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Twice Exceptional

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2e children

Kenny is an eight-year-old boy who is extremely articulate and prolific when he tells stories. He can repeat word for word to his mother what an article in the newspaper said, after only reading it once. Kenny soars high above grade level when taking history exams and has never gotten one word wrong on a spelling test. 

Yet Kenny has trouble following simple directions, struggles to open buckles and tie his shoes. Kenny has both a gift and some sort of disability and his parents are confused when they hear, they have a ‘twice exceptional’ child.

Who is the twice exceptional child?

The term twice exceptional (2e) is a relatively new term which was coined in the 1990’s to explain the subset of children who display extreme “giftedness” but also struggle with a disability.

Twice-exceptional children are extremely gifted in certain areas (math, reading, creativity etc.) but also struggle with disabilities (autism, Aspergers, ADHD, dyslexia, learning disorders etc).

Some 2e children are talented in math while others are able to memorize everything they read or see. Some 2e children have dyslexia while other 2e children are on the autistic spectrum. As you can see, there is no clear-cut picture or example of the typical 2e child— which is why it is hard to determine how many 2e children there are. 

Describing a 2e child

Many 2e children display advanced vocabulary and have advanced levels of ideas and opinions. 2e children are generally curious, creative and have a knack for problem-solving. Also, many 2e children have strong interests outside of school which may relate to their giftedness (ex: interest in mechanics). 

However, 2e children can have trouble socializing with peers and be extra sensitive to any criticism. 2e children may also struggle in academic areas they are not gifted in and lack organizational and study skills.

Tips for Parents raising a twice exceptional child

If you are raising a twice-exceptional child, you face the challenge of both addressing the disability as well as the highly gifted aspect of your child (both equally important to understand). Many times, children’ disabilities will overshadow their strength and these children will not get the education they need to meet their level. 

 One great advice for parents is to play up to your child’s strength. Try to work with the school or gifted program your child may be in to discuss how to implement your child’s strength to enhance his or her education.

Your child should feel proud of his or her gift and by creating educational programs designed to highlight this area, your child is more likely to feel confident and excel at school. For example, if your child is gifted at math, he or she may be well above grade level in that subject. Create an IEP which challenges this skill so your child’s gift does not go unnoticed or not practiced.

On the other hand, there are 2e children whos giftedness overshadows their disabilities and they do not receive the proper support they need for social or attentional deficits. Many 2e children struggle socially and having them attend social skill groups can really help them relate to peers and adjust to school.

Parents can also organize meet-ups with other 2e children as it can be hard for 2e children to relate to peers their own age. While 2e children are advanced intellectually, socially they are behind their age group.

Am I a 2e adult?

Twice-exceptional is a new concept and research and clinical interest in this group are advancing more and more each day. There are many adults walking around today who are twice exceptional but never received the proper treatment and support.

Some adults notice similar patterns in their children (gift and disability) and began to realize they have these qualities as well. Or sometimes,  adults never struggled with certain attentional challenges until they grew up and started a family or advanced in their career.

If you are an adult who suspects you maybe twice exceptional, schedule an appointment with a psychotherapist or doctor who specializes in twice exceptional. It is never to late to treat a disability or to advance an exceptional talent.

Twice-exceptional children and adults should feel proud of who they are and be reminded of their incredible gifts and the amazing contributions they can make to this world!

Massage Therapy for ADHD

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Massage Therapy

Massages- a special treat on a weekend getaway, after a rough day at work or for a lazy Sunday afternoon. Massages are also a treatment option for those suffering from back problems, chronic pain or other physical conditions.

Massages are also used to help reduce stress and reduce symptoms for those experiencing mental health conditions (anxiety, depression etc.) as well. Going to a massage appointment is a mind treatment as well as a body treatment and its positive effects go deeper than just a 45 minute relaxation period. Massages have been found to decrease depression, worrying and ADHD symptoms.

How massages help

1 In many mental health conditions, there is a lack of serotonin and dopamine levels and massages have been found to increase these neurotransmitters. This allows an individual with ADHD to feel more regulated, focused and less hyperactive. 

This increase in serotonin and dopamine helps produce the calming feeling one experiences after a massage session.

2. Massages also lower heart and blood pressure, relax muscles and increase endorphins. Massages just provide that all around mood boost and let you feel your absolute best! 

3. Massages improve mood and reduce stress levels. In one study, the stress hormone cortisol was measured before and after people received a massage session. After the massage, cortisol levels were found to be lowered by up to 53%. 

Why Massage for ADHD

People with ADHD are said to experience a “sensory deprivation”. People, especially children with ADHD, can have a short fuse, be hyperactive and desperately need physical sensations. This can include playing intense video games, needing rubs or liking very hot or very cold showers/ tubs.

These individuals, have this built up energy that needs some way to be released. When this energy is kept inside and bottled up, that is when it is hard to focus and concentrate. Keeping this energy inside can cause someone to be angry, and irritable.

During a massage therapy session, this energy is being used and the person is getting the physical stimulation they need.

