by Michael McMillan, Ph.D.
Several years ago, Randi and Andrea collided while trying to "head" a ball. Andrea broke her nose and Randi sustained a concussion. Randi never lost consciousness but she was seriously disoriented. Her mother to took her to the hospital, where she was observed and released. The emergency room doctor told Randi's mother to watch for drowsiness, vomiting, and headaches but said she could play the next game if she was symptom free. Two days later, Randi was dressed and ready to play. I told her mom and coach that despite what the ER doctor said, it was dangerous for Randi to play.
This situation made me realize that many doctors, coaches and trainers often mishandle concussions. It isn't that these people are in a rush to get a player back into action, they are simply unaware of how dangerous it can be to play an athlete before they have fully recovered. Current research demonstrates that even though an athlete reports feeling fine, their brain may need more time to heal.
The brain is a remarkable machine. It uses more oxygen and glucose than any other organ. But after a concussion, the brain is not able to use as much oxygen or glucose as normal. Short-term memory, reaction time, and processing speed are often affected. Moreover, it leaves the brain vulnerable to a second injury. That is, if an athlete gets hit in the head before they fully recover from their first concussion, the results can be catastrophic or even fatal, a condition called "Second Impact Syndrome". The second blow to the head does not have to be as hard as the first to cause serious problems. This is particularly true in children and adolescents.
New guidelines have evolved over the past few years to help trainers and physicians decide when it is safe to return an athlete to play. New computerized tests have been developed to help determine when an athlete is ready to play again. Computerized neurocognitve tests are used by every professional hockey and most professional football teams. The point is, many doctors now recognize how dangerous concussions can be if they are not managed correctly. It takes more than assessing physical symptoms. Evaluating an athletes thinking with one of the newly developed computerized programs can provide valuable information when deciding when a player can return to play.
Michael McMillan, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who has been on staff at St. John Hospital in the pediatric department since 1987. He has interests in medically related psychological issues such as diabetes, head injury, etc. He is a graduate of Wayne State University and in addition to his work at St. John Hospital, he has a private practice in Rochester Hills. He can be reached at 9248)853-9058 or michael.mcmillan@stjohn.net.
SAVE THE DATE: Dr. McMillan will provide a presentation on sports concussions and answer your questions on Wednesday April 8, 2009 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Barnes Early Childhood Center (20090 Morningside Dr., Grosse Pointe Woods). The free program "Sports Concussions (Middle - High School students) is part of The Family Center 2009 Partners in Parenting Enrichment Series. To register call The Family Center at 313.432.3832
Managing Sports Concussions
Being "Family Centered"
by Mary Ellen Brayton, MA, LLPC, NCC
The Family Center asked me if I would like to write an article about being "family centered" or how "family is the center of our lives". I thought a lot about her wording and the importance of the underlying message. Is my family the center of my life? How do I spend the majority of my time? Am I really "there" for my children or am I thinking about the office or the next activity? Am I texting or reading emails when they ask me a question? Am I rushing through my daily activities but never stopping to enjoy my day?
While getting my masters degree I studied family therapy. Virginia Satir is one of the key figures in the development of family therapy. Satir believed that a healthy family life involved an open and reciprocal sharing of affection, feelings, and love. One of my favorite quotes from her sums this up: "Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible -- the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family."
What a motto to live by. If every family did, think what life would be like? But the stress and strain of everyday life sometimes wears us down. We can become short fused, opinionated, inflexible and unforgiving. Our children not only learn from what we say (even though they don't appear to be listening) but more importantly from what we do. Children make us better people. If we want them to look up to us we have to act in ways that are worthy of such admiration - not by word but action.
If we had to narrow parenting down to one item, the single most important thing a child can learn from their parent is love, and love is spelled T-I-M-E. Family needs to become the center of our life - the heart, the hub, the core. A funny quote I saw somewhere comes to mind: "No man on his deathbed has ever looked up into the eyes of his family and friends and said I wish I spent more time at the office".
One of our goals this year should be to consciously spend more time together and to treat our family as we would our friends. Schedule some family time once per week. Dinner together, game night and movies are always good, but here are some other ideas you might not have thought of depending on the ages of your children:
- Create a family cookbook by asking family members for their favorite recipes - they can be made into presents too
- Hold your own American Idol show - use a karaoke and kind judging!
