Archive for December, 2009

Is It Really Dyslexia?

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Dyslexia is one of the many learning disabilities that have an effect on language, and the acquisition of new knowledge. However, if you suspect that you have this condition, you should get a formal assessment. This is because; dyslexia can be mistaken for other learning disabilities that are related with it.

Here are some of the general symptoms that you have dyslexia and some of the related conditions that can be mistaken for it.

It Is Dyslexia!

When you have dyslexia, you may generally have some difficulty with the use of oral language. If possible, ask your parents or some relatives present during your childhood, whether you were a late talker or not. If they say yes, then this can be one sign of dyslexia. However, it can still be some other condition such as language delay.

Another characteristic would be difficulty in pronouncing words. Also, you may find it hard to acquire new vocabulary and use appropriate grammar for your age now. Directions are often confusing for you too, along with discriminating the difference of ?before vs. after?, ?right vs. left?, etc.

As a child, learning the alphabet was tedious for you. Even now, memorizing nursery rhymes and songs seem to be hard, even if you’re already an adult. Understanding concepts and the relationships of things can be something you don’t enjoy much. Additionally, word retrieval or naming problems are sometimes experienced.

It is dyslexia if you have had obvious difficulty with reading, such as learning how to read back when you were young, and inability to identify or make rhyming words. You can also have difficulty in counting the number of syllables that a word has.

Your phonological awareness can be damaged too. You may have some hearing difficulties. Plus, manipulating sounds in words is sometimes pretty hard to do. A little problem with your auditory discrimination can also be present, where you find it difficult to distinguish specific sound within a word.

Those of you not familiar with the latest on Adult Dyslexia now have at least a basic understanding. But there’s more to come.

Dyslexia can also show some difficulty in remembering shapes and names of letters. More often, you reverse your letters when writing or reading. You also tend to omit small words when you read, and stumble on long words. Comprehending what you have just read can also be a problem.

Your written language is also affected by dyslexia. You can experience some trouble in putting your ideas on paper. You can also have lots of spelling mistakes, and have problems in proofreading your work.

It Is Something Else

Some of the other conditions that are related with dyslexia are dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADD or ADHD, and dyspraxia. Some of these conditions have similar problems with dyslexia. However, they also have specific symptoms that delineate them from it.

Dysgraphia is basically difficulty with handwriting. Here you are unsure whether you are right or left handed. You also have very poor or slow handwriting. Copying can be difficult. Plus you fine motor skills are really in a bad condition.

Dyscalculia deals with extreme difficulty with math. Simple counting of objects is already hard. You can also reverse your numbers and have lots of calculation errors. Memorizing math facts are not one of your favorite things to do, along with copying math problems.

ADD or ADHD deals with difficulty on attention. You are very inattentive and easily distracted by things around you. You can also be impulsive and hyperactive at times.

Dyspraxia is basically difficulty in coordinating and planning body movements. This can affect both gross and fine motor skills. You can have some difficulty in coordinating your facial muscles, in which a simple smile can be hard to do.

When word gets around about your command of Adult Dyslexia facts, others who need to know about Adult Dyslexia will start to actively seek you out.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest acquisition: Free Adsense eBook and make sure to claim your free adsense ebook download!

The Cat Care and Health Insurance Know How’s

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Many people love their pet so much they have them insured. Cat care and health insurance is not the same thing. The first is a must while the latter can be forgone.

In order to care for your cat, you must understand your pet as a pet. You have to be responsible once you have taken the steps to acquire a feline companion. There should be no going back. So think twice, thrice and a hundred of times before committing into becoming a parent to a pet.

Cats are special. They can see sharper than humans do. They can also smell a lot better. This is the reason why you need to arrange things in your home accordingly once you have decided that a cat will soon join in.

Do not let anything that may cause them harm lying around. This is the same concept that you must apply like when you have a child. You want to protect them. That is why you keep those harmful objects out, specifically the poisonous ones. You do not want to cause your own child and pet serious accidents.

You have to provide the right cat food for your pet. You cannot give them what you had for dinner. Your bodies and its requirements are not the same. So give them the food that is specifically made for them. This way, they will get all the necessary nutrition that they need.

