Data shows that calls to the helpline for the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) increased 40% in the first year of the pandemic. Sometimes symptoms might fly under the radar or be dismissed as ‘just a phase,’ but the shame, guilt and health complications associated with eating disorders are risks we can’t ignore. Read more »
Survey data from Autism Parenting Magazine reveals almost 6% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have some form of gender dysphoria. Read more »
Before board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Alexa Wilmarth came to CHC, she worked at a residential eating disorder treatment center for children and adolescents.
Alexa recommends the following books for those who are seeking information and support for disordered eating. Read more »
Using food as a reward or as a punishment can undermine the healthy eating habits that you’re trying to teach your children. Giving sweets, chips, or soda as a reward often leads to children overeating foods that are high in sugar, fat, and empty calories. Worse, it interferes with kids’ natural ability to regulate their eating. It also encourages them to eat when they’re not hungry to reward themselves.
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A study on autism’s gender differences, published in the journal Molecular Autism, focused on the language that autistic girls and boys used during semi-structured interviews by exploring social word use. When comparing autistic girls and boys between the ages of 6 and 15 with similar IQs and levels of autism, girls were shown to use far more social words—that is, words that make reference to other people, including family and friends—than their male counterparts. Read more »
We receive lots of questions from parents about evaluations: Does my child need one? Or should we just start treatment? An evaluation by a psychologist or a multidisciplinary team can be a valuable tool in understanding your child’s strengths and weaknesses and provide a roadmap for next steps. It can reveal whether what seems like distraction, laziness or reluctance could actually be a sign of mental health or learning challenges. Read more »
Hear what child development experts have to say about what parents, teachers and other caregivers can do to help prepare and protect kids from all the scary news out there, whether it’s fighting overseas, a school shooting, devastating wildfire or a global pandemic. Read more »
Even after weeks of bracing for an attack amid speculation, global tensions and diplomatic attempts to stave off invasion in the Ukraine — the reality of conflict is always a shock to the system.
Perhaps among the first batch on your mind: How did we get here? What does this all mean? Or maybe, What does this mean for my life? What can I do about it? Read more »
Over the past 2 years, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many physical and emotional challenges. But has it also adversely affected people’s eating patterns and increased the prevalence of disordered eating? Read more »
Has your child has been formally assessed for learning disabilities and or ADHD, by either a psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation? If so, understanding the report is critical to your ability to become the best advocate for their needs. Read more »