Research Support

Clinical trials which investigated the effects of massage therapy have all shown positive results about the treatment option. Massage therapy has successfully decreased fidgeting and increased serotonin levels in children with ADHD. Also, children who received daily massages (15-20 minutes) all rated the experience as positive and had a reduction in ADHD symptoms.

In one study, younger boys with ADHD were given daily massage treatments and their teachers rated them as less fidgety and more focused.

Try it out… what’s to lose?

There are many types of treatment options available for ADHD which include medicine, psychotherapy, and behavioral interventions. Massage therapy provides sensory support and allows the body to use this pent up energy and relax muscles.

Masage therapy is an enjoyable and relaxing experience for both children and adults and is gaining more and more support as a treatment optoin. Try out massage therapy- you could reduce your ADHD symptoms while relaxing and de-stressing 🙂

Anger management and Adult ADD

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Anger management and Adult ADD

Everyone gets angry. In the appropriate situations, anger can even be a healthy emotion.  Some people, however, have a hard time controlling their anger. We see this a lot with ADD in adults.

It’s not just anger. ADD in adults is associated with difficulty controlling a range of emotions – from anger and anxiety to sadness. Dr. George Sachs has a unique understanding of this and other challenges that adults with ADHD must face. He is not only a preeminent ADD/ADHD doctor, he is also one of the millions of adults living with ADD. (According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “About 60 percent of children with ADHD in the United States become adults with ADHD; that’s about 4 percent of the adult population, or 8 million adults.)

The frontal lobe can be considered the “adult” part of your brain. It allows you to think things through before you act by communicating with the amygdala, which is the primitive “child-like” part of your brain. When it comes to ADD in adults, the frontal lobe isn’t very good at communicating with the amygdala.

A positive diagnosis following an ADHD test for adults isn’t a free pass, though. Since your frontal lobe isn’t quite up to the job, you’ll need to learn other methods of controlling your anger.

Dr. Sachs has developed a three-step method that works for him when he feels the anger boiling up inside:

  1. “The first step,” he says, “is to ‘box it up.’ Angry feelings can come on so quickly that you need a response that is already practiced and available—a quick response strategy that acts when your brain can’t. When you get angry, imagine a box around you, protecting you from those in your vicinity. This box is your safe zone. Mine has a sign on it that reads, ‘Danger… Do Not Cross.’”
  2. “Once you visualize the box around you, expel all the air from your lungs. Don’t breathe in—breathe out. Get all the air out of your lungs. The body will take care of the rest, naturally refilling your lungs and creating an autonomic response of relaxation.  Do this three times: Expel all the air from your lungs, and let them refill naturally.”
  3. “Finally, walk away from what is provoking your anger,” Dr. Sachs advises. “Science shows once the anger system is activated, all rational thought is impossible. Take an hour to settle down and come back with a more clear and level head.”

If you have been asking yourself, “Do I have ADD?” don’t base your assessment solely on the basis of your anger and your ability – or inability – to control it. Not everyone who has anger management issues has ADHD.  Other traits associated with ADD in adults include, but are not limited to: difficulty focusing, forgetfulness, restlessness, lack of motivation, anxiety and impulsivity. Do you have problems with time management? Do friends and family comment on your lack of organization?

If you struggle to control your anger and are troubled by many of the other traits associated with ADD in adults, you may want to consider adult ADD testing. At the Sachs Center, we offer ADHD testing for adults and children. We also have the necessary experience to not only administer neuropsychological testing in NYC, we also have the ability to interpret ADD testing results and diagnose ADD in adults.

Following, ADD testing, you can trust us to take a holistic approach to ADHD treatment in NYC, offering neurofeedback and social skills groups as well as traditional counseling and medications.

Help and hope for the procrastination associated with ADD in adults

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Help and hope for the procrastination associated with ADD in adults

Productivity guru and coach David Allen believes, “Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” He developed his system of time management with businesspeople in mind, but many of his ideas can be helpful to those who have been through ADHD testing for adults or who are seeking ADHD treatment in NYC.

ADD in adults is often associated with procrastination and a lack of organization. Dr. George Sachs PsyD, who is not only a preeminent ADD/ADHD doctor, he is living with ADD.

has found Allen’s system can be beneficial for adults with ADD/ADHD.

You may not be ready to take on Allen’s complete “Get Things Done” program – remember it was originally designed to enhance workplace productivity – and you don’t have to. Allen has put together a list of Five Simple Steps that Apply Order to Chaos that you may find helpful.

1 – Capture: Collect what has your attention

Get all those errant thoughts and ideas out of your head! All of them. “Little, big, personal and professional,” Allen says. “All your to-do’s, projects, things to handle or finish.” Write them down. David Allen also suggests using a voice recorder – you can buy a small digital recorder expressly for this purpose or simply use your smartphone.

Dr. Sachs, a leader in ADHD tests for adults, uses a Moleskin notebook or a whiteboard, but you might prefer a small spiral notebook. “Capture all data that comes from your mind (ideas, goals, things to do, etc. in one place),” Dr. Sachs says. “Simply getting information out of your head frees up more mental space for creativity and relaxation.”

2 – Clarify: Process what it means

Now that you’ve gotten all those distracting thoughts out of your head, it’s time to process them. According to Allen, you should ask yourself if each item is actionable. If it isn’t, he says there are three options: “Trash it, incubate it, or file as reference.”