So before you think about owning a cat, look over the prices of the food. It may take about $8 to $12 monthly to keep your cat purring happily. Can you afford it? You may have to make some adjustments with your lifestyle to be able to accommodate the need. Just think that it will all be worth it.

You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Cat Care. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?

Recreation must also be given consideration when you own a cat. You cannot adopt one and think that it will be happy just by playing by itself. You have to find time to play with your pet and bond with it. In time, you will know what activities they enjoy. And so you will be able to make the necessary adjustments to make time for such activities.

Because of their strong sense of smell, budgeting must also be highlighted on the litter boxes of your cats. You have to give them clean and well-maintained ones. Your cat will not to their strut on an untidy litter box. Your regal baby cannot stand the stink. So be careful with how everything smells. What is okay with you may be abominable for your feline companion.

Finding the nearest veterinarian is also a must. You need them in cases when you think that something is not right with your cat. For this reason, you have to be very observant.

Yes, cats can groom themselves. But you have to help them in maintaining their teeth clean and strong. You don’t want that factor to be the reason why your cat will be depressed on its old age. So develop a habit of cleaning their teeth through brushing, flossing and having a regular teeth check up with your vet.

Health Insurance

You can do without this. But if you really want to get one, see if your trusted vet is among the list of the recommended vets of your chosen insurance. You don’t want to end up taking long trips just to be able to claim what the insurance promises to give.

It is better to hone your skills on cat care and health insurance can be put aside. But it all depends on you. There is nothing wrong with having one. Just make sure that you can afford it and it will not take toll on the monthly budget your family and feline friend require.

Now might be a good time to write down the main points covered above. The act of putting it down on paper will help you remember what’s important about Cat Care.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest acquisition: Free Adsense eBook and make sure to claim your free adsense ebook download!

Fighting Off Food Allergy Reactions

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Allergies to food are commonly dealt with by the avoidance of the allergy-causing food. When the allergen (the one that causes allergic reactions) has been recognized, the patient is then advised to eliminate it from his or her diet. This is achieved by revolutionizing the food prepared and reading carefully food labels on food products. A specific instruction when ordering food also helps avoid allergic mishaps when eating out.

All this cautiousness is due to the fact that there are individuals out there that are highly allergic in which even a tiny amount of allergens can cause major symptoms. Plus, there are also food preparations that contain some common food allergens which the average person would not usually link together.

To prevent exposure to foods that you may be allergic with, self-awareness is very important. You should know the food culprits that are causing these uncomfortable reactions. Knowledge can help you and your physician in formulating a management plan for your allergy. You should also make it a routine to scrutinize food labels when checking for possible food allergens included in the ingredients. During eat outs, do not hesitate inquiring about the ingredients of the meal you are planning to order.

Another precautionary measure, especially for those who manifest severe allergic symptoms when exposed to a food allergen, is the wearing of necklaces or bracelets provided by a medical institution to alert other people about your allergies in case of an accident, for example, to a state of unconsciousness.

Patients are also advised to constantly bring with them epinephrine self-injectibles which are prescribed by their physicians. Their physicians will instruct them how to self-administer the medication during an episode of allergic reaction.

If symptoms seem to be getting intense, emergency medics should be called to help transport the individual to the nearest hospital. Severe and sudden allergic reactions are also called anaphylactic reactions. Anaphylaxis may be fatal if not treated quickly.

Other than epinephrine injections, there are still other medications that can be prescribed by the physician to deal with allergic reactions to food. These medications would include bronchodilators, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and adrenergic agonists.

You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Food Allergies. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?

Bronchodilators relieve symptoms that are associated with difficulty of breathing. It basically dilates the bronchial air passageways of the respiratory tract that have become inflamed due to the allergic reaction which eventually helps the patient breathe normally. Highly allergy-sensitive individuals should carry with them fast-acting bronchodilators if they also experience asthmatic attacks from time to time that may be triggered by the allergic reaction.

