LD Expert

LDE 63: Dear Moms of Neurodiverse Learners... - Megan Champion

“Am I really alone out there in the world? Am I the only mom who feels this way?”
Being the mom of a neurodiverse child can be difficult and lonely.
In this episode of the LD Expert Podcast, Jill Stowell is talking to Megan Champion, mother of a neurodiverse child, host of the "On The Hard Days" podcast, and founder of "Mothers Together."
Megan shares her story, and she has some important messages to share with other mothers.
 

LDE 62: 2E and Misunderstood - Lauren Ma

The twice exceptional, or "2E" population can be truly baffling for parents and teachers.These students are often misunderstood because they have both skills and deficits.This means that their often high intelligence and academic success can very easily mask their weak underlying behavior or executive functioning skills.In this episode of the LD Expert Podcast, Jill Stowell and Lauren Ma, Director of Clinical Growth and Operations at Stowell Learning Centers, dig into the dichotomy of the 2E population.RESOURCES- Think:Kids - "Think skill, not will" - Collaborative Problem Solving- Take the Stone Out of the Shoe - Chapter 22: Principles for Enhancing Attention, Behavior, and Executive Function- At Wit's End - Chapter 11: Executive FunctionSpeak directly to a Learning Specialist

LDE: 61 School Refusal, Digital Media, and Medication and ADHD - Dr. Keeban Nam

"In my opinion, there’s definitely some theoretical basis to understand that anxiety has increased in relation to the introduction of technology and digital media."- Dr. Keeban NamIn this episode, Jill Stowell and Dr. Keeban Nam, psychiatrist, talk about several hot topics that were only exacerbated by the pandemic.School Refusal: Why does it happen, and why is it worse after the pandemic?Digital Media: This "new" way of communicating has become the norm, but how is it affecting teens and families? What are appropriate guidelines for digital media, and how can parents connect with their kids and teens?Medication and ADHD: When is medication helpful? When isn't it? How should parents approach this topic?These are very difficult questions for parents, and if you are struggling with any of these issues, you are not alone. --GUESTDr. Keeban Nam - Child, Adolescent, & Adult Psychiatrist
Oak Health Center: 949-258-3741
Oak Health Center
Oak Health Center on Facebook
Oak Health Center on Instagram
Oak Health Center on Twitter
Oak Health Center on LinkedIn
 
RESOURES
At Wit's End - Chapter 9: Attention and Memory Q&A
LD Expert Podcast Episode 33: Mental Health – Social Anxiety In Teens – Dr. Tracy Ballardo
LD Expert Podcast Episode 34: Sleep and Learning - Why is it so Important? - with Dr. Giancarlo Licata
LD Expert Podcast Episode 42: Video Games And What They Do To The Brain – Dr. Regine Muradian

LDE 60: Mental Flexibility Tools for Neurodiverse Learners - Jill Stowell

"The first step in building more mental and emotional flexibility is identifying the underlying skills that are not serving the student well enough."- Jill StowellAdapting to change can be really difficult for our neurodiverse learners, particularly those on the autism spectrum.In this episode, we’re going to talk about why change is so hard and look at some tools for helping your child build stronger comprehension and mental flexibility.You'll learn:
Reasons behind mental inflexibility
Tips for you and your inflexible child or teen
2 easy strategies you can use right now to integrate both hemispheres of the brain
 
SHOW NOTES
- Episode Resources and Transcript- Cross Crawls- Infinity Walk Book I: The Physical Self by Deborah Sunbeck- Infinity Walk: Preparing Your Mind to Learn! by Deborah Sunbeck

LDE 59: Autism: Diagnosis and Roadmap - Lindsey Sterling

"Be comfortable with and celebrate your child being different...Different can be hard but different doesn’t mean bad. It actually can be wonderful." -Lindsey Sterling
 
In this episode, we're talking to Dr. Lindsey Sterling - a clinical psychologist and founder of the Sterling Institute in Naples, CA. Dr. Stirling focuses on child psychology and specializes in autism and neurodiversity research and treatment.
 
