Blogs - Jeevaniyam Ayurveda Hospital

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Dr Reshmi Pramod

02/Jul/2022

The Role Of Parents & Teachers Towards ADHD Students

ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviours (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active. It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviours. The symptoms continue, can be severe, and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends. The teachers and parents play a major role in shaping the lives of the child. The teachers should be dutiful and willing to uplift the child. The parents should undertake special responsibility to teach the child. Thus, ensuring that ADHD students can study and be on par with the other students.

The main signs of children with ADHD are

Demanding attention by talking out of turn or moving around the room.
Having trouble following instructions, especially when they’re presented in a list, and with operations that require ordered steps, such as long division or solving equations.
Often forgetting to write down homework assignments, complete them, or bring completed work to school.
Often lack fine motor control, which makes note-taking difficult and handwriting a trial to read.
Having problems with long-term projects where there is no direct supervision.
Not to pull their weight during group work and may even keep a group from accomplishing its task.

Parents should be extremely cooperative towards their teachers. They should regularly check their notebook and complete the notes if, the child has not completed them in class. The teachers cannot prepare notes separately for the students, so the parents should undertake this responsibility. The ADHD kid is usually not intellectually disabled and hence can learn like the other kids if they are given special attention. Parents must accept the fact that children with ADHD have functionally different brains from those of other children. While children with ADHD can still learn what is acceptable and what isn’t, their disorder does make them more prone to impulsive behaviour.

The teachers play a special role in evaluating the needs of the children. They should access their strengths and weaknesses and undertake a step accordingly. The teachers can help the students to stay focused and learn to their full capabilities. The teacher should always think positively and should not deny helping such students. Some teachers simply use such statements ‘We are always pestering the kid to write notes, but the child is not writing’. But such kids may be very smart but due to the teacher’s discouragement, the child may not develop fully to their potential.

At Jeevaniyam, with the help of our professionals, we detect ADHD at a very young age in children and help them overcome it with a combination of our ayurvedic protocols and two basic principles of behaviour management therapy. The first is encouraging and rewarding good behaviour (positive reinforcement). The second is removing rewards by following bad behaviour with appropriate consequences, leading to the extinguishing of bad behaviour (punishment, in behaviourist terms). You teach your child to understand that actions have consequences by establishing rules and clear outcomes for following or disobeying these rules. These principles must be followed in every area of a child’s life. That means at home, in the classroom, and in the social arena.

Dr Reshmi Pramod

29/Jun/2022

Ayurveda Beyond Therapeutics In Autism

Ayurveda is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems that was developed more than 3,000 years ago in India. It’s based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and Indriya. Its main goal is to promote good health, and not fight diseases. However, treatments may be geared toward specific health problems. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication. The reason for autism cannot be tagged with a single factor and this must be dealt with and healed at the physical and psychological levels.

Agasthya protocol in Ayurveda is proved to be one of the best ways in handling autism. One of the components of Agasthya Protocol highlights the importance of lifestyle management.

Dinacharya

– Dinacharya or daily routine is a concept in Ayurvedic medicine that looks at the cycles of nature and bases daily activities around these cycles.
Rithucharya

– “Ritu” which means season and “charya” which means Regimen or discipline. Ritucharya consists of lifestyle and ayurvedic diet routine to cope with the bodily and mental impacts caused by seasonal changes as recommended by Ayurveda.
Rathricharya

– The regimen followed between evening hours (sunset) and night shall be included under Ratricharya. These activities shall be strictly followed for the maintenance of health and also to prevent many diseases.

Autism, as we are aware about has a strong connection with the gut-brain balance and children who are suffering from autism has various issues with the gut flora balance. So with the main principles of Agasthya protocols along with dietary protocols and Vyayama or physical exercise , we can regain the biological rhythm and thereby clearing the issues in the gut and improve the derailed metabolism of the child. Along with this we conduct Panchakarma therapies like dhara which helps correct the sleep pattern,, sensory issues and higher mental functions.

At Jeevaniyam, for children we recommend to follow the timely protocols of at least 6 regimes like awakening, brushing, toilet activities, food habits, physical activity and sleeping patterns to tune the biological rhythm of the child. One of the most important question asked by any parent with an autistic child will be

“What would be the future of my child?”

