Disability Information

New Research suggests that one of the reasons males are at higher risk for Autism and Schizophrenia is that they are exposed to lower rates of OGT in utero than females

5/7/13
A New study finds that in a mouse model that this maybe because in utero male fetuses are exposed to less of a protective enzyme then females. The enzyme is expressed at relatively lower levels in placentas of male versus female offspring. The enzyme is also expressed at relatively lower levels in stressed mothers. This enzyme, called OGT, also plays a pivotal role in regulating the turning on-and-off of hundreds of brain genes and in protecting the developing brain from insults
Click this link to read more about the study.

Psychotropic Medications Are Prescribed Appropriately Among U.S. Teens

4/20/13
A New study finds that medications are prescribed appropriately among US Teens. The study finding include:
"Among those youth who met criteria for any mental disorder, 14.2 percent reported that they had been treated with a psychotropic medication. Teens with ADHD had the highest rates of prescribed medication use at 31 percent, while 19.7 percent of those with a mood disorder like depression or bipolar disorder were taking psychotropic medication. Among those with eating disorders, about 19 percent were taking a psychotropic medication, and 11.6 percent of those with anxiety disorders reported taking medication.
Click this link to read more about the study.

Daily or Severe Tantrums May Point to Mental Health Issues

10/1/12
What qualifies as a typical or normal temper tantrum for a preschooler and when should parents, doctors take note. A new study looks at what is typical and what isn't. The study found that over a one month period, tantrums typically occurred:
when preschoolers were frustrated, angry, or upset (61 percent)
during daily routines, such as bedtime, mealtime, or getting dressed (58 percent)
with their parents (56 percent).
In contrast, it was less typical for preschoolers to have a tantrum:
with an adult who was not their parent, such as a babysitter or teacher (36 percent)
during which they broke or destroyed things (28 percent)
“out of the blue,” or for which parents could not discern a reason (26 percent)
that lasted an unusually long time (26 percent)
during which they hit, bit, or kicked someone else (24 percent).
Click this link to read more about the study.

What qualifies as a typical or normal temper tantrum for a preschooler and when should parents, doctors take note. A new study looks at what is typical and what isn't.

Survey Finds More Evidence That Mental Disorders Often Begin in Youth

9/23/12
About 8 percent of U.S. teens meet current criteria for having a serious emotional disturbance, according to two NIMH-funded studies published in the April 2012 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
A September 2010 found that about 20 percent of youth are affected by a mental disorder sometime in their lifetime. In this most recent analysis, Kathleen Merikangas, Ph.D., of NIMH, Ron Kessler, Ph.D., of Harvard University, and colleagues examined the prevalence of mental disorders, as well as the severity of the disorders, within a 12-month period to estimate the rate of serious emotional disturbances (SED) in youth. SED was defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) as a “mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder … that resulted in functional impairment which substantially interferes with or limits the child’s role or functioning in family, school, or community activities.” The researchers found that about 8 percent of all respondents had SED. Those with behavior disorders were most likely to be considered to have a severe disorder. Those with three or more coexisting disorders were also more likely to be severely affected. Similar to adults, anxiety disorders were the most common conditions in adolescents. Echoing many other studies, girls were more likely to have a mood or anxiety disorder or eating disorder, while boys were more likely to have a behavior disorder like ADHD or substance use disorder. Contrary to regional studies, this report showed a lower rate of depression among Hispanics compared to whites.
Click this link to read more about the study.

NIMH proposes new diagnostic category - Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS)

9/11/12
The syndrome, Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS), includes children and teens that suddenly develop on-again/off-again OCD symptoms or abnormal eating behaviors, along with other psychiatric symptoms - without any known cause. An immune-based treatment study is underway at NIH. PANS expands on Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS), which is limited to a subset of cases traceable to an autoimmune process triggered by a strep infection. The proposed criteria for PANS would include:
1. Abrupt, dramatic onset of OCD or anorexia.
2. Concurrent presence of at least two additional neuropsychiatric symptoms with similarly severe and acute onset. These include: anxiety; mood swings and depression; aggression, irritability and oppositional behaviors; developmental regression; sudden deterioration in school performance or learning abilities; sensory and motor abnormalities; somatic signs and symptoms.
3. Symptoms are unexplainable by a known neurologic or medical disorder.
Click this link to read more about PANS.

NY State report finds a 'needless risk of harm' for individuals with disabilities in the care of NY State

4/18/12
The NY Times reported that nearly 300,000 disabled and mentally ill New Yorkers face a “needless risk of harm” because of conflicting regulations, a lack of oversight and even disagreements over what constitutes abuse, according to a draft state report.
To read the NY Times article, click this link.