This conversation provides an in-depth look at the autism evaluation and diagnosis process, including where to go and what it should look like for people of different age groups.
 
You'll learn:
Autism Diagnosis: where to get it, why it's important, and how it helps everyone
Why autism is harder to spot in girls
Autism and mental health
 
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SHOW NOTES
Episode Resources and Transcript
The Social Survival Guide for Teens on the Autism Spectrum: How to Make Friends and Navigate Your Emotions by Dr. Lindsey Sterling
LD Expert Live Broadcast: "Autism or ADHD: Why Girls Get Missed" - with Dr. Monica Blied
At Wit's End - Chapter 20: Other Causes of Learning Problems
 
GUEST - Dr. Lindsey Sterling
The Sterling Institute for Autism
The Sterling Institute for Autism on Facebook
The Sterling Institute for Autism on Instagram - @sterlingautism
Dr. Lindsey Sterling on LinkedIn

LDE 58: How Auditory Training Changed My Life - Adalyn Smith

"APD is a very hidden disability. Things can actually change. I'm not dumb or stupid or slow. I just work differently, and that's fine." -Adalyn Smith
 
Auditory processing challenges are one of the most invisible learning challenges out there, so it is difficult to understand what students with APD are faced with every day.
 
In this episode, Adalyn Smith - a college student with APD - is back on the show to talk about what it's like to have an auditory processing disorder, and how big of an impact auditory training made on her life both in and out of school.
 
Learn:
A first-hand account of what it's like to have APD as a student
What auditory training is and how it works
How auditory training can eliminate excessive exhaustion, boost confidence and self-esteem, increase academic performance, and enhance social skills
 
SHOW NOTES
Episode resources and transcript: https://stowellcenter.com/2023/04/07/episode-58-how-auditory-training-changed-my-life-adalyn-smith/
Adalyn Smith on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advocate4apd/
LD Expert Live episode with Adalyn Smith - Part 1 - https://youtu.be/hlicyIlFDYE
Advanced Brain Technology and The Listening Program - https://advancedbrain.com/
Take the Stone Out of the Shoe - Chapter 5: What Do Challenges With Processing Skills Look Like? - https://stowellcenter.com/takethestoneout
At Wit's End - Chapter 10: Auditory Processing - https://stowellcenter.com/book-atwitsend/

LDE 57: Auditory Processing: Key to Increasing Confidence and Learning - Jill Stowell

"If you or your child are struggling because of weak auditory processing, don’t let anyone tell you that it cannot be improved."-Jill StowellAuditory processing is not your hearing - it’s how the brain perceives and thinks about or processes information that comes in through your ears.In this episode, we're discussing Auditory Processing and why it has such a profound impact on learning, social skills, and general sense of confidence and well-being.You'll learn:- What it feels like to have an Auditory Processing challenge (audio simulation)- How Auditory Processing challenges look in real-work scenarios- Auditory Processing can be developed through sound therapy and active auditory training--RESOURCES- Episode resources and transcript: https://stowellcenter.com/2023/03/31/episode-57-auditory-processing-key-to-increasing-confidence-and-learning/- LD Expert Live episode with Alex Doman. LISTEN (https://stowellcenter.com/2022/02/27/using-music-improve/) or WATCH (https://youtu.be/AvCtH7meqos)- Advanced Brain Technology and The Listening Program - https://advancedbrain.com/ - LD Expert Live episode with Adalyn Smith - Part 1 - https://youtu.be/hlicyIlFDYE - Brain Gym - https://www.braingym.com/ - Take the Stone Out of the Shoe - Chapter 5: What Do Challenges With Processing Skills Look Like?- At Wit's End - Chapter 10: Auditory Processing☀️ Learn about our Summer Intensive programs (limited availability): https://stowellcenter.com/summer ➡️ Schedule a free 1-to-1 consultation with a Learning Specialist at https://stowellcenter.com/

LDE 56: Executive Function, Procrastination, and Strategies - Natalie Borrell and Alison Grant

"The students we’ve worked with are bright and as teens they look pretty grown-up. So it’s really easy for their challenges with organization or getting work in on time to be misunderstood." - Jill Stowell
 
Executive Functioning skills are our mental control skills help us to focus attention, plan, organize, follow through, and manage our behavior.
 