We detect & train children from a very young age with our unique integrative treatment, therapies & training which helps the child to achieve a social smile. Our unique concept at Jeevaniyam is to identify the hidden talents and inner strength of special children and training them to be part of the inclusive world. This will help the child find his own pace & harmony of living that can lead him to his destiny. It includes basic training like feeding, toileting, social interaction and other daily activities. It is important to find the reason, like sensory or organic in each child and train him accordingly. Here, a team of trained special educators, caretakers, and therapists work under doctors making it a complete team to train the child to become self-dependent and more confident.

Dr Reshmi Pramod

23/Jun/2022

Why Crawling An Important Milestone For Infants?

Crawling is considered the first form of independent movement. It helps develop and enhance our vestibular/balance system, sensory system, cognition, problem-solving skills, and coordination. To help your baby succeed at crawling, start with exposing them to tummy time while playing. This is achieved by infants before they learn to walk. Crawling requires cross-lateral movement, which many believe activates both the right and left sides of the brain. These types of exercises can help the emotional and logical sides of the brain develop for better learning growth. In the traditional crawl, babies start by learning to balance on their hands and knees. Then they figure out how to move forward and backward by pushing off with their knees. At the same time, they are strengthening the muscles that will soon enable them to walk.

Infants typically begin to crawl between 6 and 10 months, although some may skip the crawling phase altogether and go straight to pulling up, cruising, and walking. As children crawl their brain is making more and more connections. Each connection is a solution to a problem that they have solved with crawling. The more they crawl the more streamlined these connections become and the more automatic the skill becomes. Following are the different types of crawling depending on the way the infants move:

Classic crawl:

Moving one arm and the opposite leg together at the same time to push forward
Scoot:

Dragging the bottom across the floor
Crab crawl:

Moving with one knee bent and the other extended, either forward or sideways
Commando crawl:

Lying flat on the tummy and using the arms to move forward
Backward crawl:

Moving in a backward direction while crawling

Crawling provides them an opportunity to explore their environment. Before the skill becomes automatic, the child is using a lot of their brain just to move and figure out what is going on and how to achieve this great feat of independent movement. The research found that children who were crawling showed greater memory retention when tested in both the same and different settings. These skills are important because they offer the child the strength that is required to be able to walk, run and jump.

At Jeevaniyam, our doctors check for crawling as it is one of the infant’s first growth milestones to make sure that the child is not having any issues in brain functionality. In some cases, infants may skip the crawling phase altogether and start walking but it is always good to check with a doctor to make sure that the brain development is proper to avoid future developmental issues.

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Dr Reshmi Pramod

16/Jun/2022

What Is Stimming Behaviour?

Stimming behaviour more commonly known as self-stimulatory behaviour is found in children who make repetitive or unusual movements or noises.

Stimming might include hand and finger mannerisms like finger-flicking and hand-flapping. unusual body movements like rocking back and forth while sitting or standing. These movements are used solely to stimulate one’s own senses.

This behaviour is common in many individuals with developmental disabilities; it appears to be most common in children and adults with autism. It is important to note that not all self-injurious behaviours are considered to be self-stimulatory. Self-injurious behaviour can also be communicative.

Stimming seems to help autistic children manage emotions like anxiety, anger, fear and excitement. For example, stimming might help them to calm down because it focuses their attention on the stim or produces a calming change in their bodies.

Stimming might also help children manage overwhelming sensory information. For autistic children who are oversensitive to sensory information, stimming can reduce sensory overload because it focuses their attention on just one thing. For autistic children who are under sensitive, stimming can stimulate ‘underactive’ senses.

Some of the common stimming behaviours are

Biting your fingernails
Twirling your hair around your fingers
Cracking your knuckles or other joints
Drumming your fingers
Tapping your pencil
Jiggling your foot
Whistling

In an autistic person, stimming might involve:

Rocking
Flapping hands or flicking or snapping fingers
Bouncing, jumping, or twirling
Pacing or walking on tiptoes
Pulling hair
Repeating words or phrases
Rubbing the skin or scratching
Repetitive blinking
Staring at lights or rotating objects such as ceiling fans
Licking, rubbing, or stroking particular types of objects
Sniffing at people or objects
Rearranging objects

Other repetitive behaviours can cause physical harm. These behaviours include:

Head banging
Punching or biting
Excessive rubbing or scratching at skin
Picking at scabs or sores
Swallowing dangerous items

Stimming actions can vary in intensity and can occur due to various emotions. Autistic people of any age may stim occasionally or constantly in response to excitement, happiness, boredom, stress, fear, and anxiety. They may also stim during times when they are feeling overwhelmed.