- Play charades - makeup your own topics and divide into teams
- Make dinner together and take turns picking out movies - stay in and warm
- Volunteer together as a family - help others and build a sense of pride together
- Make a family banner where everyone expresses themselves and display it
- Start a family newsletter online to keep extended family members up on all your activities. Take turns editing and writing and add some pictures
- Make a date with each child - plan a special breakfast or dinner one on one to reconnect. This is great with older kids too.
Ten years ago a friend sent me this poem by Diane Loomans. It's still hanging, tattered and torn, in my kitchen. You've probably seen it - but it's definitely worth repeating.
If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd finger-paint more and point the finger less.
I'd do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less and know to care more.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I'd run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd teach less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love
Take time this year to prioritize what's important. Kids grow up all too quickly and before too long they are off to college and beginning lives of their own.
Mary Ellen is the former Program Director of The Family Center and is now a therapist in private practice working with adults and adolescents. Visit her website at www.maryellenbrayton.com or email her at mebratyonllpc@comcast.net.
Assessing and Addressing Autism
By Lori Warner, Ph.D., BCBA
Q: My friend told me her son has autism, but he can talk and he plays with my son. I thought kids with autism didn't connect with people.
A. Autism is called a "spectrum disorder", meaning that some children are severely affected and may also have cognitive impairments, but others are much less affected and can attend regular education classrooms and form friendships. Some high-functioning people with autism or Asperger Syndrome attend college, work, and have families of their own.
Q: How can I tell if my child has an autism spectrum disorder?
A. Experts look for three core areas of impairment: delayed communication, difficulty relating to other people (also called reciprocal social interactions), and restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior. Children with autism have trouble communicating, playing appropriately, and engaging with other people. They may display unusual mannerisms such as repetitive jumping, hand-flapping, or looking at objects from different angles. Children with autism may not speak at all, or may speak rarely. Others may repeat or echo what you say (echolalia). For an excellent "video glossary" illustrating symptoms of autism; see www.autismspeaks.org.
Q: My pediatrician is now screening for autism before age 2. Why, and what is she looking for?
A. Autism affects one in every 150 children, with a boy:girl ratio of 4:1. Treating autism early leads to better outcomes. So pediatricians are now looking earlier at family risk factors and "red flags" such as: delayed speech, little eye contact, inconsistent response to name, lack of playful interaction/social "back-and-forth", and lack of appropriate play. Joint attention is also assessed, such as: pointing to draw your attention to something, and following your point. See The American Academy of Pediatrics website at www.aap.org/healthtopics/autism.cfm.
Q: My son is 2 1/2 and not talking yet. My family says that boys usually talk later than girls, but I'm starting to worry. What should I do?
A. By 2 1/2, most children use lots of gestures and simple sentences like "Daddy go" or "more juice." Children with language delays usually use eye contact and gestures to get their point across. If hearing problems are ruled out and any of the "red flags" listed earlier are evident, immediately talk to your pediatrician about referrals. Early, intensive behavioral intervention has the most scientific support in teaching young children with autism and other developmental delays. For more information see www.asatonline.org or www.abainternational.org.
The HOPE Center houses Beaumont's autism treatment programs and is part of the Center for Human Development. At the HOPE Center families receive intensive behavioral therapy for preschoolers with autism in two center-based programs. We also offer behavioral consultation services for children of all ages with a variety of referral questions from autism and other developmental disabilities to behavior management, OCD, toileting, and feeding problems.
Dr. Lori Warner is a Licensed Psychologist and Director of the HOPE Center, Center for Human Development at William Beaumont Hospital in Berkley. She can be reached at (248) 691-4774.
Visit their Web site @ www.beaumonthospitals.com/hope.
SAVE THE DATE: Dr. Warner will provide a presentation on 'Assessing & Addressing Autism' (early years: birth to age 6) and answer your questions on Wednesday March 25, 2009 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Beaumont Hospital, Connelly Auditorium (468 Cadieux, Grosse Pointe). The free program is part of The Family Center 2009 Partners in Parenting Enrichment Series. To register call The Family Center at 313.432.3832.
The Family Center - 20090 Morningside Drive, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
Please email your questions to info@familycenterweb.org
The Family Center is a 501c3 non-profit community organization that depends on donations.
To volunteer or contribute, visit familycenterweb.org or call 313.432.3832.