Being a teenager brings along waves of emotions, puberty, and social desires. School is not only used for education, but is often a playground for peers to experience friendships, break-ups, and the developmental changes of growing up. The need to fit in is on each teen’s mind. During their formative years, adolescents are learning which…
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) typically results from a harsh or violent blow to the head creating damage to brain cells or tissue. In mild cases, brain cells may only be affected temporarily, however in more severe cases traumatic brain injury can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, and other physical damage to the brain. Severe…
Each and every one of us is unique in our own way. As the old saying goes, no two brains think alike, which is honestly a good thing! Every single person has unique brain anatomy, which is a big part of what makes us all individually unique. Unfortunately, society doesn’t always recognize humans’ innate uniqueness…
Due to the difficulties socializing for those on the spectrum (ASD), having ASD and anxiety are often two co-occurring issues. Regarding all teens, social anxiety is common as they want to fit in with their peers, but this anxiety is amplified when being on the spectrum. By learning about how these issues function together and…
Learning disorders can already make school difficult enough, but societal views and practices regarding the treatment of learning disorders have led to a variety of issues in the emotional realm. A recent study, published in the British Journal of Sociology and Education, found that grouping students based on their academic ability shows significant negative impacts…
Teens with autism struggle with becoming more independent and making decisions on their own. They are more likely to reject help and act impulsively or self-destructively or rely on caretakers to continue to meet their needs. Neither of these paths are effective in helping teens with autism live healthy, independent, and productive lives. While…
Autism has become more and more visible in our world in the past few decades. From better understanding the diagnosis to seeing autistic characters in movies and TV shows, our perspective on autism has continued to widen. And while we may see more information about autism, it is important to understand that autism does not…
Traumatic Brain Injuries among children and teens are a leading cause of death and disability, with nearly 30,000 children a year sustaining a brain injury that will cause permanent damage to their brains. Researchers claim that due to unreported concussions and other sports-related injuries, this number could be even higher. Students who sustain traumatic brain…
For any teenager, developing social skills is an important part of overall development. Adolescence is a time for fostering independence and creating new friendships. For teens on the autism spectrum, the development of communication skills is especially important. Typically, teens on the spectrum are not loners by choice. As children grow towards adolescents, there is…
Over 1 million babies born annually in the United States are exposed to some type of drug, alcohol or tobacco use while in utero. While scientists have long espoused the negative impacts of substance use during pregnancy on infants, a 2008 study found that cocaine, alcohol, marijuana, or tobacco use, either alone or in combination,…