At Jeevaniyam, we do manage these conditions for children with autism if, it is physically harming them. Our experts manage this using specified management protocols and trained professionals.

Dr Reshmi Pramod

03/Jun/2022

Role of Ayurveda in Learning Disorder

Learning disorders involve an inability to acquire, retain, or broadly use specific skills or information, resulting from deficiencies in attention, memory, or reasoning and affecting academic performance. Affected children may be slow to learn names of colours or letters, to count, to learn, to read or to write. Learning disorders include a group of disorders such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia. Each type of disorder may coexist with another. Learning disorders are not caused due to physical or mental illness, economic condition, or cultural background; neither do they indicate that the child is weak or lazy.

Identifying a learning disorder is a complex process. The first step is to rule out vision, hearing, and developmental issues that can overshadow the underlying learning disorder. Once these tests are completed, a learning disorder is identified using psycho educational assessment, which includes academic achievement testing along with a measure of intellectual capability. This test helps determine if there is any significant discrepancy between a child’s potential and performance capability (IQ) and the child’s academic achievement (school performance). A learning disorder cannot be cured. However, with timely intervention and support, children with learning disorders can be successful in school. Parents and teachers are the first persons to notice that the child is finding it difficult to read, write or learn. If you think that your child may have a learning disorder, seek help from a mental health expert or other trained specialists for the required intervention program or therapy.

Ayurvedic medicines are most effective in treating all types of learning disorders. These medicines are made of nature’s finest herbs and are processed without adding chemics. These herbs are known to calm the nerves and result in a neurological balance in the body. Some of those herbs are as follows

Brahmi – Known for improving impaired mental functions in the body.
Mandukparni – Known for increasing learning capabilities. It is filled with stress relieving properties.
Ashwagandha – Known for decreasing excitatory neurotransmitters and suppressing over activeness in our brain.
Jyotismati – Known for increasing memory power.

At Jeevaniyam, our unique approach is done by the process of learning is explained in Ayurveda as gaining knowledge. This includes mainly four factors according to Ayurveda philosophy soul, intellect, Mind and the senses. Learning happens when these factors work together towards that single aim.

Dr Reshmi Pramod

31/May/2022

Teaching Strategies For Students With Learning Disorders

Children with specific learning disorders often have other developmental disorders too, such as ADHD. A child can have more than one specific learning disorder. Children with a specific learning disorder find a specific area of learning very challenging, such as reading, spelling, handwriting or mathematics, but do well in other areas of learning. Some may even excel in other areas of learning. Most instruction at home or in school can be adapted to accommodate the needs of students with learning disorders such as dyslexia or other learning problems. These strategies can be used to modify instruction in most subject areas to improve students’ comprehension of tasks and the quality of their work.

At Jeevaniyam, we support students with learning disorders, or a parent looking for some guidance. We use the following steps to help the child to overcome their issues.

Break Learning Into Small Steps

Often also referred to as “chunking”, this strategy involves breaking down complex information into smaller and simpler parts that are easy for the brain to digest. Chunking is said to relieve the cognitive load on the brain and engage short-term memory in a more efficient manner.

Visual Aid

Visual aids are invaluable in teaching all students, especially those struggling with a learning difficulty. The human brain can process images faster and better than it can words. Using images, educational films and other visual aids such as diagrams and charts during lessons can help students build a direct correlation between words and their meanings – making learning much easier and faster.

Memory Techniques

Revision reinforces lessons taught in class, but students may still benefit from learning certain memory techniques to help them remember how one chunk of information relates to another. Mnemonics, mind maps and even simple diagrams can go a long way towards helping children understand and remember information easily.

Appeal To Multiple Senses

To improve comprehension and retention when studying, incorporate multiple senses.

For children who are visual learners, you can try:

Hanging up pictures and setting up models
Highlighting information in different colors
Asking students to create lesson-based art

For those who prefer audio-based lessons, you can:

Listen to books on tape or read aloud
Watch a video with accompanying audio
Utilize rhymes, chants and language games

Some kids are kinesthetic learners, those who learn through:

Lessons with finger paints, puzzles or sand
Modeling objects or designs in clay
Using small objects to represent numbers

Tactile teaching involves the sense of touch, such as:

Pairing counting with clapping or other movements
Using a highlighter to color-code passages while reading
Manipulating materials, like blocks, to visualize a scene

Dr Reshmi Pramod

27/May/2022

Learning Disorders V/S Scholastic Backwardness

Many children may struggle in school with some topics or skills from time to time. When children try hard and still struggle with a specific set of skills over time, it could be a sign of a learning disorder. Having a learning disorder means that a child has difficulty in one or more areas of learning, even when overall intelligence or motivation is not affected.

