User talk:Cathryn harper

This Can't Just Be ADHD, Can It?
If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD you know that the symptoms include difficulty with paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. It is very common for individuals with ADHD to miss small details, fidget, talk incessantly and struggle with following specific instructions. While ADHD is not considered a life-threatening disorder, those that have this condition can find aspects of engaging in day-to-day activities challenging. What you may not know is that frequently ADHD involves other coexisting disorders.

A coexisting condition refers to a condition that is in addition to the primary diagnosis. These conditions differ in intensity. There are several disorders or conditions that are often seen with those who have ADHD. These can include, but are not limited to:

Learning Disability: These disabilities deal with how our brains process information. They interfere with ones ability to pay attention and concentrate, making the learning process extremely difficult.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder: A disruptive disorder characterized by anti-social behavior. Typical symptoms can include lying, throwing tantrums and being extremely aggressive. This disorder can continue into adulthood, where it manifests as ASPD

Conduct Disorder: A disruptive disorder characterized by anti-social behavior. Manifestation of CD is similar to ODD with being aggressive and throwing tantrums.

Anxiety: Anxiety disorders are a form of mental illness centered on fear and panic. Common symptoms of this disorder include phobias, social anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Depression: A mood disorder where the individual tends to withdraw from society, find daily tasks challenging and find motivation to do things, such as work, extremely difficult.

Bipolar Disorder: A mood disorder that is put into several categories. Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 are the most common. Both have their own specific symptoms. Symptoms of both Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 involve extreme "highs" and extreme "lows" experienced by the affected individual. These "manic" and "depressive" episodes make things like work and basic social interaction difficult.

Tourette Syndrome: This is one of the "tic" disorders that can coexist with ADHD. While this coexisting syndrome is not a common occurrence, Tourette syndrome is very difficult to live with. Those afflicted have physical "tics" that can be chronic. These vocal tics make normal social interaction extremely difficult.

How can you determine if your child has any of these coexisting disorders? It is important to make note of any symptoms that you think are occurring. While a coexisting condition may have symptoms that are not as extreme as the primary diagnosis of ADHD, they need to be known and treated accordingly. If your child experiences anxiety, or is acting depressed or angry, it's important to discuss that with your doctor. The above list does not include all of the possible disorders that can accompany ADHD, but it does list the most common. Proper diagnosis and proper treatment will make these conditions manageable. (ADHD Coexisting Conditions)

At What Age Can a Child Wear Contacts?
When I was a kid, I didn't have much of a choice. I was very near sighted and had to wear glasses. Contacts were available, but at that time, these lenses were much thicker than they are now and they required daily cleaning, bi-weekly disinfection and a weekly enzyme cleaning. When I entered high school my parents purchased soft lenses for me. They were expensive, so the fear of losing one was very real and the daily cleaning was a chore. But for me it opened up a completely different world where I didn't have to rely on glasses, especially in the many sports I played. When my children turned out to follow in their mother's near-sighted footsteps I didn't have any idea when was the right time to introduce contacts.

After the late 1980s, optometrists rarely prescribed contact lenses to children until they were at least 16 years old. The contact lenses worked out only for children with eyes that produced enough tears to keep the soft contacts wet in the eye, otherwise they had a tendency to dry out and become uncomfortable. With rigid ("hard") gas permeable lenses, comfort was much better, but there was one problem: These contacts can pop out of the eye easily when kids are playing contact sports or otherwise jarring the body regularly, so they would often become lost.

Today, there are many types of contact lenses available and more children no younger than 8 years of age are being fitted with these lenses. The major concern has been the amount of oxygen that eyes will get during the day when they are wearing soft contact lenses. Soft lenses don't allow as much oxygen to get to the eye as rigid gas permeable lenses, but they are more comfortable than any other lens. With the creation of daily disposable soft contacts, a solution has presented itself. These lenses are very thin and comfortable. There is no need to clean or disinfect them because one just throws them away at the end of the day and puts on a fresh pair in the morning. Because they require so little maintenance is has eliminated the concern that a child would be irresponsible about caring for their contacts.

When my son turned 13, I thought introducing daily contacts would be something he would benefit from for both sports and everyday use. It didn't even occur to me to ask about my 8 year old daughter. The ophthalmologist however pointed out that if she was emotionally mature enough to deal with putting something into her eyes on a daily basis, daily disposable soft contact lenses would benefit her as well. The results have been good so far and kids with contact lenses have better visual acuity than those wearing glasses. They are especially helpful for kids who participate in sports. And the cost trade off is equitable since it eliminates the need for expensive sports goggles that fog and cause discomfort. In addition, self-esteem has always been an issue when children need corrective vision. Many kids get teased for having glasses, so contact lenses may help with their confidence.

