Is diet the answer to future treatments and even cures for some special needs conditions including apraxia? Research continues to turn up remarkable links between our gut bugs, also known as our microbiome, and the brain. Scientists are finding evidence that microbiome may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, schizophrenia, autism, and…
Parenting Special Needs
Brain Signals Translated Into Speech
“In this scenario, if the wearer thinks ‘I need a glass of water,’ (or ‘can you help me with this?’) our system could take the brain signals generated by that thought, and turn them into synthesized, verbal speech,” Nima Mesgarani, PhD, senior author for this new study and principal investigator at Columbia University’s Mortimer B. Zuckerman…
Joanna’s Voice For Those Growing Up With Apraxia
“I want people to know that having verbal apraxia doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy your life to the fullest.” ~Joanna Bendel “If you are growing up with apraxia, or you grew up with apraxia, I want you to know that you are not alone. You see, I have it too, which means that we’ve…
Nutrients in blood, in particular, Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, linked to better brain connectivity, cognition
A new study links higher levels of several key nutrients in the blood, in particular, a pattern of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, with more efficient brain connectivity and performance on cognitive tests. There has been misinformation on the internet and in particular by new parents who do not have any background in medicine or…
Microplastics In The Water, Food, And Us Affect Speech Development
Researchers have identified early childhood health impacts including speech and language developmental delays from prenatal exposures to phthalates found in plastic Association of Prenatal Phthalate Exposure With Language Development in Early Childhood Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, PhD et.al, JAMA Pediatr. 2018 Great Pacific Garbage Patch Most of us by now know the ongoing problem of plastics building in our environment and…
Cherab FB Birthday Wishes
When you create a fundraiser, particularly for a smaller nonprofit such as the Cherab Foundation which focuses on rare causes such as apraxia, it exposes new people to those causes. While people join the Cherab Foundation for different reasons from various backgrounds and from all parts of the globe, one thing in common is every…
Organic Food And Heavy Metals
“Some of the worst offenders in the Clean Label Project’s tests were organic, plant-based protein powders. More than 75 percent had measurable levels of lead. And certified organic products averaged twice the heavy metals of their uncertified counterparts.” Simply stated, organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage…
Back To School Useful Links
Back to school time can be exciting, but for many of us with special needs students, it can also be stressful. Here is information that may make the transition easier. Some parents like to start out the year with a letter to the teacher to explain their child’s diagnosis (and in particular if it’s it’s…
Cherab Presents Chris’s crowdFunnit Birthday Party
“Bullying has left a mark on Chris’s soul. As a result, he suffers bouts of both anxiety and depression that others hate him and is afraid to leave our house. Chris who is on the autism spectrum desperately needs to know that he is worthy of having friends and that he is not alone” ~Mary…
Omega 3s Reduce Children’s Disruptive Behavior
Giving children omega-3 fatty acid supplements reduces disruptive behavior, which in turn had a positive effect on their parents, making them less likely to argue with each other and engage in other verbal abuse, finds new randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. “Something as simple as a dietary supplement could reduce disruptive, even abusive behavior, according to…
