Yoga, Meditation and The Spark Program

Did you see Part II in Newsday on April 10th?  Yoga and meditation, surprise, surprise, are good for you!

Tina and I are big fans of both, and we try to take a yoga class whenever we can.  While I initially thought yoga was just about stretching, I have discovered it is far more.  It is about control -- control of your breath, control of your body, control of your mind.  Being focused, allowing your body to find the pose -- not forcing your body into a pose -- concentrating on your breath, finding a balance, being in the moment.

And, it's hard!  I work out a lot, and I run, and I think I'm in pretty good shape, but I'm looking at the clock after thirty minutes and wondering when my hour long class is going to end because I'm beat!

So, what's this have to do with the Spark Program?  Well, if you look at martial arts, yoga, meditation, etc., you discover common threads.  Common movements, common goals.  Look at OT, look at programs like Brain Gym, and you see what's been "borrowed" from each discipline.

And that's why we incorporate breathing, balance and movement exercises like those used in all of these disciplines directly into the Spark Development Program.  Of course, we adjust each exercise to the skill level of our students, but in the end, the results are the same.  And, that's why Spark Development works!

One in 88

The numbers just keep going up and up and up.

No sooner do we hear about a dramatic increase in the number of children diagnosed with ADHD, but the CDC now says that one (1) in eight-eight (88) children now have ASD.

We can continue to quibble about why there is such a staggering increase in these numbers, and exactly what is causing such disorders (of course, from past posts, you surely know where we stand on these issues), but what about turning our attention to how best to treat these disorders?

How about some research into the effectiveness of different therapies (other than just meds)?

How about some insurance coverage for such therapies?

We know for a fact, as do the parents we serve, that life for these children can be dramatically improved -- through, among other things, sensory work, cognitive work, behavior management, and diet and nutrition -- all healthy forms of interventions designed to work on skill deficits and biological issues associated with ASDs (including ADHD).

But, most of all, these kids and their families need acceptance.  We, as a society, undoubtedly have contributed to these problems.  Instead of trying to pin the blame on genetics or parental age or obesity (see next post), we seriously need to turn our attention to helping those affected.

A Passing

Thank you, Jan, for giving my children and me some of our very favorite stories.

"New" Research Indicates that Fish Oil May Be Beneficial To Mental Health

I'm sorry for sounding like a broken record, but, when i read an article like "Fish Oil's Mental Health Link,
" (Newsday 2/16/12 At A14), I have to wonder exactly how deeply buried in the sand are the heads of those in the "mainstream" science world.

"There is some preliminary data that suggests [fish oil] has success in treating a variety of psychiatric disorders, but we're just beginning to do a lot of the formal studies," states Dr. Barbara Cornblatt of the Feinstein Institute for the Medical Research.

Funny, the nutritionist that worked with Robert some fifteen (15) years ago knew all this.  And, what about the Lancet article that looked at the effect of essential fatty acids (fish oil) on cognitive development that was written in 1998?  Indeed, there are many article about the benefits of fish oil and mental health and abilities.

Indeed, if anyone is truly interested, I invite you to contact Tina Stevens, our nutrition consultant, at the center.

Spanking . . .

Oh, it's been a while!

Hi, everyone.  Sorry, it's been so long between blogs.  By way of explanation, I have been updating and editing my book about Robert.  It's finally finished.  I did submit it to an agent who said, and I quote, that the story was "remarkable and the material . . . compelling and very well done."  However, she passed on the project.  She felt that because I had neither a "platform" nor the ability to "publicize myself," she could not successfully place the book.

Sounds like a Catch-22 -- I can't be published unless I'm already famous or published. . . . 

So, right now, I'm cleaning the book up and getting it ready for self-publication.  It's got a tremendous amount of research in it, and I'd hate to see it go to waste.

Okay, so much for the update.

Did anyone catch the article entitled, "Spanking Linked to Mental Health?"  (Newsday, Feb. 7, 2012 at A38).  The Canadian Medical Association Journal concluded that "virtually without exception . . .  physical punishment was associated with higher levels of aggression against parents, siblings, peers and spouses."  The study also noted that anxiety, depression and drug and alcohol abuse also were linked to physical punishment.

I must admit, that when Robert was young, in desperation to control his behavior, he got spanked a couple of times.  Thankfully, we stopped this practice almost immediately.  Even though it was the way I was brought up (and I like to think I'm fairly well adjusted), and we were "doing it for his own good," there was just something so abhorrent about striking another person -- especially your own defenseless child -- that we couldn't do it.

So much for "spare the rod, spoil the child," huh?

Spark Halloween 2011

Another Smashing Halloween Party at Spark Development Centers!

Coffee and ADHD?

                        Did anyone catch Good Morning America today?  A mom, who suspects her son has ADHD (there’s been no formal diagnosis, but she stated that her son is very active and has trouble concentrating and finishing tasks. . . .) gives him two, four ounce cups of coffee, each day.  She says it calms him down and helps him to focus.

                        Well, according to GMA, this has the “Mommy Blogs buzzing” with many people questioning this mother’s actions.

                        Really??  You have got to be kidding me.  How can giving a child eight ounces of coffee a day (that’s just one cup) be controversial when giving a child a drug like Ritalin raises few, if any, concerns?

            Understand a couple of things.  First, Ritalin, and drugs like it such as Concerta and Adderall, are STIMULANTS designed to control impulsivity.  Thus, the caffeine in the coffee is most likely just acting in the same manner.  Indeed, the literature talks about many adults “self-medicating” with caffeine.

Second, and far more importantly, amphetamines like Ritalin, can have VERY serious side-effects.  Aside from the fact that Ritalin is in the same drug classification as cocaine (and, you can check this out), Ritalin, and drugs like it, have been associated with stroke, chromosome damage, and even death.  And, let’s not even mention the other psychotropic medications (including antidepressants) that often are prescribed for these kids.

New research points out the benefits of dietary changes and supplementation when it comes to treating disorders like ADHD.  Cut out the artificial sweeteners, the artificial colors, cut back on the sugar, and see what happens.  Look into supplementation, especially with essential fatty acids.  Talk to a nutritionist with experience in this field, and find out what a difference diet can make.  (Not the first time this was discussed:  http://sparkdevelopment.blogspot.com/2011/08/importance-of-nutrition.html).

Kudos to this mom for finding something far safer than heavily controlled, often abused, pharmaceutical concoctions to help her son.