These real life skills are not taught in school but are expected and are key to success.
 
In this episode we're talking to Natalie Borrell and Alison Grant, Academic Life Coaches at Life Success for Teens. Learn about:
Executive Function challenges in teens
How a teen's Executive Function challenges affect self-esteem, behavior, and their parents
Procrastination: what's going on + strategies to help
Advice for parents and teens with ADHD
 
GUESTS
Natalie Borrell and Alison Grant, Founder and Coach of Life Success For Teens
Website: Life Success for Teens
Life Success for Teens on Facebook
Life Success for Teens on Instagram
RESOURCES
Episode Resources and Transcript
"7 Ways to Stop Procrastinating" - Free Download from Natalie Borrell
Executive Function Information Page
Stowell Learning Center's Learning Skills Continuum
Take the Stone Out of the Shoe - Chapter 11: Executive Function and Organization
At Wit's End - Chapter 19: Executive Function (and the teenage brain)

LDE 55: How Processing Skills Impact Behavior and Attention - Jill Stowell

"The brain is a powerful resource. At any age, we can stimulate our cognitive skills for more efficient thinking and functioning."
-Jill Stowell
 
Processing skills are a group of skills essential to learning that aren’t really taught, but are assumed to be in place. These are skills like memory, attention, auditory, visual, and language processing, logic and reasoning, and processing speed.
 
These skills impact each other and if any of these underlying skills are underdeveloped or inefficient, it will stress the attention system, impact behavior, and cause learning to be harder than it should be.
 
In this episode, we'll talk about processing skills in detail:
What they are
What processing skills challenges look like in struggling students
Training that can permanently eliminate those struggles
 
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SHOW NOTES
Episode Resources and Transcript
Take the Stone Out of the Shoe - by Jill Stowell - Chapter 5: What Do Challenges With Processing Skills Look Like?
At Wit's End - by Jill Stowell - Chapter 17: Processing Skills Development
☀️ Learn about our Summer Intensive programs (limited availability): https://stowellcenter.com/summer
➡️ Schedule a free 1-to-1 consultation with a Learning Specialist at https://stowellcenter.com/

LDE 54: Teen Anxiety - Jamie Roberts

"It will pass. Every time you’ve had anxiety or a panic attack, it has passed. In that moment, it sure does feel awful, and like it’s never going to end, but every time it has happened, it has ended. So know that there is relief in sight." - Jamie Roberts
 
In this episode, we're talking with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Jamie Roberts about teen anxiety. Learn:
How to define anxiety
Strategies to get a handle on anxiety
The importance of self-talk
How mindfulness affects anxiety and why it helps
 
Share this episode with a teen in your life, and make sure to pick up a copy of Jamie Roberts' book, Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety: A Practical Guide to Manage Stress, Ease Worry, and Find Calm. It’s written for teens in a format and style that they’ll really connect to and not feel overwhelmed by.
 
GUEST
Jamie Roberts, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Website: https://equilibriumcs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquilibriumCounseling/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurodivergenttherapist,  https://www.instagram.com/equilibriumcounseling
Newsletter: https://equilibriumcs.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=beaf37ab74511c0738d17403e&id=ed7f14e523
Book: Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety: A practical guide to mange stress, ease worry and find calm https://amzn.to/3spMKIi
 
SHOW NOTES
Episode Resources and Transcript: https://stowellcenter.com/2023/03/10/episode-54-teen-anxiety/
Take the Stone Out of the Shoe - by Jill Stowell: https://stowellcenter.com/takethestoneout/ 
 
➡️ Schedule a free 1-to-1 consultation with a Learning Specialist at https://stowellcenter.com/