Scholastic Backwardness is one of the commonest educational problems encountered in children and consists of the fact that the child’s performance at school falls below the expectations, i.e., according to the level of his intelligence.

The reasons for children having are:

Learning Disorder	Scholastic Backwardness
Hereditary – It is observed that a child, whose parents have had a learning disability, is likely to develop the same disorder.	Learning Disorder – Kids who are diagnosed with the following issues: 1, Dyslexia – Difficulty in reading 2, Dyscalculia – Difficulty with math 3, Dysgraphia – Difficulty with writing
Illness during and after birth – An illness or injury during or after birth may cause learning disorders. Other possible factors could be drug or alcohol consumption during pregnancy, physical trauma, poor growth in the uterus, low birth weight and premature or prolonged labour.	Intellectual Development Disorder – Children who have intellectual disability can have problems in academics as taught in regular school. On the opposite end of the spectrum, children who have very high IQ scores can become bored and feel a lack of stimulation in the school curriculum lag in academics.
Stress during infancy – A stressful incident after birth such as high fever, head injury, or poor nutrition.	Developmental Disorders – Autism spectrum disorder.
Environment – Increased exposure to toxins such as lead in paint, ceramics, toys etc.	Emotional Disorders – Anxiety, depression and phobias.
Comorbidity – Children with learning disabilities are at a higher than average risk for attention problems or disruptive behaviour disorders.	Physical Issues – Vision and Hearing problem

At Jeevaniyam, as a first step we do an evaluation by a healthcare professional which concerns about the child’s behaviour or emotions. We do manage learning disorder and scholastic backwardness with the help of ayurvedic protocols along with talk therapy, special education services and other learning development protocols which are developed in house.

Dr Reshmi Pramod

17/May/2022

Recognising & Coping with Learning Disorders

Learning disorder is an information-processing problem that prevents a person from learning a skill and using it effectively. Learning disorders generally affect people of average or above-average intelligence. As a result, the disorder appears as a gap between expected skills, based on age and intelligence, and academic performance. Many children may struggle in school with some topics or skills from time to time. When children try hard and still struggle with a specific set of skills over time, it could be a sign of a learning disorder. Having a learning disorder means that a child has difficulty in one or more areas of learning, even when overall intelligence or motivation is not affected.

Factors that might influence the development of learning disorders include:

Family history and genetics. A family history of learning disorders increases the risk of a child developing a disorder.
Prenatal and neonatal risks. Poor growth in the uterus (severe intrauterine growth restriction), exposure to alcohol or drugs before being born, premature birth, and very low birth weight have been linked with learning disorders.
Psychological trauma. Psychological trauma or abuse in early childhood may affect brain development and increase the risk of learning disorders.
Physical trauma. Head injuries or nervous system infections might play a role in the development of learning disorders.
Environmental exposure. Exposure to high levels of toxins, such as lead, has been linked to an increased risk of learning disorders.

Some of the symptoms of learning disorders are

Difficulty telling right from left
Reversing letters, words, or numbers, after first or second grade

Difficulties recognizing patterns or sorting items by size or shape
Difficulty understanding and following instructions or staying organized
Difficulty remembering what was just said or what was just read
Lacking coordination when moving around
Difficulty doing tasks with the hands, like writing, cutting, or drawing
Difficulty understanding the concept of time

At Jeevaniyam, we use our specialized and individualised Ayurvedic approach for the treatment for learning disorders for children with learning disorders who often need extra help and instruction that are specialized for them. Having a learning disorder can qualify a child for special education services in our facility. A team of professionals, including a doctor, a psychologist, special education teacher, occupational therapist, social worker or nurse will constantly monitor and improve the child’s improvement in all aspects.

Dr Reshmi Pramod

09/May/2022

Music Therapy For ADHD

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), often shows up as the inability to concentrate for prolonged periods of time, being unable to follow instructions, having difficulty completing detailed tasks and being prone to error. It can be frustrating to live with and being unable to fully focus often causes stress. However, music therapy may be able to help and may even increase your ability to concentrate. We use music in order to help you channel emotions and release them. There are two forms of music therapy. In one, you create music as an emotional release. In the other, you listen to music while performing a creative activity. Both can be done in group sessions or one on one with the therapist.

