ADD & The Montessori Method
I have a daughter with ADD. From K-2nd grade in public school she struggled to the point where almost no work was getting done at school and getting her to do any homework at night was almost impossible.
The school offered her very little help, 3 hours of resource per week, and we had to go through a year and half of meetings with administration to get that.
The teacher and administration continually pressured me to put her on ADD medication. I was against it but got desperate enough to try it. For the first couple of weeks, things were much better. Then, her personality started to change. She went from being sweet and mild mannered to having major mood swings with screaming, pushing, fighting & crying. We took her off the medication immediately and we will never use it again.
I felt like we were out of options with her. I had 6 weeks of school left but I felt like I couldn’t keep her in public school another day. The school was breathing down my neck constantly trying to get me to put her back on medication.
I called a private Montessori school in the area and talked to the owner about my situation. She said she wasn’t sure how she would do at her school but said that we could try it for a day and see how she did.
To my surprise, my daughter did REALLY well. The teachers said that she seemed to have a little trouble paying attention, but not anything major. I was just happy to get her in a lower stress situation and to get the public school off my back about giving her medication. So, I put her in the Montessori school for the last 6 weeks of school.
My daughter is in the same Montessori program this year as well. She is now in her 8th week of school so far this school year. So, she has had a total of 14 weeks of Montessori education and I have to say that I am stunned at what it has done for her.
My daughter is like a different student now. I cannot believe how much work she has produced in the 14 weeks she has been at the school. She has produced stacks and stacks of writing assignments. She went from not being able to do any homework at all to being able to sit down at night and complete all of her homework by herself. She went from not even being able to complete tests to being the first student finished and she is getting A’s on those tests. This work isn’t any easier than the work she was doing before. She is now showing a lot of interest in science and other subjects. She is enjoying school now. She is like a completely different student.
All of these results were without medication. I have talked to the teachers at the school to see what they are doing different from public schools that might be helping her so much. The only things I can tell that are making such a big difference are:
Hands on Learning – The Montessori method has a lot of hands on activities. They use a lot of manipulatives with their curriculum.
Flexibility in Time – The Montessori daily structure is much more relaxed with more flexibility to work on projects and activities longer. They said that the kids have almost 2 hours to keep working on an activity whereas in public school, they can be changing tracks as often as every 20 minutes. My daughter can take 20 minutes just to get going on an activity.
Smaller Class Size – My daughters class size is very small. She is able to get a lot of help from the teacher and there are fewer distractions in such a small class.
I am glad that we finally found a way for her to learn and be happy. I’m not exactly sure why it works but I’m glad it does. I’m interested to find out more about why it works.
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Symptoms of TMJ
TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint. It is a joint in your jaw that can sometimes develop problems. The name of this temporomandibular joint dysfunction is TMJ.
What Causes TMJ?
TMJ can be caused by overuse of the temporomandibular joint. Things that can cause clenching of teeth or tightening of the jaw are stress or anxiety. Tension in the jaw can cause TMJ.
TMJ can also be caused by a misalignment of the upper and lower joints. This can be caused by a car accident or natural occurrence Inflammation of that joint can also be caused by arthritis.
TMJ Symptoms:
Ear Pain
Frequent Headaches
A Locked Jaw
Clicking in the Jaw
Jaw, Cheek or Temple Soreness
Options for Treatment:
Find ways to eliminate habits that put pressure or stress on the jaw, like clenching teeth, chewing gum or tightening jaw muscles. Other treatment options are medication, dental treatment, and surgery.
The medication used is usually an over-the-counter pain reliever like Ibuprofen. For more severe pain, anti-inflammatory prescription medication can be an option. A dental appliance such as a biteplate can be an effective treatment for grinding teeth and clenched jaws.
As a last resort, surgery can be performed to repair or remove the disk between the jaw and the temporal bone. This option, however, is for extreme cases only and should only be pursued after all other options have been exhausted.
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Inattentive ADD / ADHD Treatment for a Child
As a mother of a daughter with ADD (inattentive type), I have tried many, many things to help her improve her attention deficit issues. I have spent thousands of dollars on supplements and alternative treatments. I have tried medication, which had side effects that were unbearable.
