In time for holidays, I have a gift  recommendation for yourself, or for any any family you know that has a loved one diagnosed with dementia.  The Past is Now My Future by Lanny D. Butler, MS, OTR and Kari K. Brizendine, PT is an excellent resource for professionals, caretakers, and persons with dementia diagnosed in the early stages. ...

Last week, Sam asked a great question: if I could give one single word that best describes what autism is or how it feels to have autism, what would it be? That single word is anxiety. This week, I want to give you some techniques to use with people with autism to ease that high anxiety level they suffer. And I do mean suffer. Anxiety ...

I have heard parents say this many times when we discuss the eating habits of their ''picky eater:'' ''Hes/she used to eat (preferred food), but not anymore! Now I can barely get them to eat or try anything new. He/she eats the same things over and over.'' Our family has been dealing with this at home with our two-year-old picky eater. ...

This time of year, especially in the Northeast, it can seem like everyone is struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder, including our students. It's cold, it's dark, and the smallest thing can set us off! As SLPs, we can be good counselors to our students and encourage positive self-talk for all sorts of occasions.  Self-talk ...

I hope everyone has been enjoying a festive holiday season, and because I know we are all so busy with celebrations, family and friends as well as work, I am offering a very brief blog post this week. At recent holiday gatherings, I was asked about my work. Not surprisingly, more than one person shared the story of a loved one who now ...

Last year I wrote a post, a la Oprah, about my favorite (speech therapy) things! Since it is that time of year again, I am going to discuss one favorite, recycled item! In the clinic I do some work for over the summer, there is an amazing long, transparent tube. I cannot tell you how much I have coveted this tube and wanted to take it ...

Are you stressed because the holidays are upon us and your child is a picky eater? Is every meal a struggle and is it even worse when you are sitting with your in-laws and family friends and can feel the tension thicken in the air? Well, hang on! Here are some tips to help you prepare yourself and your child for mealtime challenges that lie ...

During the month of December we have been celebrating the holidays of Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa at our preschool. The holiday of Kwanzaa, like any holiday, embraces certain symbols that embody the message and purpose of the holiday. Here you can find a complete description of these symbols, one of which is corn. I decided to use ...

Dear parents, As a speech-language pathologist (SLP) at (name of school), I am aware how over-stimulating the holidays can be for children on the autism spectrum. This sensory overload can cause unexpected social and emotional meltdowns. These meltdowns can be in public or in the privacy of your own home. Here is a list of some ...

  Typically, I don't use lite (free apps) for use in speech therapy. I find the in-app purchases and advertisements to be highly distracting and take away from learning. However, there are always exceptions and the Toca Hair Salon Christmas Gift is one of them. So here is an early Christmas gift from Toca Boca! How it works:  ...