Antihistamines alleviate symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, hives, rashes, and gastrointestinal discomforts. And corticosteroids lessen the severity of skin irritations and other inflammation caused by the allergic reaction. Antihistamines can be available in syrup or chewable tablet for easy access when a sudden allergic episode occurs.

Adrenergic agonists are utilized during emergency treatment for anaphylactic reactions. Results are immediate and highly effective. Adrenergic agonists typically alleviate symptoms of angioedema, cardiovascular collapse, bronchospasm, and hives.

In addition to medications that fight off symptoms of food allergies, there are treatments that are causing quite a stir in the medical world although there are not enough studies that have been conducted to prove that these treatments are effective.

One these revolutionary treatments includes the desensitization of the patient by administering injections of small amounts of the food allergen on a regular basis. This treatment claims that it can eventually make the patient endure the food allergen in the long run. Another is the introduction of a diluted substance that contains the food allergen underneath the tongue thirty minutes before the actual food intake. This treatment works in a way that it will defuse the symptomatic manifestations of the consumed food allergen.

Lastly, bear in mind that there is no cure to food allergies. All the aforementioned are only there to help alleviate the symptoms of allergic reactions.

Now you can be a confident expert on Food Allergies. OK, maybe not an expert. But you should have something to bring to the table next time you join a discussion on Food Allergies.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!

Online Home Decorating Catalogues

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Home Decorating? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Home Decorating.

Home decorating is often seen as a necessity however, it should be an exciting experience. There are so many home decorating styles to choose from, so many colors, such a selection of furniture and accessories. Having to renovate or change your home décor should be a period of refreshing. The whole point in redecorating, whether necessity or not, is to improve your space in order to make it feel new and create an atmosphere that makes you happy.

Deciding on a home decorating theme may be difficult since there are so many great ones to choose from. Browsing online home decorating catalogues may help you to make up your mind regarding what’s best for your space. Online home decorating catalogues are quite convenient because they don’t require you to leave your home. Without stepping outside of your house, you can browse for hours, numerous online home decorating catalogues.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Because there are so many online decorating catalogues, you might want to narrow the search. If you’re looking for a particular item such as furniture, there are online home decorating catalogues which specialize in furniture only. If you are looking for accessories for a particular theme such as contemporary or French country, there are online home decorating catalogues that specifically deal with accessories for your home. There are catalogues for flooring, lighting, paint and any item you might choose to use in your home decorating project. The Internet provides a world-wide shopping center. Access to home decorating catalogues from all over the world gives you a selection that no department store could offer.

Picking items from online home decorating catalogues will provide you an opportunity to find unique items for your home. A great example of the benefits of online home decorating catalogues from other parts of the world is, using tuscan design for your decorating project. Because this is a theme that is derived from the cultural heritage of Italy, finding accessories or even fabric to fit the tuscan theme may compel you to shop from an online home decorating catalogue from Italy. If you live in North America, chances are you aren’t going to hop on a plane, go to Italy and shop for accessories and fabric. The online shopping option allows you to have the things you want for your home without going out and searching. With buy direct online shopping, it’s as simple as finding the articles you want, whether a pair of silver candlesticks or a terracotta jug, using various forms of payment, you can order these items and have them shipped to you from anywhere in the world.

How do you access these online home decorating catalogues? The Internet makes it very easy for you to find these catalogues. Using Google, Yahoo or any search engine will put you in touch with a very long list of online home decorating catalogues. If looking for a particular type of catalogue such as one specializing in furniture, simply perform a search for online home decorating furniture catalogues. Search engines are equipped to locate anything you need to find. If it’s on the Internet, the search engine will locate it for you. Once you find what you are looking for, pour yourself a cup of coffee, put your feet up and spend the evening browsing online home decorating catalogues.

Now you can be a confident expert on Home Decorating. OK, maybe not an expert. But you should have something to bring to the table next time you join a discussion on Home Decorating.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!

Speech Therapy Assessment Tips For Fluency Disorders

Sunday, December 13th, 2009

Current info about Speech Therapy is not always the easiest thing to locate. Fortunately, this report includes the latest Speech Therapy info available.

