Autism is but one part of my son’s soul

Conditions and Diseases
December 21, 2011

Conversation with my lovable eight year old boy with autism.

Me: Do you have autism?

David: Yeah. (Pause.) I want some milk.

Me: What do you like to play with?

David: Calvin

Me: Calvin is coming over today. He comes to see your sister. (David never plays with Calvin but does say hi to him).

Me: Do you like school?

David: Yeah

What do you do at school?

No answer

Me: Do you like to run marathons?

David: Yeah (Pretty sure …

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Autism is but one part of my son’s soul

Tips to care for your child with extra medical or behavioral needs

Conditions and Diseases
August 15, 2011

Lately when I ask my son to make a choice or do anything he considers difficult, he says, “Bus number twenty three.  Number twenty three.  Bus number seventy nine.  Number seventy nine.”

He memorized not only the words but the exact cadence of how buses are announced at his school and recites this script instead of screaming.  If you know David, this avoidance tactic is creative, a little annoying, and downright …

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Tips to care for your child with extra medical or behavioral needs

Biting in children is a sign of normal social experimentation

Conditions and Diseases
May 27, 2011

I love to pick up my two year old from daycare. Her language is becoming increasingly complex with small sentences, lots of gesturing and expression. When I ask how school was, she says, “Miss you. I crying.” Or, “I running fast with friends.” Or sometimes a confident, “good,” with a head nod.

Yesterday, she said, “friend, bite me.”

Her very kind teacher confirmed the event, and asked my daughter to show me …

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Biting in children is a sign of normal social experimentation

How to help autistic or delayed children behave and learn

Conditions and Diseases
March 14, 2011

Here are ways doctors can help autistic or delayed children behave and learn.

I certainly do not mean to trivialize the behavior issues that erupt as typical children develop, but the problems of atypical kids are more difficult and less likely to be fully addressed by general pediatricians and society at large.

1.  Understand the ABCs of behavior. Antecedent = What happened immediately before the behavior?  Behavior = A description of the …

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How to help autistic or delayed children behave and learn

5 reasons doctors should love the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act

Health Policy
January 11, 2011

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act provides increased funding beyond inflation for school meals for the first time in 30 years and addresses both food insecurity and obesity in children.  Here are the details:

1.  Growing bodies and brains need good nutrition, the best medicine for our patients.  Children at or below 185% of the poverty level qualify for free or reduced cost meals.  Although children compose only 25% of …

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5 reasons doctors should love the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act