Learning and Behaviors Disorders
Dr. Deborah Pontillo
Topics:
Infant Development… What is to be expected as far as cognitive, social, motor, and language development in the first year? What are some concerns that I should look for in infancy? What if my pediatrician isn’t concerned – should I be? If there is a developmental problem or concern, how do I get help for my baby? I don’t have concerns, just lots of questions – what resources are available to help?
Infant Developmental Assessment… What does an infant assessment consist of? How do you test a baby? How do I know if my child would benefit from an assessment? What is the difference between my pediatrician’s developmental check and a full developmental assessment? Where can I get an assessment? If the assessment shows concerns, where do I get help for my baby?
Infant Feeding and Sleeping… How can I resolve sleep problems/feeding problems in my infant/toddler? How do I help my baby develop good sleeping habits? How do I handle frequent night awakenings? What do I do if I’m concerned about how my baby eats? How can I develop good eating habits?
Developmental Assessments in Toddlers and Preschoolers… What is involved in a developmental assessment at this age? How do I know if my child would benefit from an assessment? What if my child doesn’t “comply” with the tests? When is the best time to obtain an assessment? If there are concerns identified, what services are available to me? What if my child behaves differently at home than he does at school or in a professional’s office? How is behavior assessed? How is play assessed? How is social and emotional development assessed?
Early Childhood Development… What is to be expected as far as cognitive, social, motor, and language development in the early years? How can I promote my child’s learning or facilitate his developmental progress? How can I instill self-esteem and self-confidence in my toddler? What do I do if my child doesn’t get along with other children? Should I discipline a young child? If so, how?
Kindergarten Readiness… What factors should I consider when deciding if my child is ready for Kindergarten? How do I pick an appropriate preschool or Kindergarten for my child? What is Kindergarten Readiness testing and what could I learn from this assessment? What are some vital questions to ask schools before choosing a Kindergarten classroom? How do I know if a school will be right for my child? What if I think my child isn’t ready – what are the best options for him/ her?
Practical Interventions for Children with Behavioral Problems… How do I manage aggressive behavior in my child? Why does my child bite or hit? How can I manage my child’s tantrums? When should I be concerned that my child is still having tantrums? Why are my child’s tantrums more intense or frequent than his peers? What are some things I can do to decrease these behaviors? How do I handle family members or friends who judge my parenting based on the misbehavior of my child? How do I handle embarrassment in public? Which behaviors may indicate an underlying developmental problem or concern? What do I do when time-outs don’t work?
Social Problems… What should I expect in terms of my child’s social skills? What should I expect in terms of my child’s play skills? How do I help my child make friends/keep friends? When should I be concerned about my child’s social skills?
Practical Interventions for Children with Social Skill Deficits… How do I facilitate the development of social skills in my child? What programs are available to children who struggle in this area? How do I set up and implement play dates to facilitate my child’s social development? How do I help my child who is being bullied/ostracized at school? How do I help my child develop more sophisticated forms of play?
Practical Interventions for Children with Emotional Difficulties… How do I help my child develop frustration tolerance? How do I help my child manage his/her anger better, regulate his emotions, or self-soothe? How do I teach my child to better understand emotions in others? What tools can I use to ensure that my child develops a healthy self-esteem and self-confidence?
Academic/Classroom Problems… When the teachers express concerns about my child, what should my next step be? What are learning disabilities and how are they assessed? What are my rights within the school district? Where can I receive learning disability testing for my child? How do I explain the testing process to my child? How can I ensure he/she maintains a healthy self-esteem? How do I explain the diagnosis to him/her? For Teachers: How do I know when to refer a child for further assessment? How do I manage difficult behavior in the classroom? How do I talk to parents about my concerns? How can I encourage parents to seek extra help/assessment?
Red Flags for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)… How can I better identify children who may be exhibiting early signs of ASD? What are some signs that I should look for? When are a child’s interests considered excessive? What’s the difference between a strong willed or independent child, and a child with ASD? What are some of the common myths about autism and ASD?
Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorders… What should be involved in a thorough assessment for ASD? Where do I obtain such an assessment for my child? What are the components of an assessment that I must obtain? How do I choose the best professional to provide this assessment? What does high functioning and low functioning mean? When should I receive a second opinion? What is the prognosis of a child with ASD? I don’t want my child to be ‘labeled’ – are there ways to get help without receiving a formal diagnosis?
Interventions for Children with Autism… What are the treatments available to children with autism? What is the autism spectrum and how do I know if my child is affected? What services are available to children/families in the community? How does having a child with autism affect siblings, parents, and other relatives? How do I explain the diagnosis to family members? Should I explain the diagnosis to my child? If so, how?
Anxiety… How do I help my child with his/her anxiety as it pertains to: school performance, social situations, panic attacks, chronic worry, novel situations, transitions, and fears? What is cognitive-behavioral therapy and how does it help? Where can I obtain help for my child? What are some things that help alleviate anxiety in the pre-verbal child?
Dr. Deborah Pontillo
Learning and Behavior Disorders
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