During the assessment of an individual with suspected fluency disorder, there are some things to remember to make the assessment more comprehensive and useful. Here are some of those critical points to take note of during assessment.

Benefits Of Obtaining Both Reading and Conversation Sample

It is more beneficial to obtain both reading and conversation sample from school children and adults because this would give more reliability and credibility to the samples taken.

Since stuttering varies in different situations, a reading and conversation sample would allow the clinician to see the behaviors of the person in two different tasks. A conversational speech sample is likely to have more variability, while a reading passage would likely have less variability.

Information To Assess Motivation

Through interview, a therapist can learn a lot from his client. In fact, insight about the client’s motivation could be seen by asking the following questions like ?What do you believe caused you to stutter??, ?Has you stuttering changed or caused you more problems recently?, ?Why did you come in for help at the present time??, ? Are there times or situations when you stutter more? Less? What are they??.

Benefits Of Continuing Evaluation

No individual could be understood in an hour or two; that’s why continuing of evaluation is recommended. The clinician might overlook an important element at times and some times a vital clue will not be present in the samples of behavior taken from the limited time of the evaluation period.

Note The Difference When Assessing Feelings and Attitudes

You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Speech Therapy. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?

Assessing a school-age child’s feelings and attitudes would require the clinician to establish rapport and to get to know the child much better after some time, because the clinician’s judgment is also a fair measurement in the case of school-age children.

Talking to the child and observing his behaviors would be necessary. When the clinician has known the child much better, he could administer the A-19 Scale to the child. Other methods could also be used such as ?Worry Ladder? and ?Hands Down? that could be found in the workbook, The School-Age Child Who Stutters: Working Effectively with Attitudes and Emotions.

For adults and adolescents assessment of feelings and attitudes are usually done by administering tools such as, the Modified Erickson Scale of Communication Attitudes, the Stutterer’s Self-Rating of Reactions to Speech Situations, the Perceptions of Stuttering Inventory and the Locus of Control of Behavior Scale.

Remember The Role Of The IEP Team

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) team is appointed to a child to be the ones to consider reports by the clinician and other information. They decide if the child meets the state’s eligibility standards and if the child’s stuttering has a negative effect on his education.

If a child is eligible for services measurable, the IEP team sets goals and short-term objectives for the child. They also provide services needed by the child for improvement in the educational setting.

Goals Of Trial Therapy

Trial therapy for a school-age child is done to understand what approach might work and what might be difficult for him. This could increase the child’s motivation and positive outlook for the treatment. In the case of adults and adolescents, trial therapy is done for 3 main reasons.

First, is to get an idea of how a client would respond to different therapy approaches. Second, is to make a differential diagnosis between developmental, neurological or psychological stuttering. Third, it gives a preview to the client of what to expect during therapy sessions, in effect it would give them motivation to go on their treatment.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!

Programs For Adult Dyslexia: Audioblox 2000

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

Have you ever wondered if what you know about Adult Dyslexia is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on Adult Dyslexia.

The Audioblox 2000 is a program that is based on the premise that the main problem is not the physical disability of the learner. The main problem is said to be the method on how the message is delivered and the learner’s preparation for it. This is just another one of the many methods how you can cope with your dyslexia.

How It Works

This method concentrates by working on the learning process’ basic tasks. It is believed that in able for a person to learn effectively, the educator should observe a sequence in teaching.

Similar to scaffolding, one simple skill should be taught first, before teaching a more complicated one. Certain things should be known by the learner first, before he or she can learn other information. This ?prerequisite? kind of system makes learning an organized system.

The main objective of this program is to put into practice and automate your needed skills that lie beneath reading, writing, spelling, math and the whole process of acquiring more knowledge on different subject matters.

Basically, Audiblox is comprised of a system of different cognitive exercises. These exercises are generally aimed for the development of your foundational learning skills. When you are trained in this kind of program, your foundational skills are developed. Additionally, they are automated.

Concentration

One fundamental skill that you need in able to learn is the ability to concentrate. Concentration is one important key in learning, because without it, you can not really achieve anything. You cannot grasp ideas or concepts if you are easily distracted. Optimal learning requires full concentration, or else, nothing is learned.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of Adult Dyslexia is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about Adult Dyslexia.

