A new tool for the Autistic!

When it comes to the treatment of autism, early intervention is key—yet African-American children are typically diagnosed two years later than Caucasian children. Now here’s some better news: Interactive Metronome is a health program shown to improve the brain functions of people with autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, According to a 2011 study published in The American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

 

Interactive Metronome

As diagnoses of Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD, and ADD are on the rise in the clinical setting, many parents are struggling to understand these conditions, and simultaneously searching for tools to provide their children with the best possible future.

Computer program benefits a variety of young patients

 

Nicole Dye-Anderson credits roller-skating lessons with alleviating her daughter's ADHD symptoms. It was Jenna's skating coach who noticed the 11-year-old seemed to prefer her left side over her right. She suggested physical therapy to improve Jenna's balance.

That's how Jenna wound up at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children using the Interactive Metronome, a computer-based rhythm program that uses simultaneous sound and images to help with the brain's processing, specifically when it comes to attention, motor planning and sequencing. Computer program benefits a variety of young patients

 

 

There has been more than one occasion when behavioral issues really impact the outcome of our IM sessions and the changes that can take place. Sometimes honestly the kids just aren’t interested in what you want them to do, and they want to do it their own way. Sometimes there are behavioral issues that have become intertwined in their environment, and they need a fresh start. This can definitely have an impact on the effectiveness of your IM sessions, and what progress you see both in the clinic, and in their other environments.

 

"Youngster with learning disabilities turns things around with the Interactive Metronome"

One could say that Adam Solomon is an overachiever.

The 11-year-old Valencia resident is a Boy Scout, plays clarinet, has a blue belt in karate and likes to learn new languages for fun.

“I want to be a scientist or doctor someday. I think I’ll do it. Nothing gets in my way,” Adam said.

Such confidence and ability is impressive in any child. In Adam’s case, it’s truly remarkable.

Up until the third grade, Adam was in special-needs classes, unable to learn or make friends, the result of two bouts with Kawasaki syndrome.

 

 

Featured in “The Creativity Post” Educational Psychologist Dr. Kevin McGrew, or as we sometimes refer to him, “The Time Doc”, gets national recognition for his work beyond IQ testing

Dr. McGrew’s is the Research and Science Director for Interactive Metronome and regularly blogs about his mental timing theories on the Brain Clock Blog.  

Congrats on your recognition Dr. McGrew. You deserve it!

"I get all A’s now and I can hear the television when I’m two rooms away!"

The school day was over, but in a classroom tucked away at a far end of Rio Real Elementary School in Oxnard, CA, a group of 10 students were just getting started. Many of them were hovering around two rows of computers being set up with cables connected to a white box, strange-looking hand sensors and mats. At least, they were strange-looking to me. These kids, ages 7 and 8, were part of the Boys and Girls Club Hardy Brain Camp Training Program, and this was their last day of 20 training sessions. An animated little girl named Naveah greeted me and quickly launched into an explanation of what was going on.

"It’s like a game," Naveah told me. "You hear a sound and you clap and then it tells you how close you get." She’s talking about the Interactive Metronome computer program that generates a beat through a set of headphones. Users are connected to the computer with wires attached to hand sensors that capture the exact moment their hands clap to the beat. Floor mats are also wired to the program for another section that requires users to step to the beat. 

 

New Year’s Resolutions!

Well 2011 has gone by, and now we have a whole fresh 2012 ahead of us! This is the time of year when we all make New Year’s resolutions to get healthier and fit. I think that it’s time that we include some brain fitness! Let’s face it; no one is getting any younger! There are many programs out there promising improved brain fitness and memory, but which one should we use? IM or IM-Home could be a good match for you. It has the research and case studies to back it up and has been around for many years now!

 

Interactive Metronome Hits the Right Beat

Three and a half years ago, Diane Solomon was at the end of her rope. Her son Adam was in second grade and nobody knew what was wrong with him. When Adam was 18 months old, he had been diagnosed with a rare childhood inflammatory disease called Kawasaki syndrome. After six months he improved, but he had sensitivities they later learned were sensory integration problems. When Adam was five, he became a one in two million kid and got Kawasaki syndrome a second time, this time ending up with a coronary aneurysm. When he recovered, he couldn’t hold a pencil for six months. Diane says they started him in school, but they soon realized something else was wrong.

 

When Brenda and Richard Davis talk about their 9-year-old son, Aaron, they find it impossible to hold back their tears.

A year ago, Aaron, who was diagnosed at age 5 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, had difficulty making eye contact and having a conversation. He couldn’t follow directions and was lagging behind in school by several years.

That began to change last spring after the Davises heard about Interactive Metronome and decided to see if it would help their son. Interactive Metronome is a clinically proven computer-based assessment and treatment tool that has helped children with developmental challenges improve their cognitive, behavioral, social and motor skills.

