Executive Functioning: What is it?

Do you find yourself having difficulty carrying out a task or just getting started with it? Is it hard to remember things that friends or family tell you? These skills including memory, planning and prioritizing are just a few skills that fall under the umbrella of executive functioning. Executive functioning skills are key to success in school, work and social settings. Below, we have listed some of the core executive functioning skills and we discuss a little bit about each one. 

Response inhibition: You may find yourself having difficulty saying things before you think about how it might make someone else feel. You also might act on impulse often.  

Sustained attention: It might be difficult to focus during class or when another person is talking. Sometimes longer periods of focus on a project or chore can feel draining. 

Time management: You might find yourself losing track of time during the day. Deadlines might be difficult to meet. 

Working memory: You might easily misplace items such as keys, your phone, etc. You also might easily forget what someone tells you. 

Task initiation:  You might have difficulty getting started with an assignment or a task for work. You feel anxiety or stress when you have to start something new. 

Emotional control: You might get upset when things go wrong. You might find yourself getting easily annoyed or frustrated. 

Planning/prioritizing: You might be easily overwhelmed by projects. It might be difficult to plan for assignments or prioritize deadlines. 

Goal Directed Persistence: It is difficult to work towards long term goals. You prefer to stay in the present moment and not focus on future plans/goals. 

Flexibility: You might get upset when you have to form a different plan. You also might have trouble thinking of different solutions to a problem. 

Organization: It might be hard to organize a desk, locker or other workspace. It is stressful to find a way to keep things organized and clean. 

There are many strategies and therapy tools that can be used to assist with deficits in executive functioning. A speech therapist is an excellent source to help with intervention for executive functioning skills Your therapist can help provide education on executive functioning skills and can assist with developing these skill sets. Your therapist might also teach strategies such as organization skills, use of flowcharts and reviewing work. Your therapist can also work with you to develop environmental modifications for work or in the classroom setting. If you have any questions related to executive functioning, email or call our office. We would be happy to provide a consultation and discuss your concerns. 

Adapted from: From Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents (2nd ed.) Copyright 2010 by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare. Reprinted in Smart but Scattered Teens. Copyright 2013 by The Guilford Press.

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Early Signs of Autism in Young Children: Supporting Neurodiverse Development

At Building Blocks, we are continuously learning about neurodiversity and how to best support the patients we see. Over the last several years, we have deepened our understanding through continuing education, exploring how autism can present differently across the lifespan and between males and females. In this blog post, we will discuss what autism may look like and highlight strengths you might observe. This is not all-encompassing, so any questions you have should be directed to your therapist, doctor, or another medical provider.

Understanding and diagnosing autism in a child or adult can sometimes be complex. We are here for you, with a dedicated team of providers ready to walk alongside you on your journey. Let’s start by highlighting some strengths often associated with autism:

• Creativity and a rich imagination

• Attention to detail

• Exceptional memory skills

• Honesty and authenticity in interactions

• Passion and a strong work ethic

Each child brings a unique perspective to the world, and that is the beauty of the human brain. By focusing on strengths, we can empower children to thrive. A helpful resource to explore is Parent Handouts & Resources | Explaining Brains, which offers videos, handouts, books, and other tools to help understand the brain.

How Autism May Present in Young Males:

• Differences in social and emotional communication

• Challenges with peer relationships

• Difficulty maintaining eye contact

• Difficulty with transitions

• Observable repetitive movements, such as hand flapping

• Echolalia (repeating words and phrases)

• Sensory processing differences

• Fixated interests in play or specific topics, referred to as “enthusiasms” by Barry Prizant

How Autism May Present in Young Females:

• Challenges maintaining social interactions

• Preference for solitary play or appearing shy

• “Masking” behaviors in social settings, such as copying others or blending in

• Use of scripted language or play

• Hyperlexia (advanced reading skills with possible challenges in comprehension), which can occur in both males and females

If your child exhibits some of the characteristics listed above, we are here to help. At Building Blocks, we provide a safe, supportive space for children, adults, and families. Our strengths-based approach empowers individuals by embracing differences and offering personalized support. We look forward to partnering with you on your journey!

Sources:

The differences in autism based on gender | The Spectrum

Parent Handouts & Resources | Explaining Brains

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Understanding Selective Mutism

Selective mutism is a complex disorder that is sometimes difficult for people to understand. This disorder is usually rooted by anxiety and fear. If your child has selective mutism, they may have difficulty speaking in new social situations. This might include speaking with peers on a sports team, at the playground and/or in the classroom. Without intervention, this disorder often interferes with a child’s academic achievement and also social relationships.

It is important to recognize that selective mutism does not necessarily mean there is a deficit in the child’s language skills. It is also important to understand that we might not be able to pinpoint the exact cause of selective mutism when it occurs. Selective mutism can be linked to genetics, a family history of mental health disorders and can be caused by fear/anxiety in the child. If you suspect your child may have selective mutism, an appointment with your pediatrician would be a great first step. They may refer you to a neuropsychologist, a speech therapist and/or a counselor. Treatment may be done by a team of professionals over time and may consist of reducing anxiety and building confidence in the child. 

If you suspect your child has selective mutism, we can provide therapy services that support your child’s communication and services that allow the child’s confidence to grow in social situations. If you have questions regarding selective mutism or other speech, language or feeding disorders please call or email our office. We would be happy to walk alongside you and find the best team for your child. For more information, you can also visit the Selective Mutism Association website. 