Perception

Another needed skill is perception. This may be auditory, visual, and haptic. The way you perceive things would highly affect how you understand them and how you can use them appropriately with your everyday life.

Proprioception

Proprioception is yet another skill that you need. Discriminating, synthesizing, and analyzing by the use of foreground, background, size, form, color and position in space or time, is a skill that can be useful with your everyday life.

Memory

Memory should also be developed. Just think how can you remember what you are learning if you do not have any kind of memory. That is why all kinds of memory such as short term, long term, auditory and visual are considered to be invaluable. Most dyslexics have problems with short term memory. However, when they associate some words with other things such as colors, remembering becomes easier for them.

Decoding And Integration

Next is your ability to decode information. Additionally, you should be able to integrate this decoded information, so that you can synthesize your learning process. If you cannot decode information that is given to you, then acquisition of new information is hampered.

The ability to understand the concept of numbers is also important. Today’s world revolves around math. Understanding simple number concepts is your first stepping stone in using numbers for daily application such as the use of money.

Motor Skills

Lastly, you also need your fine and gross motor skills. Body coordination is needed to perform simple tasks such as walking and difficult tasks such as writing. Flipping a page of a book already requires you good fine motor skills. Just think how you can learn without being able to simply turn a book’s page!

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!

Online Computer Training And The US Armed Forces

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

The following article presents the very latest information on Computer Training. If you have a particular interest in Computer Training, then this informative article is required reading.

Today’s military is on the leading edge of technology. Leaders in the US Armed Forces have long recognized that a trained soldier is a good soldier. Along with this: a good soldier is a happy soldier; a happy soldier is a retained soldier. With advances in technology, and the advent of the internet, it was only a matter of time before the military would come online. Due to this steadfast belief, the military evolved. If mother necessity were the mother of invention, then education was the necessity. Military members now have access to advanced training and other educational materials through online computer training.

In the military of old, training was conducted primarily in a classroom environment: no online computer training whatsoever. The alternative to classroom instruction was correspondence courses. While some training requires the student to be under direct supervision of the trainer: other’s don’t. To alleviate this, the military designed correspondence courses. Each correspondence course had attached a pre-test and a final test: the member would mail in the pre-test and receive a final exam to complete and return. Correspondence courses alleviated the stress put upon training commands and allowed students to study at their own pace. At the time, this was a boon to the military and it’s personnel. Problems arose with this program, though. Problems such as lost or misrouted mail often prevented members from obtaining much needed certificates. The course completion certificate was considered the only proof required for course completion. Also, the certificate often served as a substitute for training requirements. In addition to this, certificates were the only requirement for obtaining points toward promotion. With the aforementioned problem came personnel problems. Personnel problems were an issue that if not solved expediently added to retention problems. The military recognized this issue and determined to do something about it.

I trust that what you’ve read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

Another issue faced by military members of the past was obtaining a college degree. Members were often deployed or stationed in locations where access to college was not possible. Due to this problem, members attempting to obtain a degree had issues with continuity of their education. A simple change from one duty station to another created problems also: one college not accepting another colleges curriculum. Eventually, the military recognized both problems and determined that providing military members to online computer training would benefit everyone.

Nowadays, on any military installation one can find an ‘internet café’. These locations were established to serve the member with the opportunity to access the internet. Internet access provided the opportunity for accessing online computer training. Members now access courses that were previously offered only through correspondence. Through online computer training, members can now complete an online degree no matter where they are on the globe. That is, of course, provided that they can access the internet. Generally the only places that have problems with internet connectivity are submarines, yet with technology advancing that may not be a problem for long.

And the problem with correspondence courses? Online computer training resolved all of that. Members now have instant access to completion certificates. Certificates lead to points, and points lead to promotions. All of these combined makes a trained, retainable soldier. Therefore, online computer training has helped keep the US Armed Forces truly a force to be reckoned with.

Now you can understand why there’s a growing interest in Computer Training. When people start looking for more information about Computer Training, you’ll be in a position to meet their needs.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!