Rates of short term inpatient stays increases for youth between 1996 and 2007

12/27/11
Short-term inpatient psychiatric stays increased for youth but declined for older adults between 1996 and 2007, according to an analysis published online ahead of print August 1, 2011, in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Survey Assesses Trends in Psychiatric Hospitalization Rates

Dyslexic governor credits his learning disability for helping him achieve

The Governor of Connecticut, Daniel P. Malloy, has always had Dyslexia. He credits his disability for helping him learn to be a better listener and for helping him learn the lessons and master the other skills he needs to become and be the Governor. read the full article here

Disability History Museum

This is an online virtual museum that promotes understanding about the historical experience of people with disabilities by recovering, chronicling and interpreting their stories and the history of individuals with disabilities and key components of the disability rights movement. visit the museums website here

8/11/11
A substantial proportion of youth with severe mental disorders do not receive mental health care, according to data from an NIMH-funded survey published in the January 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. click here to read the full article

Developmental disabilities are on the rise
8/2/11
The rates of developmental disabilities has increased 17% of the last decade, with particular increases in the rates of ADHD and Autism.
read the article at CNN here.
To read the abstract or the full paper here.
you can also view the full paper on the CDC's site here

Proposed draft of the DSM-V released - 2/10/10
The American Psychiatric Association released a proposed draft today of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th revision (DSM-V). The DSM IV is the current version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The DSM is the 'bible' for mental health and medical providers and insurance agencies that codify our understanding of developmental, behavioral, and mental health disorders. The APA has released the draft of the new edition, which represents a decade of work by the APA in reviewing and revising the DSM. This draft is open for public review and comment on the DSM-5 Web siteuntil April 20. After that it will be further reviewed and refined before the APA conducts 3 phases of field trials to test some of the proposed diagnostic criteria before the final version is published in May 2013.

The proposed changes include a major changes in a number of areas including the removal of the diagnoses of Asperger Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS. These diagnosis will be subsumed under a broader diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders. There are also proposed changes in the Learning Disability area. One of the major changes is a proposed new diagnostic category of Temper Dysregulation with Dysphoria (TDD). The TDD diagnosis if approved would be a new diagnosis in the Mood Disorders' category where many children currently diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder would probably fall. To listen to a news story from NPR on the DSM V and children with Bipolar Disorder and the new proposed diagnosis of TDD click on this link. To see associated news coverage click on this link.


Disability rates - 12/22/09
A new national study finds that up to 13% of 8 to 15 year old children and adolescents reported having at least 1 of 6 mental disorders within the last year. About 1.8 percent of the respondents had more than one disorder, usually a combination of ADHD and conduct disorder. Among the specific disorders,

8.6 percent had ADHD, with males more likely than females to have the disorder;

3.7 percent had depression, with females more likely than males to have the disorder;

2.1 percent had conduct disorder;

0.7 percent had an anxiety disorder (GAD or panic disorder);

0.1 percent had an eating disorder (anorexia or bulimia).

Anxiety Disorders - The essential features of Anxiety Disorders are excessive anxiety and worry (apprehension, expectation) that occur more days than not, that the individual finds difficult to control, and that causes them significant stress. Resources on Anxiety Disorder include Helping your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents by S. Spence, V. Cobham, A. Wignall, and R. Rapee, Nurturing Resilience in Our Children: Answers to the Most Important Parenting Questions by R. Brooks and S. Goldstein, and Seven Steps to Help Your Child Worry Less: A Family Guide (2003) by S. Goldstein, K. Haagar, and R. Brooks. Information on the internet can be found by following the link for anxiety disorders at Medline

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurologic disorder characterized by difficulties with attention, distractibility, and/or impulsivity and hyperactivity. There is a wealth of information on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder available in books and on the internet. Some excellent resources include but are not limited to Delivered from Distraction (2005) and Driven to Distraction (1994) both by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey and published by Ballantine Books. The National Resource Center on ADHD is also an excellent source of information on this disorder. More information can be found at National Institute of Mental Health

To watch a new video from the NIMH on the symptoms of ADHD as well as some of the new areas of brain research targeting the causes of ADHD, click on this link.

While many people first think about children when ADHD is mentioned, it also exists in adults and can be just as impairing for adults as it is for children. Many adults with ADHD are first diagnosed as Adults often at the insistence of a spouse or boss. ADHD can also have a profound effect on marriages. To read a recent NY Times article on the effect ADHD can have on a marriage click on this link. To connect with a research for couples with ADHD click on this link.

