Comments for Horizons Developmental Resource Center http://www.horizonsdrc.com Evaluation and Treatment of Autism, Aspergers, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Sensory Processing Disorder, Behavior Disorders Fri, 11 May 2012 13:36:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on The Gut and Nutrition by Vicki http://www.horizonsdrc.com/articles/the-gut-and-nutrition-3/comment-page-1#comment-2431 Vicki Fri, 11 May 2012 13:36:57 +0000 http://www.horizonsdrc.com/?p=7781#comment-2431 My adult daughter has autism and is non-verbal - her cues to reactions to food are: her fists are clenched tightly, her body is very stiff, some foods such as tomatoes make her agitated and pacing. Other symptoms as a reaction to dairy and citrus are constipation, runny nose. Her reaction to too much salt is seizures and sweaty palms. I found it best to keep a detailed daily diary and then you will start to see patterns in food and behavior. I have not figured it all out yet, but the gluten free diet made her more relaxed and her body was less tense, more regular bowel movements. Recently we eliminated all sources of msg (including citric acid, natural flavorings, dextrose) we also noticed a reaction to annatto. Now she is verbalizing a bit more, less sleepy, more coordinated (less tripping over her feet, improvement in using the stairs). Any help or encouragement I can offer? My adult daughter has autism and is non-verbal – her cues to reactions to food are: her fists are clenched tightly, her body is very stiff, some foods such as tomatoes make her agitated and pacing. Other symptoms as a reaction to dairy and citrus are constipation, runny nose. Her reaction to too much salt is seizures and sweaty palms. I found it best to keep a detailed daily diary and then you will start to see patterns in food and behavior.

I have not figured it all out yet, but the gluten free diet made her more relaxed and her body was less tense, more regular bowel movements.

Recently we eliminated all sources of msg (including citric acid, natural flavorings, dextrose) we also noticed a reaction to annatto. Now she is verbalizing a bit more, less sleepy, more coordinated (less tripping over her feet, improvement in using the stairs).
Any help or encouragement I can offer?

]]> Comment on The Gut and Nutrition by Erin Roon, MA CCC-SLP http://www.horizonsdrc.com/articles/the-gut-and-nutrition-3/comment-page-1#comment-2430 Erin Roon, MA CCC-SLP Thu, 10 May 2012 14:00:59 +0000 http://www.horizonsdrc.com/?p=7781#comment-2430 Jen, Specific behaviors that would lead me to believe that a child was experiencing gut issues might be things such as pressing on the stomach or abdominal area. Sitting in such a way as to create pressure on the gut/intestines. Sleeping curled up or doubled over. Other behaviors that could indicate gut difficulties could be irritability, toe walking, food refusal, self injury, and/or hurting others or things. These are just some of the possible behaviors. Food sensitivities can also result in some of the previous behaviors, but could also be indicated in hyper or giddy behavior, excessive laughing, crying, sudden onset of irritability, seeming dazed or hyper focused. Behavior can look different in each individual and these behaviors could be caused by something other than food related issues, but there are times when it is difficult to determine the cause of the behavior and so looking into food issues is one path to follow. Erin Jen,

Specific behaviors that would lead me to believe that a child was experiencing gut issues might be things such as pressing on the stomach or abdominal area. Sitting in such a way as to create pressure on the gut/intestines. Sleeping curled up or doubled over. Other behaviors that could indicate gut difficulties could be irritability, toe walking, food refusal, self injury, and/or hurting others or things. These are just some of the possible behaviors. Food sensitivities can also result in some of the previous behaviors, but could also be indicated in hyper or giddy behavior, excessive laughing, crying, sudden onset of irritability, seeming dazed or hyper focused. Behavior can look different in each individual and these behaviors could be caused by something other than food related issues, but there are times when it is difficult to determine the cause of the behavior and so looking into food issues is one path to follow.

Erin

]]> Comment on The Gut and Nutrition by Jen http://www.horizonsdrc.com/articles/the-gut-and-nutrition-3/comment-page-1#comment-2429 Jen Thu, 10 May 2012 02:42:21 +0000 http://www.horizonsdrc.com/?p=7781#comment-2429 Can you elaborate on what behaviors you look for that may indicate gut issues or food sensitivities? Can you elaborate on what behaviors you look for that may indicate gut issues or food sensitivities?

