Jacob and Hannah’s first son looked as healthy as any baby boy, but when he started growing, the new parents noticed he didn’t respond every time they called him. And he played with the sit-to-stand walker for hours…ignoring them when it was time for dinner or bed. They decided to have him evaluated, and when the diagnosis came back, it …
The Challenges of Autism
When Temple Grandin was two years old, she was diagnosed with brain damage; her parents were advised to institutionalize her. Instead, her mother arranged speech therapy and intensive developmental training. Now, more than 70 years later, she is a scientist with a PhD who advocates for humane treatment of livestock. Dr. Grandin is one of the first adults to publicly …
Preteens and Mental Health
“Mental health is the overall wellness of how you think, regulate your feelings and behave. A mental illness, or mental health disorder, is defined as patterns or changes in thinking, feeling or behaving that cause distress or disrupt a person’s ability to function.” (The Mayo Clinic) While the focus is often on teens and adults, preteens also experience mental health …
What It Feels Like to Live with Mental Illness
When someone has a broken leg, the evidence is visible. They have a cast, possibly crutches; people can witness their struggle with opening doors or navigating furniture. But when someone has a mental illness or disorder, the evidence may not be obvious—if others can see it at all. And no can see “inside” the struggle of trying to navigate a …
Early Mental Health Evaluation: Diagnosing Childhood Mental Health Disorders
Early mental health evaluation in children can be challenging for many reasons—primarily because children may not be able to express themselves clearly. Their vocabulary is somewhat limited. Also, their feelings, emotions and understanding of themselves is evolving. Their cognitive and social skills are not fully developed. Because of these limitations, it is vital that parents and primary caregivers understand the …
Autism’s Associated Mental Health Conditions
There’s More to Autism than Meets the Eye The following information on autism and its accompanying medical and mental health issues is not meant to diagnose or replace the care of a trained and licensed healthcare professional. This is not meant to be used in place of a personal consultation. There are a number of medical and mental health issues …