NICHCY ADHD Fact Sheet

5/11/13
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) ADHD Fact Sheet.
Click this link to read go to the NICHCY page.
t Click this link to download a pdf of the Fact Sheet.




Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), alternatively known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD) is a disorder impacting an individuals' ability to process auditory information. When someone hears speech, the sound is transformed through the ear to neural impulses that travel through the brain to the speech and language processing centers of the brain. Individuals can have difficulty with each or all of the three steps of this process. If a problem exists within the ear, the individual will present with a hearing impairment or in some cases with deafness. If a problem exists in the speech or language processing centers of the brain, the individual will present with a speech and language impairment. Some individuals present with difficulties that occur as the auditory signal is sent from the ear to the language centers of the brain. This would present as an Auditory Processing Disorder. The analogy, I use is that a mother and father are talking to each other on cell phones. They are speaking clearly and have no problem with hearing, but there is static on the cell phone. This static is constantly changing (as if you were on a cell phone in a car) so that the message is at times clear and at other time is distorted or lost. If an individual presents with these difficulties, there are a number of things that can be done to try to train the brain to process in the information more clearly, to modify the environment, and/or to provide tools to amplify the important sound signals over distracting sounds in the environment.
An excellent resource on Auditory Processing Disorders is the book "Like Sound Through Water." by Karen Foli. The compelling book provides one mother's story of the process of trying to sort out what is wrong with her son, and of pursuing treatment for him.






Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. Resources on Mood issues and Bipolar Disorder include: The Bipolar Child (2002) Demitri Papolos, and Janice Papolos by Broadway Books, NY and Raising a Moody Child: How to Cope with Depression and Bipolar Disorder (2004) by Mary Fristad and Jill Golberg Arnold by Guilford Press. Information on the internet can be found at link to NIMH.

Speaking of Science- Dr. Ellen Leibenluft: The Warning Signs of Childhood Bipolar Spectrum Disorder


Depression - is a type of mood disorder that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one thinks about things, and the way one feels about oneself. A depressive disorder is not a sign of weaknesses or simply a passing bad mood. Without treatment, depressive symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression. Resources on Mood Disorders including Depression include: Raising a Moody Child: How to Cope with Depression and Bipolar Disorder (2004) by Mary Fristad and Jill Golberg Arnold by Guilford Press. A resource on treatment is Feeling Good: the New Mood Therapy (1999) by David D. Burns by Avon Books. Additional information can be found at Medline.

Depression can occur during adolescence, a time of great personal change. Teens may be facing changes in where they go to school, their friends, their after-school activities, as well as in their relationships with family members. These are all factors that can increase an adolescents risk for depression. For information on depression on teens click on this link.

Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. In epilepsy, the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. Epilepsy is a disorder with many possible causes. Anything that disturbs the normal pattern of neuron activity - from illness to brain damage to abnormal brain development - can lead to seizures. Epilepsy may develop because of an abnormality in brain wiring, an imbalance of nerve signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters, or some combination of these factors. Having a seizure does not necessarily mean that a person has epilepsy. Only when a person has had two or more seizures is he or she considered to have epilepsy. EEGs and brain scans are common diagnostic test for epilepsy.
For additional information click on the following links:
National Institue of Health Page on Epilepsy.
Epilepsy Foundation.

NICHCY Epilepsy Fact Sheet

5/12/13
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) Epilepsy Fact Sheet.
Click this link to read go to the NICHCY page.
Click this link to download a pdf of the Fact Sheet.

Intellectual Disability

NICHCY Intellectual Disability Fact Sheet

5/12/13
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) Intellectual Disability Fact Sheet.
Click this link to read go to the NICHCY page.
Click this link to download a pdf of the Fact Sheet.


Learning Disability

NICHCY Learning Disabilities Fact Sheet

5/12/13
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) Learning Disabilities Fact Sheet.
Click this link to read go to the NICHCY page.
Click this link to download a pdf of the Fact Sheet.