Why are you Autograph Collecting?

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

For some people autograph collecting provides an important link between the past and the present. Autograph collecting takes many forms it depends on the interests; enthusiasm, and focus of the collector. People tend to treasure signatures and want to have concrete evidence of having known a celebrity, even if it is in a small way.

Autograph collecting is one of the many avenues you can use to feel apart of some special event or person. Autograph collecting may be specialized for an example the autograph may document the life of a person. When there is the opportunity to live in the area where your celebrity lives, you have many options of how your autograph collecting will grow. Others may use autograph collecting to illuminate a certain field of endeavor, such as the arts as in painting. Collectors usually have special interests. These interests may be based on the environment, experience, education, travel, and so on.

You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Autograph Collecting. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?

Autograph collecting sometimes starts with only one interest and then mushrooms into a potpourri of other autographs. Autograph collecting does not have to go in any special direction; it is sometimes determined by where the heart leads. Since people collect for different reasons, the autograph collecting does not have to be that of a famous person. One dentist in a small community collects teeth that are unusual. He gets permission from the patient to keep them. After they are mounted, he asks the patient to sign his name under his teeth. The patient autograph or signature makes the collection authentic and come alive for this dentist. So you can see some collect for sentimental reasons, some for historical reason, to some it is a hobby and for some it is a job. Yes there are those who make a living off of autograph collecting. If you idolize or have a great deal of respect for writers, actresses, athletics, painters, crafters, and scientists, or whomever, you may choose to start autograph collecting on anyone of them.

With the growth of technology the original letters are becoming extinct. Communications are sent via fax and e-mail and the original letter has been replaced. Nevertheless autograph collecting is likely to be around for a long, long, time. Collected autographs are becoming rarer for autograph collecting. Real collectors find so much joy and fun in autograph collecting. In addition the challenge to get another autograph is always there. Did you know that some people attend certain events just to be in a position to get a certain autograph?

It can be on a program, piece of paper, paper bag, napkin of it doesn’t matter just so you get the autograph. When collecting those autographs be sure to get it in pen. An ink autograph is worth far more than one written in pencil. There are almost as many reasons for collecting as there are collectors. In our culture and highly civilized society, autograph collecting is valued because for the most part all of us want to actually own a piece of history or that special occasion.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!

Speech Therapy: An Overview On Fluency Disorders

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

Imagine the next time you join a discussion about Speech Therapy. When you start sharing the fascinating Speech Therapy facts below, your friends will be absolutely amazed.

One of the main categories of speech problems in need for speech therapy are fluency disorders. However, there are different types of fluency disorders, even though they may all seem the same. Each type has its own cause, and defining characteristics that make them stand out from one another.

There are basically six main types of fluency disorders, while some are considered to be other conditions that are related to fluency disorders.

Normal Developmental Disfluency

Normal developmental disfluency, is a fluency disorder that is a lot of times mistaken to be stuttering. This condition occurs with children from ages 1:6- 6 years old, although the peak of the condition is considered to be 2-4 years of age.

A lot of parents may be concerned of the way their child speaks, but in reality, this is a normal condition that every child goes through. Normal developmental disfluency is a normal part of a child’s development. So there is really no need to worry at all.

A child would normally get over this stage as his speech skills develop. However, a proper environment, and interaction is needed for that to happen. If a child is pressured by his parents or people around him about his speech, the higher the probability that his disfluency would become a problem in the future and could develop to stuttering.

Stuttering

Stuttering is a disorder of childhood (developmental) that is characterized by an abnormally high frequency or duration of stoppages in the forward flow of speech. Although normal developmental disfluency has its own share of stoppages, stuttering on the other hand has some extra characteristics that normal developmental disfluency doesn’t have.

What makes stuttering different, from normal developmental disfluency, is that stuttering has escape behaviors, avoidance behaviors, and other secondary behaviors. These so called behaviors are also called physical concomitants. Some examples are eye blinks, head nods, jaw tremors and total body gyrations.