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Common Referrals in Myofunctional Therapy

When there is a diagnosis of a myofunctional disorder, it can be kind of confusing. Sometimes, your therapist might refer you to many different providers. We understand this can be overwhelming and that is why we wrote this blog post to educate about the different providers that we often refer to. When we make a referral for a patient, it is so we can get the most accurate picture of a child and so we can provide the best services possible. We are here to help you advocate for your child. Check out the most common referrals we make when we are treating a myofunctional disorder. 

Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor: 

When treating a myofunctional disorder, we want to rule out any concerns related to the airway. This might include having a provider look at tonsils/adenoids. They also might look at any other structural differences that may be a contributing factor to sleep disordered breathing. 

Craniosacral Therapy: 

We often refer to craniosacral therapy to release tension that may be occuring with a myofunctional disorder. If the tongue or other facial muscles are not being used appropriately, other muscles may be recruited to compensate; therefore, leading to tension in the body. Some hotspots for tension may include the shoulders and neck regions. Craniosacral therapy uses gentle touch/pressure to release tension in the body. It is a great compliment to myofunctional therapy. Some craniosacral therapists may also be able to work directly in the mouth releasing tension associated with the oral structures. 

Chiropractor:

A chiropractor is also an integral part of the myofunctional team. It’s a bit different from craniosacral therapy. Chiropractor care most often uses more forceful manipulations to align the spine. Chiropractors use various interventions to improve your body’s function. Chiropractic care can assist with many different things including posture, anxiety, tension and more. This can be another great treatment in adjunct with myofunctional therapy. 

Dentist/Orthodontist: 

Your therapist might also refer you to a dentist, especially one that is airway centered. A dentist trained to assess and diagnose tongue ties is critical when working on a myofunctional team. We might also refer to a dentist to rule out concerns related to the jaw joint. An orthodontist is another member of the team. We may refer to an orthodontist to speak about palatal expansion if this is a contributing factor to the myofunctional disorder. When the palate is high and narrow, the tongue might be unable to fully rest in its correct position and can restrict the airway. This can lead to issues with feeding, swallowing and breathing. 

If you have any questions pertaining to the information above, we can provide a consultation and speak with you about your concerns. We are here to support you and advocate for you and your family. We look forward to meeting you!

Let’s Look at Some Fall Books

It’s officially September! The leaves are starting to change, and it will officially fall soon. We want to share with you some of our favorite fall books to enjoy with your kiddos. Here are just a few!

• We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt

We enjoy this book for sequencing events. It is also a great, repetitive book. Repetition allows for lots of models to happen and gives the child opportunities to join in and engage. 

• There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed Some Leaves 

This book is another one with lots of repetition which is great for reinforcing language and allows the child the opportunity to predict what’s next. This book can also help with practicing rhyming skills!

• Little Acorn

This book explores how an acorn becomes a tree, and it has the cutest illustrations! The book is very informative and would be great for asking WH-questions to check for understanding.  

• It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse

This book is great for learning about facial expressions and other emotions. We like this book because it’s simple and easy to follow along with. You can make it interactive by having your child imitate the expressions or making pumpkins of your own!

Unlocking Opportunities

We understand that speech therapy and other disciplines can be expensive. We want to take the time to provide you with some helpful resources that would allow your child to continue to receive speech and language therapy during hard financial times. Below are five different foundations you might be eligible to apply for. We listed just some of the information/requirements. It is important to visit the links provided and read the full criteria for the application process. If you have questions or would like assistance with this process, we would be happy to help you. We would love to help you unlock opportunities for your child.

Family Hope Foundation:

This foundation serves families in the West Michigan Area. They have both spring and fall application cycles and families can apply for up to 1,000 dollars. The fall application is open NOW!

Family Hope Foundation | Therapy Scholarships (thefamilyhopefoundation.org)

Small Steps

This foundation awards grants up to 3,000 dollars. Small Steps has four application cycles and is for individuals up to age 22.  

01-2024+revised-individual-application.pdf (squarespace.com)

Small Steps In Speech

Oracle Health Foundation

This foundation provides grants throughout the United States. You must be 18 years of age or younger to apply for a grant. 

Pediatric Medical Grants | Oracle Health Foundation

The Orange Effect Foundation

For this grant, all insurance must be exhausted before the grant can be put into place. This foundation also has four different application cycles. Those up to 21 years of age will be considered. 

Grant Application - The Orange Effect Foundation

United Healthcare Foundation

For this foundation, the individual must be 16 years of age or younger. The regional boards for this application meet once per month to review applications. 

Apply for a Grant | UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation (uhccf.org)

Foods for Oral Development

At our office, we love to promote feeding with a variety of hard, crunchy foods. This is because it is important for the development of the jaw and muscle function. What comes to mind when you think of typical toddler foods? Maybe, applesauce pouches, mac and cheese, goldfish crackers. These foods are yummy and convenient. They may still be good to have in moderation. However, a lot of the “typical” toddler foods are soft and processed foods that don’t put the oral muscles to work. It is important to allow your toddler to get a lot of chewing practice as they grow. This chewing practice can assist with proper oral development which may in turn assist with preventing the need for later intervention (i.e. orthodontic work, sleep apnea, speech therapy). 

We want to provide you with some top foods for your toddler so they can thrive!

Veggies: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, cucumbers, and peppers are just a few

Meat: strips of chicken, bacon, jerky 

Fruits: apples, strawberries, mangos, pears

Other: chips, crackers - should be consumed in moderation due to often getting stuck in the teeth leading to build up

At Building Blocks Therapy Services, our therapists are equipped with the skills and knowledge to help your child with their feeding skills. Please, visit www.buildingblocksgr.com or call (616) 570-925 to learn more about supporting your child’s feeding development. We look forward to building a relationship with you and your child!

Sources: Begin Balanced-Priya Bhasin