New Research: Knowledge About and Preoccupation With Reading Disabilities: A Delicate Balance
This study investigated the extent to which children’s knowledge about reading disabilities, preoccupation with their own reading disability, and anxiety predicted reading comprehension in fifth and sixth grade children with reading disabilities (N = 85). Participants provided rich and accurate information about reading disabilities and the academic and emotional implications of having a reading disability. Children’s knowledge about the characteristics of reading disabilities was positively associated with reading comprehension, and preoccupation with their own disability was negatively associated with reading comprehension. Girls reported higher levels of preoccupation and anxiety than boys did. In addition to gender, children’s reading comprehension, trait anxiety, and perceptions of their mothers’ worry about their reading disabilities predicted their preoccupation with their own disability. Children with the most adaptive profile in terms of reading comprehension and anxiety were those who had high levels of knowledge and low levels of preoccupation with their disability. read the article here - A Learning Disability can be very broadly defined as an unexpected difficulty in learning. Learning disabilities can be either general (more than one area of difficulty) or very specific (difficulties with decoding but good sight word reading). Having a diagnosis of a learning disability does not necessarily mean a child also meets the criteria for the educational classification of a learning disability to receive special education supports. There is a wealth of information available in print and the internet on Learning disabilities. One somewhat dense but excellent resource on reading disabilities is Overcoming Dyslexia: A New Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level by Sally Shaywitz (2004) Alfred A. Knopf. Another source is A Mind at a Time by Mel Levine (2002) Simon & Schuster. An excellent internet resource is Great Schools.

Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions (which cause marked anxiety or distress) and/or by compulsions (which serve to neutralize anxiety). Information on the internet can be found at the National institute of Mental Health.

Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD)are characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development including: reciprocal social interactions skills, verbal or nonverbal communication skills, and/or by the presence of stereotyped behavior, interests, and activities. These impairments are qualitatively different relative to the individual's developmental level of mental age. PDD NOS is sometimes used synonymously with Autism Spectrum Disorders ASDs. Individuals diagnosed with PDD NOS or with ASDs do not fit the full criteria for a more specific diagnosis such as Autism or Asperger Syndrome. Resources on PDD NOS and on ASDs include: The Science and Fiction of Autism, by Laura Schreibman (2005) Harvard University Press and Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and other ASDs by Chantall Sicile-Kira (2004) - Perigee Books, NY. More information about Autism/PDD can be found at National Institute of Mental Health - Autism.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Resources

Interview with JobTIPS Content Director focusing on individuals with ASD - 9/14/11
Job Training resource for individuals with ASD - 4/2/11
The NIMH has an updated director's blog post that reviews the progress in Autism research. It is worth a read.
Click on this link to read the director's blog from 4/1/11.

NICHCY Autism Fact Sheet

5/11/13
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) Autism Fact Sheet.
Click this link to read go to the NICHCY page.
Click this link to download a pdf of the Fact Sheet.


Peter Bearman: Increased Prevalence of Autism — What’s Causing It?
Autism is a significant public health problem. Dr. Peter Bearman, Columbia University, recently spoke with Dr. Insel about the prevalence of autism.

Click on this link to read the transcript from the NIMH

Sleep Disorders are a growing field. Many of my patients struggle with sleep and while many do not have specific sleep disorders, there lack of sleep significantly interferes with their performance and learning and worsens their other problems. The following video from Frontline explores Adolescents and Sleep, and how a lack of sleep seriously interferes with learning and behavior.

Speech and Language Disorders

NICHCY Speech and Language Disorders Fact Sheet

5/12/13
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) Speech and Language Disorders Fact Sheet.
Click this link to read go to the NICHCY page.
Click this link to download a pdf of the Fact Sheet.


Tourette Syndrome is characterized by multiple motor tics and one or more vocal tic. A tic is a sudden, rapid, recurrent, nonrhythmic, stereotyped motor movement or vocalization. They may be simple involving only a few movements, such as an eye blink, or a throat clearing noise) or complex (involving multiple muscle movements or recurrent words or phrases). In Tourette syndrome the tics may appear simultaneously or at different periods during the illness. The tics may occur many times a day, recurrently throughout a period of more than 1 year). There is a wealth of information on Tic disorders available in books and on the internet. Some excellent resources include but are not limited to Children with Tourette Syndrome A Parent's Guide, edited by Tracy Haerle (1992) Woodbine House, Tictionary: A reference guide to the world of Tourette Syndrome, Asperger Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for Parents and Professionals (2003) by Becky Ottinger, Autism Asperger Syndrome Publishing Company Kansas, and Understanding Tourette Syndrome: A Handbook for Educators (2001) by the Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada. Information on the internet can be found at the National Tourette Syndrome Association.

NICHCY Tourette Syndrome Fact Sheet

5/12/13
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) Tourette Syndrome Fact Sheet.
Click this link to read go to the NICHCY page.
Click this link to download a pdf of the Fact Sheet.