So now, if a child, eight or older, can put the lenses in correctly and take them out at night, they can wear them. Initially, regular check-ups are recommended to determine if the lenses are causing any problems and then only annual check-ups are required. My children tend to use them selectively, trading them off with their glasses. But for them, unlike me, they now have the option to see the world without their glasses....... ,more

Can Age Related Farsightedness Be Reversed?
Having been near sighted most of my life, my comfort zone for reading was always close to my face. I was quite startled, and almost panicked, when I had to move my phone further away to read the screen clearly. If you too need to hold the paper father away to read it or if up close work such as sewing is getting more difficult to see, then you might consider going to see your optometrist or ophthalmologist to be checked for a condition known as presbyopia. As my ophthalmologist happily pointed out after asking my age, age related presbyopia is a condition that affects people usually after the age of forty. So while we can't keep from getting older, there are some treatments we can undertake to improve our sight.

Although it is still unclear of the exact causes of presbyopia, studies are continuing to be performed to better understand its origin. It is believed that it involves the weakening of the muscles controlling the optic lens of the eye or a loss of flexibility in the crystalline lens.

The quickest and most common form of correction is to wear glasses. There are different types of lenses for people who require them. Reading glasses are used to magnify vision for people who wish to read or do up close work such as knitting. Bifocal lenses are used to fix vision that requires both being able to see both far away and up close. The final degrees of corrective lenses are trifocals that correct vision for far away, up close and the vision in between. While reading glasses are a quick and easy fix to the problem, I typically will lose ten sets of reading glasses a week and this prompted me to look for a more permanent solution.

Another form of corrective treatment for presbyopia is called conductive keratoplasty (CK). This involves a surgeon who will use radio energy to correct the curvature of the cornea lens. This method is best suited to correct monovision in people who do not suffer from drastic vision changes on a regular basis. The result of this form of treatment is almost immediate. The final choice of treatment is by way of replacing the intraocular lens (IOL). This form of treatment is invasive and requires a period of recovery before any improvement is noticeable. In discussing this treatment with my ophthalmologist he described it as a pre-emptive cataract surgery where the lens is replaced, the added benefit being that you would never develop cataracts. The cost however may not be covered by your insurance and as with any option, you will want to investigate your coverage before proceeding.

Although the choices of treatments for presbyopia are not very vast they all have a great success rate. One thing that most people enjoy with the choice of acquiring glasses is that they can pick and choose from a myriad of frames to fit their personal mood and style. It becomes an expression of who you are. People who choose the more advanced treatments like the conductive keratoplasty or the intraocular lens replacement are usually those who will benefit from not having to wear glasses or for whom glasses are not an option. Discuss your options with your doctor and decide which would benefit your life style and budget. Growing older doesn't mean you have to settle for seeing things less clearly than you want to....... more

Tips for a Long and Happy Marriage
When I was getting married, I was inundated with tons of advice about having a long and happy marriage. At the time I thought it friendly, but useless counsel. As I approach my twentieth anniversary, I recognize the wisdom of this guidance and realize that it can be beneficial for couples at all stages of their married life.

Pick your battles and your truces: Married couples are going to fight and argue. In fact, many psychologists and marriage experts say that normal levels of arguing are actually healthy for a marriage. But part of having a happy marriage is knowing when you need to fight things through to resolution and when you need some cooling off time. Not every argument carries the same weight and sometimes letting things go is the best way to keep the peace.

Listen to what your partner is saying: As simple as this sounds, it can be difficult for many of us in any type of long term relationship. Part of listening is determining what type of response your partner is looking for. I used to try to relate my experiences to what my husband was trying to talk about. After time, I realized he was looking for me to encourage him to speak of his concerns, not echo mine.

Spend time with each other: It is very important for the two of you to spend time together as a couple, even for as little as an hour or two once a week. If you have children or other responsibilities, like a business, it is understandable that this could be difficult. But recognize that there will always be other priorities and tasks, and that waiting for a perfect lull in your activities will be impossible. Recharging and reconnecting will make it easier to meet those other life demands together.

Don't get so comfortable that you forget to be thoughtful: after having three children, and spending much of my time worrying about their needs, I didn't even realize that I had stopped doing things for my husband. I no longer brought him home new clothes, or his favorite foods from the grocery store. I didn't know until he commented on my lack of attention, that just being thoughtful, like picking up something for him, lets him know how I still feel about him.