Neurogenic Disfluency

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I’m sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

This kind of disfluency is a result of an identifiable neuropathology in a person that has no history of fluency problems prior to occurrence of the pathology. People who have accidents that caused brain problems, which induced their disfluency, fall into this category.

Neurogenic disfluency has similar characteristics as stuttering, including the physical behaviors like eye blinks and tremors. The thing is that, the main problem in conditions like these is not fluency at all, but the lesser control of muscles needed in speech production.

Psychogenic Disfluency

A disfluency with no found evidence of neurological dysfunction and no history of developmental stuttering. It is of sudden onset and attributed to an identifiable emotional crisis. Can be grouped into three categories namely: emotionally based, manipulative, and malingering disfluencies

An example of this kind of disfluency is when a person starts to stutter when a specific other is around. For instance, a student who is afraid of her teacher, starts to stutter every time her teacher is around but speaks fluently when around her friends and family.

Language Bases Disfluency

This is a disfluency that is attributed to the development of linguistic sophistication. The main root of the problem here would be language problems, which would require language based therapy rather than fluency-based therapy.

Mixed Fluency Failures

These are fluency failures that are characterized by overlapping causative factors. Speech pattern observed is the result of a blend of two or more factors/disfluency.

Cluttering

This is a condition that is related to fluency disorders. It is considered to be the extreme of stuttering. It is a disorder of timing and rhythm of speech where the person speaks too fast that his speech can’t be comprehended. The thing is, a clutterer isn’t aware that he is cluttering, while a stutterer is very much aware that he stutters.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!

Be Jeweled

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Jewelry has a long and interesting history in the human civilization and evolution. In the ancient times, the use of jewelry was used to symbolize the social and religious power of citizens that wore them. It was also used a means to store wealth, which is why special pieces of jewelry were passed on as heirlooms and used by some cultures as dowry or for transfer of wealth.

In some tribe cultures, jewelry were used to modify one’s body. In some cases, neck rings were added slowly on a female’s neck until the appendage grew to abnormal lengths and became dependent on the neck rings for support. The tribe’s women did this as a status symbol as well as a decorative piece as females with longer necks were considered to be more beautiful than their short-necked counterparts.

Although the use and history of jewelry seem varied and diverse, the most common denominator in all of these is the fact that jewelry was used to express a certain message. Whether it was for beauty, power or status, jewelry were the easiest way to convey this. In these modern times, jewelry and its use has evolved along with the times, finding creative expression in today’s body jewelry.

Body jewelry is no longer confined to traditional jewelry items like the usual earrings, rings, necklaces and bracelets. The term body jewelry now connotes any sort of decoration that can be adorned on the body and usually expressed through more than usual body piercings like belly rings, and the like. Nowadays, jewelry no longer needs to be made of precious materials. Modern body jewelry are often made of semi-precious or even non-precious materials.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and Body Jewelry experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to Body Jewelry.

Some body jewelry are made of plastics and other metals, but some are even just imitations of precious stones that can be individually glued to preferred body parts in patterns of choice. For instance, there are body jewelry kits available with suggested patterns to follow when adhering to the body. This of course is a temporary display and will either fall off eventually or come off when washed.

The nice thing about body jewelry is that absolutely anybody can wear them. Unlike in the olden ages where only a select few can officially wear jewelry, in this day and age, even children or individuals of any sex, age or race can opt to display these body jewelry. Body jewelry nowadays are used to express individuality in the way that they are worn. Some individuals go all out and radical in the way they use body jewelry. In some cases, being very blatant and “out there” in displaying body jewelry have become so popular, it can be coined as the norm rather than the exception.

For instance, it is customary for gangs and gang members to use body jewelry that is termed as “bling-bling” but since popular artists, rappers and pop singers have been displaying the same fashion, it has become part of pop culture. So instead of promoting exclusivity, it has become a fashion statement to adorn oneself with this particular type of body jewelry.

Whatever the case, it seems that body jewelry is here to stay. Perhaps it is this generation’s way of saying, “out with the old” as they constantly challenge old tradition of how jewelry is worn and who can wear them.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson, feel free to visit my latest venture: GVO and make sure to claim your $1 trial membership!


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