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. […]

Many years ago, starting out as a School Psychologist, I came across a Principal who had established a ritual; he would meet with his teachers every morning to review the day’s events and, at the conclusion of the meeting, he would huddle the teachers together and lead a chant "softer and closer" repeated four to […]

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 […]

The Study Pediatrics (2009, November) compared traditional early intervention approaches commonly offered in the community (S/L, OT, Specialized Preschool) to the more intensive Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) based in applied behavioral analysis. Who was assessed? Forty-eight children diagnosed within the autism spectrum, between 18-30 months of age, were randomly assigned into one of the […]

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 The Essential Ingredients -Start with a fun-loving, intelligent, inquisitive child who wants nothing more than to please his or her parents. -Add-in a demanding, critical parent. -Keep adding the parental demands and expectations. -Add only a pinch of some subdued praise, and praise only for the highest of achievements. -Add […]

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 […]