If you choose to create music, your first concern may be that you do not know how to play an instrument. However, the ones provided are very basic – and anyone can play them in an expressive manner – so there is no need to worry. Neither form pressures you into speaking with your therapist. And everything happens in a relaxing environment. Music therapy is a form of expressive therapy.

An ADHD mind has lower levels of dopamine – the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, attention, working memory, and focus. Music activates both sides of the brain, engaging your entire brain so the activated “muscles” can work together and even perhaps become stronger. This leads to a boost in motivation and the ability to focus. Group music therapy can be both a social and physical activity. You meet like-minded people, and people who understand your condition and what you are going through. Playing instruments, you collaborate and work together to create new music. Often people develop strong friendships. After all, any neurological condition can be isolating.

At Jeevaniyam, we implement music therapy to prevent that attention deficit and hyperactivity. Music therapy aims for hyperactivity to decrease and attention span to increase. Music also soothes anxiety and stress in the body, and children with ADHD often feel anxious and stressed. For children with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD), music therapy boosts attention and focus, reduces hyperactivity, and strengthens social skills.

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Dr Reshmi Pramod

29/Apr/2022

Role Of Ayurveda In Academic Dysfunction

Academic dysfunction and learning disability hold pluralistic definitions but possess similar effects so far, the parents and teachers of affected students are concerned. The ambiguous apprehension of parents regarding the remedial training and interventions has enforced them to receive direction from Complementary and Alternative Medical Systems (CAM). Since Ayurveda significantly outstands among CAM system in Kerala, it proves better management in children with Learning disabilities.

Learning disability [LD] is the significant discrepancy between the predicted and obtained achievement of IQ. It has been technically defined as a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of academic skills presumed to have a root cause at the level of central nervous system. Whereas academic dysfunction [AD] is defined as the extent to which a student, teacher or institution has not achieved their educational goals, that has been validated through examinations or continuous assessment criteria’s.

Some of the symptoms of learning disability are

Difficulty telling right from left
Reversing letters, words, or numbers, after first or second grade
Difficulties recognizing patterns or sorting items by size or shape
Difficulty understanding and following instructions or staying organized
Difficulty remembering what was just said or what was just read
Lacking coordination when moving around
Difficulty doing tasks with the hands, like writing, cutting, or drawing
Difficulty understanding the concept of time

Ayurveda Samhita mentions herbs for addressing imbalances in memory and attention. The regional growth of indigenous medicine gave significant contributions to the development of primary health care. Ayurveda has various treatment methodologies like dhara, thalapothicil, shirodhara, shirobhasti which were very beneficial for the children. Certain drugs like Brahmi, Shankapushpi, Jatamansi etc are safe and effective herbal options for antidepressants, stimulants, and antipsychotics which are commonly used to treat these children. Yoga and pranayama also work great for young children to improve their concentration.

At Jeevaniyam, we do evaluations by our healthcare professionals for other concerns about the child’s behaviour or emotions. We give the right referrals & treatment plans for parents, healthcare providers, and the school that can work together to find the right balance. Children with learning disorders often need extra help and instruction that are specialized for them. We have different learning modules that help them achieve their social smile.

Older Posts

The Role Of Parents & Teachers Towards ADHD Students

The main signs of children with ADHD are

Ayurveda Beyond Therapeutics In Autism

Dinacharya

Rithucharya

Rathricharya

“What would be the future of my child?”

Why Crawling An Important Milestone For Infants?

Classic crawl:

Scoot:

Crab crawl:

Commando crawl:

Backward crawl:

What Is Stimming Behaviour?

Some of the common stimming behaviours are

In an autistic person, stimming might involve:

Other repetitive behaviours can cause physical harm. These behaviours include:

Role of Ayurveda in Learning Disorder

Teaching Strategies For Students With Learning Disorders

Break Learning Into Small Steps

Visual Aid

Memory Techniques

Appeal To Multiple Senses

For children who are visual learners, you can try:

For those who prefer audio-based lessons, you can:

Some kids are kinesthetic learners, those who learn through:

Tactile teaching involves the sense of touch, such as:

Learning Disorders V/S Scholastic Backwardness

Recognising & Coping with Learning Disorders

Factors that might influence the development of learning disorders include:

Some of the symptoms of learning disorders are

Music Therapy For ADHD

Role Of Ayurveda In Academic Dysfunction

Treatments

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