]]> Comment on Go With Your Gut: Five Tips for Parents Making School-Related Decisions by Nicole Beurkens, PhD http://www.horizonsdrc.com/blog/go-with-your-gut-five-tips-for-parents-making-school-related-decisions/comment-page-1#comment-2425 Nicole Beurkens, PhD Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:34:01 +0000 http://www.horizonsdrc.com/?p=7634#comment-2425 You are most welcome Katie. Good luck with planning for next year! You are most welcome Katie. Good luck with planning for next year!

]]> Comment on Go With Your Gut: Five Tips for Parents Making School-Related Decisions by katie http://www.horizonsdrc.com/blog/go-with-your-gut-five-tips-for-parents-making-school-related-decisions/comment-page-1#comment-2424 katie Sun, 29 Apr 2012 03:26:10 +0000 http://www.horizonsdrc.com/?p=7634#comment-2424 I REALLY appreciate this reminder, and will hold it close as I plan the next school year for my daughter. Thank You. I REALLY appreciate this reminder, and will hold it close as I plan the next school year for my daughter. Thank You.

]]> Comment on It’s the Simple Things! by Erin Roon, MA CCC-SLP http://www.horizonsdrc.com/blog/its-the-simple-things/comment-page-1#comment-2423 Erin Roon, MA CCC-SLP Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:56:49 +0000 http://www.horizonsdrc.com/?p=7760#comment-2423 Yes, Pamela they are true for everyone. I love it as well! Erin Yes, Pamela they are true for everyone. I love it as well!

Erin

]]> Comment on It’s the Simple Things! by Pamela Foster http://www.horizonsdrc.com/blog/its-the-simple-things/comment-page-1#comment-2422 Pamela Foster Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:03:08 +0000 http://www.horizonsdrc.com/?p=7760#comment-2422 These ideas are true for all persons, and I am now doing that with my grandkids. THEY LOVE IT! Ok, so do I. These ideas are true for all persons, and I am now doing that with my grandkids. THEY LOVE IT! Ok, so do I.

]]> Comment on Ask the Horizons Team: Shoe Tying Struggles by Nicole Beurkens, PhD http://www.horizonsdrc.com/blog/ask-the-horizons-team-shoe-tying-struggles/comment-page-1#comment-2421 Nicole Beurkens, PhD Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:43:47 +0000 http://www.horizonsdrc.com/?p=7757#comment-2421 You are so welcome Joanna! I hope they work out really well for your students. We have loved using them with our clients! -Nicole You are so welcome Joanna! I hope they work out really well for your students. We have loved using them with our clients!
-Nicole

]]> Comment on Ask the Horizons Team: Shoe Tying Struggles by Joanna Martin Menolasino http://www.horizonsdrc.com/blog/ask-the-horizons-team-shoe-tying-struggles/comment-page-1#comment-2420 Joanna Martin Menolasino Tue, 24 Apr 2012 02:39:32 +0000 http://www.horizonsdrc.com/?p=7757#comment-2420 Thanks for sharing the locklaces site. I work as a preschool intervention specialist and shoe tying is quite a challenge for many of my older students but also a skill that many of my families identify as important. I am not a fan of Velcro as I hate the sound it makes but these laces may be the perfect compromise. I can't wait to share the site with the school OT tomorrow. Thanks for sharing the locklaces site. I work as a preschool intervention specialist and shoe tying is quite a challenge for many of my older students but also a skill that many of my families identify as important. I am not a fan of Velcro as I hate the sound it makes but these laces may be the perfect compromise. I can’t wait to share the site with the school OT tomorrow.

]]> Comment on Ask the Horizons Team: Shoe Tying Struggles by Nicole Beurkens, PhD http://www.horizonsdrc.com/blog/ask-the-horizons-team-shoe-tying-struggles/comment-page-1#comment-2418 Nicole Beurkens, PhD Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:34:26 +0000 http://www.horizonsdrc.com/?p=7757#comment-2418 Hi Susan, Yes, there are many different approaches to use for actually tying ones shoe laces. If you wait until the child is developmentally ready to tackle the task, then there are lots of different approaches that can be successfully used. Thanks for commenting! Nicole Hi Susan,
Yes, there are many different approaches to use for actually tying ones shoe laces. If you wait until the child is developmentally ready to tackle the task, then there are lots of different approaches that can be successfully used.
Thanks for commenting!
Nicole

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