your child may have increased gluten intolerance/allergy, IBS and other similar gut health issues.  Some clinical signs you may notice if your child lacks vitamin D: Your child’s legs might grow lightly bent or bow legs. You may notice your child finding it difficult to climb or jump around due to muscle weakness. Your child may suffer from bone or joint pain, affecting their behaviour. (They might be cranky or irritable) Less calcium absorption can leave the bones soft, affecting the structure, shape and strength of the bones. This incorrect growth pattern can cause deformities if vitamin D deficiency is not corrected soon. Your child may notice pain in their joints. They can also be at risk of fractures. Vitamin D deficiency can also be a major cause of ASD-like symptoms in some children. (Ex: irritability, inappropriate speech, hyperactivity and social withdrawal) In extreme cases, there may be episodes of seizure. In newborn babies, head sweating is one of the early signs of vitamin D deficiency. Why is it so difficult to increase Vitamin D levels? 1. Most countries have harsh winters. Getting exposed to the sun daily becomes difficult. 2. They end up staying indoors. Since the child finds it difficult to stay calm in crowded environments. 3. Melatonin (a pigment) is required to protect our skin from sunlight or UV rays. these rays are required to activate vitamin D. 4. Your child may not get sufficient time under sunlight for many reasons. 5. Wearing a full-sleeved shirt and full pants decreases the area of skin exposed to sunlight. 6. Use of sunscreens can prevent UV rays from being absorbed by the skin. 7. Vegetarian sources in your diet contain vitamin D2, an inactive form which gets activated when the skin is exposed to sunlight. This means that even if your child has enough vitamin D in the blood, it is in an inactive form. The solution to increasing vitamin D levels in the blood 1. Understanding your child’s requirements per day and the chance of vitamin D deficiency. 2. Increase your child’s time to sun exposure and minimal clothing increases skin exposure to sunlight. 3. It is advised to supplement your child with vitamin D syrup/tablet during winter. Hence, speak to your pediatric dietitian about your child’s requirements and doses. 4. Adding oil or ghee can increase the absorption of vitamin D since it is a fat-soluble vitamin. To conclude: Sunlight is the main source of vitamin D. Make sure you follow all the tips mentioned in this article to help increase enough absorption of sunlight. Sending your child to play out can be a huge game changer. It is also important to increase vitamin D-rich foods in the diet. You can start your child on supplementation only if there is a deficiency or during winter. If your child has any gut-related issues, allergies, intolerance, behavioural issues like hyperactivity, attention deficit issues, difficulty in maintaining eye contact, speech delay or any other ASD-related symptoms. You can contact the admin to book an appointment for a diet consultation. #ChildrenwithASD #hyperactivity #VitaminDdeficiency