Can you relate to this? You get into an argument with your spouse. You know your point is valid, but you’re having trouble getting your mate to acknowledge your viewpoint; instead, he just wants to “move on” and “forget about it.” So, he tries to change the subject but you’re left feeling unheard and misunderstood. […]

Grandmother receives a nasty letter You undoubtedly heard by now of the over-the-top, vicious and shameful letter a family in Canada received about their child who has autism. Apparently the neighbor was put-off by the child’s behavior and wrote a hate-filled letter of complaint that was full of insults and vitriol. Our Reaction Of course, […]

Written by Dr. John Carosso What was that all about? You remember the recent headline, based on a study from JAMA Pediatrics (August 12, 2013), claiming a link between induced and augmented labor and the child later receiving an autism-related special education services down the road. The study looked at birth records from ’90 to […]

Written by Dr. John Carosso “Natural” is better? I often hear from parents a preference for “natural” alternatives to their child’s emotional or behavioral issues. Examples include Omega III and tyrosine for ADHD, melatonin for sleep, valerian for anxiety. The idea is that these supplements are naturally occurring substances and not artificially manufactured by pharmaceutical […]

Written by Dr. Robert Lowenstein, M.D. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) The AAP provides guidelines to pediatric specialists indicating that behavioral treatment should be tried first before prescribing medication and, when prescribing, methylphenidate (Ritalin/Concerta) should be used first. However, the Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York surveyed 3000 physicians and found that the […]

Written by Dr. John Carosso Nothing to fear…? Y’ know, Franklin Delano Roosevelt may have been on to something. You see, anxiety is considered to be based in fear and, more often than not, there really is nothing to fear but the fear itself. Anxiety can manifest in worry, obsession, irrational fears (phobias), compulsive behavior, […]

Written by Dr. John Carosso Gotta like Tim McGraw All of you Tim McGraw fans know his song, Drugs or Jesus, where he sings: In my home town For anyone who sticks around You’re either lost or you’re found There’s not much in between In my home town Everything’s still black and white It’s a […]

Written by Dr. John Carosso Been saying for years... I’ve been espousing for years that children with mild autism can demonstrate substantial progress and, in a few years, no longer meet diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis. Now some back-up New research findings in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry looked at 34 children who […]

Written by Dr. John Carosso Get them talking, not hitting When hearing of toddlers and preschoolers becoming aggressive, the first question I ask is usually related to language; how well can the child communicate his or her frustration? It stands to reason that a child who has difficulty ‘using his words’ is more prone to […]

Written by Dr. Carosso New Years Tradition It’s a time-honored tradition to stay awake on New Year’s Eve to welcome the new year. However, now that New Years is over, it’s time to get our kids to sleep on-time, and ensure they stay asleep. A Common Problem Wish getting to sleep were that easy. Sleep […]