“Are you ready?”

Ash refused to let Autism Spectrum Disorder rule his life, learn how his grades and behavioral patterns greatly improved after training with Interactive Metronome.
Ash, a 10-year-old boy diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, didn’t typically struggle with his academics but had the tendency to speak out of turn, chew on his clothing or other items he found around him, and had trouble keeping his hands to himself which was often reflected in on his daily report card. After trying other modalities with no improvement, IM was introduced. Ash struggled getting used to the headphones and the rhythm but was excited to try this “new computer game with clapping”. Being a perfectionist, Ash refused to give up and wanted to do better. After months of IM training, he was able to meet his IM goal and it showed not only on his report card but with his abilities to stay on task in class and even lead his gym class in their warm-up exercises.

Want to avoid autism? Try going out in the sun.

Over the past 20 years, autism has become an increasingly common developmental disorder in children, causing abnormal social behavior and communication problems. At the same time, sunscreen usage has steadily risen and people have become more likely to avoid the sun for health reasons. Could something as simple as getting more sun actual help prevent autism spectrum disorder? New research suggests that it can.

Hand-over-hand IM training and autism

We often get questions on how to use IM with specific populations, how to work with the equipment and anything else that is causing our Providers headaches. Amy Vega, a fabulous SLP and our Clinical Education Director, is here to answer those questions from time to time. Today, she tackles an important question for parents and our OT and PT professionals: I know every kid is different, but approximately how many sessions would be typical for an almost non-speaking 15 yo with autism?

It feels good to get going again!

By the time Margaret contacted me to enquire about IM services, she had progressed to the point of requiring a seated rollator walker for mobility and numerous adjustments to her work and home functional routines. Her decline had been insidious, over the course of several years, and then at the age of 48, she was stricken with lower limb partial paralysis following a 12 hours nursing shift. Following a 10-day workup in the hospital, she was approached by her medical advisors with her official diagnosis: Multiple Sclerosis. As she progressed to the point of discharge home, she knew from her nursing background that therapies could help her to adapt to the influence of MS in her life...but she wondered if there was anything available that could actually IMPROVE her skills.

Special Report: The Interactive Metronome (IM) and ADHD

National Time Management Month is celebrated during February each year. February is the perfect month to focus on time management skills with your clients. Time management is not as complex or difficult as it seems. When children learn time management early in life, they tend to do so for the rest of their lives. Time management in students helps them achieve their academic and recreational goals. It also teaches them to be independent and productive.

Children diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often have difficulty staying on task and staying organized, all of which can make time management challenging. This is because of the way the brain tends to process things when a person is living with ADHD.

We are Proud to Announce Our February Provider of the Month

Dr. Susan Zapf is an Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Professional with over 27 years of experience working with the pediatric population in both private practice and the school-based settings. She is an entrepreneur and is the Owner and Clinical of The Children’s Therapy Center, Inc., a prominent pediatric sensory integration clinic in Houston, Texas. Dr. Zapf is also the Owner and President of Children’s Journey to Shine, Inc, an educational training company that educates healthcare professionals on assistive technology assessment and service delivery and provides therapy services that utilize animals and nature as tools in therapy. Dr. Zapf is the President of Reining Potential of Texas, a non-profit organization that uses the horse in occupational therapy services. Dr. Zapf is adjunct faculty for the Ph.D. Pediatric Science track at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah, and teaches a course on assistive technology. As an occupational therapist, she is passionate about helping children and their families develop skills to reach their full potential and she believes that occupational therapy, assistive technology, and animals can be powerful interventions to assist in this process.

Setting your 2023 Goals

Now that you have settled into the new year, have you set professional goals for yourself? Professional goals are the actionable steps you need to take to grow in your career. Ask yourself that elusive job interview question: “where do you see yourself and your career in five years?”, then build your goals from there. Below are 3 professional development goals where Interactive Metronome may be of help.

Testimonial: Going to Back to School with ADHD

9-year-old Anna has been diagnosed with ADHD and has difficulty focusing and is easily distracted. She showed signs of moodiness, was easily bored, and had emotional breakdowns. After completing 14 sessions and 20,000 repetitions of Interactive Metronome, Anna's family noticed she was taking better initiative with significant improvement in her temper tantrums. They also reported Anna was learning better ways to study, which ultimately led to her receiving A's and B's in school.

Interactive Metronome Featured on The Brainvolts Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory Website

Dr. Nina Kraus leads a diverse team of researchers and clinicians at The Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory (Brainvolts) as they investigate the way brains process sounds, finding that auditory ability is a strong indicator of brain health.

Brainvolts has discovered how to measure the biology of auditory processing with unprecedented precision. Together they extend science beyond the laboratory to schools, community centers, and clinics.

Using the principles of neuroscience to improve human communication, the Brainvolts team advocates for best practices in education, health, and social policy.

As seen on ADDitudeMag.com – Rhythm Notion: 10 Benefits of Music for ADHD Brains

The benefits of music are wide-ranging and well documented. From teaching empathy and improving memory and concentration, to helping track time and easing emotions, music can change the life of a child with ADHD. Here, learn how lyrics, rhythm, melody, and tempo work their magic.