But, through research and experimenting, I have found a few things that are helping. Here are the things I have tried that worked:
Montessori School: I tested out a Montessori school for her, for a day. It was a miracle. She does SO much better with their learning techniques than in public school. In public school she was hardly able to do much work at all, but in the Montessori program she is thriving. She comes home happy every day and is able to complete work during school. She is learning well in math and writing. Whereas in the public school system she was having huge difficulties in those areas. The teachers have told me she has no real major attention issues at school, whereas in the public school, she was almost paralyzed by inattention problems.
Exercise: Exercise has been shown to help with ADD and ADHD because it improves attention and matures the brain. I have seen how 20-30 minutes of exercise for my daughter before school helps her stay more alert and better able to focus. Although, it does take a daily exercise routine for over a week before I start to see results.
A Full Nights Sleep: No matter what I do, if she is short on sleep it’s nearly impossible for her to concentrate on homework or chores. She needs more sleep than my other kids. 11 hours a night is optimal and she is 8 years old.
Good Nutrition: General good nutrition is a must. Sugar makes her distractibility much worse. I have read by Dr. Daniel Amen who specializes in helping kids with ADD, that a high protein diet is best. I haven’t tried that yet though.
Must Be Alone: In order for my daughter to be able to read or do homework or anything else that requires focus, she must be alone in a space with very few distractions. If anyone even comes into the room, her focus is ruined.
Classical Music: I have seen some of the best results from playing classical music both while she’s working and at odd times during the day. I noticed results after 1 or 2 days of playing classical music for her. She really likes it too and I think it helps her to think more clearly. My husband who also has ADD has noticed major improvement from listening to classical music regularly. He says it helps him think more clearly about things he needs to do and helps him focus.
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Ovarian Cysts – Signs and Symptoms
Ovarian cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs on the ovaries, affect many women. The cysts are sometimes painful and can have different forms some more severe than others.
The functional cyst is the most common found cyst on the ovaries. It forms during the menstrual cycle. When these cysts form, they hold the eggs. Each month then the sac breaks open, the egg is released. After this happens, the sac dissolves.
Sometimes a sac will not break. This is called a follicular cyst. It may continue to grow for up to three months and then disappear. Sometimes the cysts can continue to grow and cause twisting of the ovary and pain. Prescription drugs such as Clomid can raise the risk of developing ovarian cysts.
There are other types of ovarian cysts. These include endometriomas, which often affects women who suffer from endometriosis, cystadenomas, where cysts grow on the outer surface of the ovary, dermoid cysts where cells in the ovary produce growing tissue, and polycystic ovaries.
Many women who have functional cysts do not experience any pain. However, many women do. Symptoms of ovarian cysts include vomiting, severe abdominal pain, aches in the lower thighs and back, urinary difficulties, pain during intercourse, weight gain, abnormal menstrual cycles, including heavy bleeding and breast tenderness.
Ovarian cysts cannot be prevented, but the good news is that ovarian cysts rarely indicate cancer. Ovarian cysts are often found during pelvic exams or during ultrasounds. Treatment varies from taking prescriptions such as birth control pills to prevent ovulating to surgery to remove the cyst.
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Gestational Diabetes in Pregnancy
Gestational diabetes is normally a temporary medical condition during the last half of pregnancy that affects pregnant women and their unborn child. Doctors regularly test women around the 28th week of pregnancy to look for signs of gestational diabetes. It is estimated that 4% of all pregnant women in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes each year.
Often women who have never experienced pre-pregnancy diabetes will have gestational diabetes. While not completely understood, it is known that high blood sugar or glucose levels cause gestational diabetes. Hormones in the placenta may help block insulin in the body causing the high glucose levels.
The good news about gestational diabetes is that with proper diet and exercise, it can be treated and not harm the baby. Treatment also lowers the risk of cesarean section births that large babies often require. If left untreated, though, gestational diabetes can be potentially harmful to both the mother and child.
