Much of my work here at the ApaCenter consists of helping students and their families cope with learning disabilities at school and at home. I conduct assessments to diagnose learning disabilities and provide a picture of a student’s strengths and weaknesses, I give recommendations for helping the student be more successful in school, and I …Read More
Say Om…and Improve your Attention
Mar 30, 2012
In a previous blog, I discussed executive functioning deficits with ADHD, specifically how these affect impulsivity, working memory, attention, and organization. It is also known that stress interferes with executive function and emotional regulation. It turns out that there are many exploratory studies on the benefits of meditation and relaxation. It is a common means of …Read More
Learned Helplessness
Mar 16, 2012
In my work with children, teens, families, and schools, I often observe the phenomena of learned helplessness. Learned helplessness is when a child loses the confidence that he can solve a problem or perform a task successfully on his own and becomes overly dependent on the assistance of adults. You can recognize the signs of …Read More
Taming the Beast of ADHD
Aug 10, 2011
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a developmental disorder of self-control. It consists of problems with attention span, impulsive control, and activity level. Although the behaviors are the first symptoms that we see, it is important to understand what is going on in the brain in order to treat these symptoms. By definition, individuals experiencing ADHD …Read More
Motivation for College
Jul 3, 2011
I’ve spent a few blog entries providing parents and teachers with tips to help improve their children and students’ academic motivation. Lately, I’ve spoken with several adults and college students that would like to find ways to increase their own motivation. In the most basic sense, being motivated means wanting something and being willing to …Read More
Creating a Distraction-Free Environment
Apr 27, 2011
We at the ApaCenter often encourage students to study in a quiet, distraction-free environment in order to maximize their attention and learning. When trying to establish the best setting for you or your child to study, it may be helpful to consider the following questions: *Are there a lot of visual distracters such as clutter, …Read More
Reading Comprehension Tips
Feb 15, 2011
People of all ages experience trouble with reading comprehension. Sometimes this is due to difficulty with time management when reading, difficulty conceptualizing the information, or difficulty with attention. In either case, following these three steps: preview read, and recall, may help you or your child comprehend and retain written material more effectively. Preview Before you …Read More
2011 Daily Planner
Dec 19, 2010
I decided to take some time to consider the most important advice that I would give someone as we approach the new year. I think that as January approaches, I would encourage everyone to buy a planner or calendar for the year 2011. I have worked with several individuals who have come to me with …Read More
ADHD Coaching
Nov 21, 2010
A recent study from Wayne State University was able to scientifically measure the benefits of ADHD coaching. The researchers presented their study at the international conference sponsored by the nonprofit organization, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, which is commonly known as CHADD. This conference is the leading forum for presenting the latest research …Read More
ADHD on the Rise Internationally
Oct 31, 2010
I’ve often heard the opinion that ADHD is an “American disease” and that parents and doctors in this country tend to excessively medicate children. I tend to agree that psychiatric drugs are overprescribed; however, this isn’t a purely American trend. A recent study in Deutsches Aerzteblatt International, a German scientific journal, found that the diagnosis …Read More