Paula Tallal of the University of New Jersey didn’t believe it. She suspected the problem was because because the child couldn’t hear the sounds for which the letters stand, or be unable to process the sounds. She found they especially have trouble with the sounds of b,p,d, and g. All of these sounds fly off the tongue quickly, and disappear. In dyslexics, the auditory cortex literally cannot hear these sounds. The brains of dyslexics do not hear short phonemes. If the brain cannot hear sounds that take so little time, then trying to understand what the teacher explains about the sounds is a real dilemma. Bay will be mistaken for day, because all the kids hear is the a sound.

Mike Merzanich thought a brain unable to recognize rapid fire sounds must be physically different from one that does. So he and Tallal decided to collaborate. He had experimented on monkeys and shown that the auditory cortex could be remodeled. Why couldn’t kids brains be remodeled, too?

Using special software, the scientists synthesized phonemes that still sound like spoken English but stretched out the sound of b before the aa sound. To those with normal hearing it sounded like someone shouting under water. But to the dyslexic, scientists hoped it would sound like baa, a sound they had never heard before.

In 1994, seven dyslexic school children spent five mornings at Tallal’s lab, listening to tapes of stretched out speech. Point, boy, and girl were intoned so the consonant lasted many times longer than it does in normal speech. They also played computer games using processed speech at home. The taped stretched out sounds were gradually reduced to almost normal. The results were everything scientists had hoped for. After twenty to forty hours of training, all the children could distinguish fast phonemes correctly. All had advanced two years in language comprehension. Fast for Words, as the scientists called the program, was rewiring children’s brains. “You create your brain from the input you get.” said Paula Tallal.

If you would like to publish your own articles on triond and earn money, click on the link below.

http://www.triond.com/rw/6239

http://healthmad.com/conditions-and-diseases/hidden-inflammation/

http://healthmad.com/healthcare-industry/making-a-diagnosis/

http://healthmad.com/fitness/fir-bodies-for-men/

http://healthmad.com/fitness/weight-training-turns-fat-into-muscle/

http://healthmad.com/health/prevent-muscle-soreness-and-injury/

First of these points being electric versus manual and the cost associated.

Electric wheelchairs are much easier on the arms. If the user chooses he/she can go outside and maneuver easily any hills in their area. Manual wheelchairs used in this fashion eventually cause an immense amount of stress on the bicep/tricep area and have been known to damage rotator cuffs in the individuals’ shoulders.

 Included with this is the price. Electric wheelchairs can be very expensive, upwards of $10,000 or more depending on the model you chose however SSD would help you out immensely if situations warrant.

Keep in mind an electric wheelchair after years of use will malfunction slightly much like a car therefore a backup chair is recommended, preferably a manual in terms of cost, and a reliable technician is necessary.

It is imperative doorways are made to be up to 6” wider whether it be a manual or an electric. The reason for this is I have seen many a bloody finger and hand attempting to maneuver thru a smaller opening.

Finally, accidents will occur so be ready for them and understand they will appear. The chair may be pushed accidentally by the occupant into door frames, cabinets, tables, chairs, etc. Unsightly gouges can and will appear unless a preventative approach is taken. A recommendation by a local home remodeling firm suggested a Velcro strip on the cabinet with a matching Velcro strip on a piece of wood matching the cabinet. This way if an accident does occur it will damage the wood not the cabinet

In summary a small bit of advance planning can make the wheelchair a necessary and functional aid for the disabled.

 Explaining the Situation

Even very young children are quite intuitive and know when something is wrong, so it is important to reassure them that it is okay to feel frightened or sad and to ask questions. Trying to “protect” children may have the reverse effect. While they do not need to hear every detail, you are best advised tell them the truth as gently as you can. They are likely to have fears and concerns you may be completely unaware of. A child may be worrying that:

• The parent will no longer be able to care for or play with him or her. Emphasize what the parent can still do such as read books and play board games, or tell a bedtime story.

• The parent’s condition is contagious. Younger children may have the mistaken idea that they could “get” whatever is wrong with their parent and need to be reassured that they are perfectly safe.

• The illness or injury is the parent’s punishment for being “bad. Children learn early on that there are consequences for doing something “bad” and may believe that their parent is being punished. It is important to reassure the child that bad things sometimes happen to good people that are completely unrelated to anything they did.

• What has happened to the parent is somehow the child’s fault. Children are quick to blame themselves, especially when they have little or no information about why the adults in their life are upset. It is important to relieve their anxiety by assuring them they are in no way responsible.

Preparing for a Hospital Visit

When you take children to see their hospitalized parent for the first time, the experience will go more smoothly if you plan ahead. It is important to explain to them what the hospital is like and describe what they will hear, see and smell. While this helps takes the mystery out of the experience, your children need to know that feeling frightened, sad or angry is perfectly acceptable, and that it is okay to leave the room if they get too upset to stay.

Describe how Mommy or Daddy looks now, but use age-appropriate and simple language when discussing these changes. Young children take things quite literally, so if you say “Daddy has lost a limb,” a child is likely to think it was simply misplaced and will be found again. Reassure your children that the parent is still the same person, even though he or she may look different. This is especially important if the parent’s appearance has changed—for instance, a shaved head, extensive bruising, a missing arm or leg, or severe burns.

Unless permanent hospitalization or resident nursing care is going to be necessary, emphasize to your children that their parent is going to recover and come home. It might be useful to arrange for the parent’s medical team to meet with the children, either before or after the visit. They can answer your children’s questions in simple terms that will be comforting and reassuring.

Even with careful explanations and advance preparation, a child may still react intensely to hospital visits, especially if there is a prolonged period of hospitalization. These reactions are often unpredictable. Behavior changes are good indicators that a child is overly distressed by the visits and is not coping well. Younger children may become especially clingy and revert to old habits of bed-wetting or thumb sucking. Older children may develop physical symptoms such as headaches, rashes or stomachaches. They may become irritable and aggressive or engage in risk-taking behaviors. Their school performance may suffer as well.  In time your children will adjust, but if unusual behavior continues for several weeks, seek the advice of a professional who can help your children address their fears and anxieties.

Do whatever you can to maintain familiar family routines, both before and after the hospitalized parent comes home. During times of uncertainty it is helpful for everyone to feel some sense of order and control. Above all, keep a positive attitude. If your children see you coping well, their adjustment will be far easier. It is how you handle the situation that is going to make the difference.