Untreated gestational diabetes can cause extra glucose to pass through the placenta to the baby. This results in giving the baby high blood sugar. Babies can be born with respiratory problems and this can also lead to heavier weight babies. Babies born with excess insulin from gestational diabetes can run the risk of obesity and are at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Gestational diabetes usually disappears after the pregnancy. However, some women may develop Type 2 diabetes later in life. Sometimes this can be prevented with lifestyle changes such as a healthier diet and regular exercise.
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Diabetes: A Treatable Disease
Approximately 7% of all Americans are affected by Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes affects people of all ages and from all walks of life. Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, most commonly affects children, while Type 2 is the most common form in adults.
Left untreated, either form of diabetes can result in heart disease, blindness, nerve damage and kidney damage. It is important to seek regular treatment and medical care if diagnosed with either type of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is the form of diabetes where the body does not produce enough insulin. Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Usually in Type 1, the body fails to produce insulin at all. It is necessary to inject the body on a regular basis, as prescribed by a doctor, with insulin.
The most commonly diagnosed form of diabetes is Type 2. The body either does not produce enough insulin to properly process sugar or the cells in the body ignore the insulin. When there is too much glucose in the blood stream, it can cause serious health problems such as damage to the eyes, heart, liver or kidneys.
While Type 1 diabetics almost always needs to take insulin, some cases of Type 2 can be treated with regular exercise and a healthy diet to reduce weight. If those treatments fail, insulin is often prescribed to the patient.
Medical treatment is essential for diabetics. With proper medical attention and regular care, diabetics can live long, healthy lives if treated properly.
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Sitting Properly at the Computer
If you work at the computer for many hours every day, you are no doubt aware of the strain that sitting at the computer can place on your back. This is why it is so important that your workstation layout be designed properly.Workstation Setup
The workstation setup should match the size of your body. This means that you want to pay attention to the height of your chair and work surfaces, the height of your monitor, and the distance from your chair to your monitor. It is also important that your chair offers sufficient support. According to experts, when you sit, your thighs should be horizontal with your knees and your feet should be flat on the floor. Experts also suggest that chairs should support your forearms and that there should be at least a 2-3 finger breath-space between the seat cushion and the back of your knees. Chairs on wheels are preferable too.
For the desk, the work surface should be at elbow level when you are seated and there should be enough room for your knees and thighs to comfortably fit underneath the desktop.
The keyboard needs to be centered in front of your body and your wrists should be straight when you are typing. Your elbows should be perpendicular to the floor.
For the monitor, try to position it between 20 to 26 inches away with the top of the viewing screen set at eye level so you don’t have to look up to see it.
Of course, proper posture, frequent breaks and stretching are equally important for minimizing the aches and pains you may suffer, but a proper workstation layout will go along way toward keeping them at bay and reducing the strain on your back.
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Keep Your Child From Getting Cavities
As parents, one of our primary responsibilities is keeping our children healthy, and part of doing this is proper and regular dental care. Proper and regular dental care will help promote healthier teeth and fewer cavities – and cavities are one thing that neither you nor your child want.To help prevent cavities, the American Dental Association recommends the following tips:
Brush Regularly: Make sure your child brushes at least twice a day (three times a day is even better). The best times to brush are after a meal and before going to bed.
Clean between Teeth: Help your child clean between her teeth by flossing or by using interdental cleaners such as Oral B’s Interdental Brush.
Eat Healthfully: Make sure your child receives nutritious and balanced meals and don’t allow him excessive amounts of sweets or snacks. Foods that are high in carbohydrates such as, chips, pretzels and candy, tend to accumulate on the tooth surface contributing toward tooth decay. Make sure your child brushes his teeth after eating sticky or chewy foods such as caramel, taffy or gummy bears.
Sufficient Fluoride: Healthy teeth require sufficient fluoride. Not all tap water is fluoridated and if you are using a filter, chances are the fluoride is being filtered out. At the same time, too much fluoride can cause teeth to stain so check with your dentist about proper fluoride levels for your child and fluoride supplements.
Regular Dental Visits: Make sure your child’s visits to the dentist are timely and regular. Children require professional cleaning and oral examinations just as adults do. Get your child used to dental visits at an early age, and as soon as possible, encourage your child to take an active role in the care of his teeth.
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