Page 9 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - July '23

Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens, Page 9

Cancer Alliance Of Help & Hope from page 8 Thorne, Cheral Turnipseed,
Jennifer Whitaker, and
the mission of CAHH in supporting local cancer patients in Gail Worth; Auction Chair,
their time of need: Grand Honorary Chair, Gloria Herman; Michael Atchison.
International Chair, Ari Rifkin; Grand Benefactor Chairs, Media Sponsor: Palm
Virginia Gildea, Lois Richards, and Kathleen Walgreen; Beach Illustrated
Benefactor Chairs, Sandra Bobb, Charles Fisher, Helene About Cancer Alliance Of
Karp, Kristina Gustafson, Julie Kampf and Sharon Loeb, Help & Hope
Donna Mulholland, and Lisa Saur; Vice Chairs, Mara Cancer Alliance of Help
Benjamin, Lori Berg, Dan Drennen, Gail Corder Fisher, & Hope, Inc. is a Palm
Beth Goldberg, Arlette Gordon, Jayne Malfitano, Joseph Beach County not-for-profit
McNamara, Max McNamara, David Sarama, Barbara organization that eases the
Zand; Ambassadors, Mary Ackerman, Linda Adelson, burden of qualified local
Abigail Beebe, Chris Cox, Dale Connor, Lynette Dallas, cancer patients by paying a
Elizabeth DeBrule, Nancy Dwyer, Lorre Erlick, Nancy portion of their nonmedical
Erlick, Jan Ricci Feldman, Victor Figueredo, Jeff Fowler, bills, supplementing basic Arlette Gordon and Gail Catherine Hart and Lynette
Barbara Gilbert, David Granville, John Herrick, Sandra needs, and providing Janet Levy and Mark Levy Worth Dallas
Kriser, Linda Lachman, Beth Lane, Chris Leavitt, support and information
Mary Bryant McCourt, Ross Meltzer, Fran Morrissette, resources.
Jeff Pfeifle, Debra Roberts, Sheila Rosenblum, Jill For more information about Cancer Alliance of Help Testing Children
Schecter, Mary Lou Schillinger, Terri Schottenstein, & Hope, please visit CAHH.org.
Renee Scott, Nancy Stone, Amie Swan, Stacey Coffee- Photos by Capehart
For Autism

By Jim Forgan, Ph.D.,
School Psychologist
Autism diagnoses
continue to increase.
According to results
from a recent Centers
for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC)
funded study, the autism
prevalence was that
one in 36 children had
autism. For every one
girl identified with autism, four boys were identified.
For the first time, more African-American, Hispanic,
and Asian children were identified than White children.
Researchers agree that early identification and use of
evidenced-based treatments lead to the best outcomes for
children with autism.
We test children for autism starting at age 2. There is
no one test or even a medical test or blood test to diagnose
autism. In our practice we utilize the gold standard
assessment called the Autism Diagnostic Observation
Schedule or ADOS, second edition. In addition, we use
caregiver interviews and tests of language, attention,
intelligence, and memory.
Five criteria should be met for a psychologist to
diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder. First, the child
must demonstrate deficits in social communication
and social interaction across settings. Second, the child
must display restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior,
interests, or activities, currently or by history. Third, the
child’s symptoms must have started early. Fourth, there
must be evidence of a significant impairment. Fifth,
the symptoms must not be caused by another mental or
physical condition.
If your child is diagnosed with autism, we recommend
you start with treatments identified by the National
Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice. These
are 28 evidenced-based practices that independent
research documented best help children with autism.
Treatments include applied behavior analysis (ABA)
therapy, discrete trial training, cognitive behavioral
intervention, and social narratives. Many insurance
companies pay for evidenced-based therapies with an
official autism diagnosis. In addition, Florida offers the
Family Empowerment Scholarship to provide you funding
to help your child.
I co-authored the book Parent’s Quick Start Guide to
Autism which provides a quick, but deep dive into what
to immediately do when your child is diagnosed with
autism. When it comes to helping your young child, time
is too precious to squander.
Call to discuss your child as we test for autism,
dyslexia, dysgraphia, attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), depression, and anxiety. Visit
JimForgan.com or call (561) 625-4125.

Your ad

could be here!

Call
561-746-3244

to find out how!