If the item you jotted down in your notebook is something that needs action, Allen says you need to figure out what “the very next action required” is. If it’s something simple that can be done in less than two minutes, Allen says, go ahead and do it.  If more time and effort will be needed, he says, “Delegate it if you can; or put it on a list to do when you can.” (Dr. Sachs, who offers innovative ADHD treatment in NYC, hired a personal assistant through upwork.com who helps him with mundane work-related tasks.)

3 – Organize: Put it where it belongs

“Put action reminders on the right lists,” Allen advises. “For example, create lists for the appropriate categories – calls to make, errands to run, emails to send, etc…”  In other words, you’ll need more than one list.  Don’t get too specific when setting up your lists.  You don’t want to end up with dozens of lists with only one or two items on each.  You might want to start a list for your weekend chores and errands. Separating personal errands and tasks from work or school projects will also be helpful.

4 – Reflect: Review frequently

Now that you’ve created your lists, you’ll want to refer to them often. Maybe you just finished a big project at work, check your list to see what you need to turn your attention to next. “Do a weekly review to clean up, update your lists, and clear your mind,” Allen recommends. You may be surprised at the progress you were able to make during the week.

5 – Engage: Simply do

Now that you have identified the things you need to do and organized them into lists, it’s time to get busy.  Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by the total number of things on your various lists.  Tell yourself you are going to pick one thing to handle and then do that one thing.  And when you’re done, enjoy the satisfaction of crossing it off your list! “Use your system to take appropriate actions with confidence,” Allen says.

If you’d like more information on David Allen, Dr. Sachs, who offers ADHD testing for adults and neuropsychological testing in NYC, recommends his Ted Talk.

Neurofeedback for Migraines

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Migraines 

Migraines can be described as splitting headaches but also include other debilitating symptoms such as

  1. blurry vision
  2. depression and anxiety symptoms
  3. sleep disturbances
  4. chronic pain
  5. fatigue.

People who experience migraines often take medication to mitigate the severity of the symptoms but the medication does not always work. Migraines can prevent people from working, socializing and living a happy and healthy life.

The autonomic nervous system- the involuntary nervous system- acts unconsciously and responds to stressful situations. When people experience migraines, their body is responding to stress in an unhealthy manner and it can be difficult to modify this reaction.

Neurofeedback for Migraines

One alternative treatment option for migraines is to use neurofeedback to prevent the onset of migraines. Neurofeedback has been commonly used to treat ADHD and other disorders that involve an imbalance of activity in the brain.

Research studies have also supported this evidence in favor of neurofeedback’s ability to reduce the severity and frequency of migraines. In a recent study, people who experienced severe migraine headaches underwent EEG neurofeedback while a control group took medication for their migraines. Of the seventy participants who underwent neurofeedback, over half of them completely stopped experiencing migraines.

Essentially all participants who underwent neurofeedback experienced a reduction in migraines and headaches. Majority  of the patients who took drugs for their migraines (68%) did not experience any relief from their migraines or pain

 

Why does neurofeedback work?

When someone is having a migraine, his or her brain is experiencing stress and an inability to focus. During migraines, the sympathetic nervous system activity is increased while the parasympathetic nervous system is decreased. 

The sympathetic nervous system is what prepares our body for activity and for the “fight or flight” response while the parasympathetic nervous system relaxes and slows down our body.  These responses to stress are involuntary which is why it can be so hard to prevent migraines (which are caused by stress and strain).

Essentially, there is an imbalance of activity occurring and the goal of neurofeedback is to create a healthy pattern to get rid of the migraines. EEG neurofeedback sessions “trains” the brain to respond better to stress and produce normal brain wave activity.  

What happens in a neurofeedback session?

Neurofeedback sessions work to monitor the bodily responses to stress. During a neurofeedback session (20-30 minutes), sensors are attached to peoples’ scalps as an EEG collects information and their brain wave activity is recorded and processed on a computer. Through this EEG machine, the central nervous system activity is monitored.

One study exploring neurofeedback treatment for migraines, had patients undergo twice a week 30-minute sessions of neurofeedback (40 sessions total). The goal of the neurofeedback sessions was to reduce “unwanted” brain activity in the patients. 

In these sessions, participants were playing a video game or watching a video. When their brain was producing “appropriate” activity, they were rewarded with points in the video game or a clearer display in the video. However, with unwanted activity, they would be “punished” with losing points or having the video freeze.

 

 

An alternative solution to Medication

Many people who experience migraines are dealing with chronic stress and pain. Their brain, in its current state, is unable to regulate itself and manage this stress.

Neurofeedback works to train their brain to properly regulate itself and produce health brain wave activity :)If you are suffering from migraines, you do not need to continue living with this pain– Try a biofeedback session today!

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The Sachs Center ADD/ADHD Treatment Center specializes in the testing and treatment of ADD/ADHD and High Functioning Autism in children, teens and adults. We go beyond labels to see the whole person. Our proven holistic methods will help you and your loved ones reach your highest goals. Call Today. 646-847-0752

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