“We had resigned ourselves that he would live with us and not hold a job or go to college,” Brenda said, as tears spilled down her cheek. “Now, he’s going to go to college, and he’s going to be successful.”

“The simple fact that I can stick with a task until it is complete is a major break through for me!”

Mariko, Yamamoto is a college age student and has come a long way after going through the Interactive Metronome^® program at IMprove in Okinawa, Japan. Mariko ’s inability to concentrate, her short attention span, and hyperactive behavior were taking a toll on her academic and daily life. One of Mariko ’s biggest problems was her inability to organize her tasks, like cleaning her room. She would never know where to begin cleaning and after hours of shuffling things around she would have to resort to calling her mother to help her get things put away correctly. She also found herself struggling with note taking during her classes and found activities, such as eating meals and washing dishes boring. She would often loose track of her original task and lose valuable study time.

IM is now used by therapists at TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehab Hospital, named one of America’s Top 10 Rehab Hospitals. You may recall TIRR in the news recently as the hospital that treated Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after her traumatic brain injury. We are pleased that therapists at TIRR have chosen to add IM to their treatment tools as they lead the way in advanced rehabilitation.

This is one of our most AMAZING success stories involving a TBI patient

Kelly Buggle suffered a TBI from a car accident when she was a senior in high school. Her injuries included upper body trauma, fracture of both arms, broken vertebrates, cracked ribs, and the list went on. Because Kelly had so many physical injuries her TBI went unnoticed at first. Once Kelly recovered physically he family and friends started to notice that she couldn’t identify simple objects like a “microwave.” Prior to the accident Kelly was at the top of her math class and afterwards she couldn’t even do simple addition.  In addition she couldn’t comprehend what others were saying to her and felt hopeless...watch her video testimonial...
 

 

These safety rules for ADHD children may seem obvious, but we find that reminders seldom hurt -- especially for caregivers who don't live every day with attention deficit and hyperactivity.

A parent or older sibling must always supervise free play.

Stop his jumping or running sooner than you might with another child.

When outside, hold hands.

When out for a stroll, walk on the side that's closer to the street.

Be ready to stop a child with your actions, not words, should he happen to dart off.

Hold hands in stores or malls, or place the child in a wagon or cart with a seat belt.

 

Article Published on Additude magazine.

Link between ADHD and body clock established



A link has now been established between ADHD & timing. Genes that control circadian rhythm do not function properly in ADHD adults, which also may explain why these individual have poor sleep patterns and suffer from depression. Theoretically if they are put back “on time” symptoms would improve. IM (Link to IM-Home) is the only measurable therapeutic device that works on timing in the brain.

To read the full article visit- http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/health/2011/1206/1224308615407.html



For more insight on timing visit The Time Doc’s Brain Clock Blog.

Major League Success with APD

Major league Lacrosse’s Most Valuable player from 2011, Paul Rabil, has a condition called auditory processing disorder or APD. Like many others with a learning disability, Paul doesn’t consider his condition a “disability”. He treats APD as a driver for determination and success.

 

Smoking makes you fog up your memory!

We have all heard of the dangerous effects to our health from smoking cigarettes, the habit causes different types of cancers, emphysema, gum disease, digestive, nervous, and cardiovascular problems, the list goes on and on. To add to the dangers of smoking is Alzheimer’s disease, since smoking causes narrowing of blood vessels it could contribute to vascular dementia by depriving brain cells of oxygen.

Teenage autism and social Isolation

Hanging out with friends after school is a big part of a teenager’s life and is crucial for developing people and communication skills. For those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), social activity is very rare, especially after school and out of the family circle. This is something that has kept Professor Paul Shattuck of Washington University in St. Louis busy for many years; he says that limited or absent peer relationships can negatively influence health and mental health, especially during this difficult age.

 

Men more prone to ADHD than Women? Think again!

While more boys than girls are treated for ADHD, a new report shows that among adults the numbers have flipped, this suggests that a great number of girls are growing up untreated and only during adulthood they finally get treated. According to Dr. L. Adler, director of the Psychiatry and Neurology adult ADHD program at New York University School of Medicine, boys tend to exhibit the “H” for hyperactivity in ADHD more often than girls, so they get diagnosed earlier. Girls on the other hand grow up exhibiting laziness or lack of motivation in school, but by adulthood the attention deficit component of ADHD becomes more prominent and they tend to struggle with jobs, paying bills, and managing daily tasks.

 

Holiday season, fun and games for some and overstimulation for others…

The holiday season is here and is packed with a frenzy of a million things to do like: gift-wrappings, relatives coming to town, meal preparations, and chaotic shopping. If you feel overwhelmed from this then imagine the potential effects on your child. Many parents of children with ADHD or Autism may be somewhat used to dealing with the effects of overstimulation. Under the right circumstances any child can be over stimulated.  Here at Interactive Metronome^® we want to wish you the best holiday season ever, and in order to facilitate that we have gathered some tips that could help you deal with overstimulation.