Aspiring Minds Clinic

05/16/2024

When ma*****na was first legalized, Dr. , a brilliant pediatric neurodevelopmental psychologist and my mentor, warned about the long-term effects of cannabis on the kids development. Now we have official evidence backed by statistical analysis that shows exactly how toxic this substance is for the growing brains:

“Cannabis exposure during neurodevelopment has the potential to affect … emotional regulation and multiple cognitive domains, including executive functioning and decision-making, learning, abstraction, and attention...”

10/19/2023

Dr. Elyashkevich and I will be running a support group for the LA Israelis and those who are impacted by the war in Israel. For now this will be an open ended group that will meet weekly starting next week on Wednesday (10/25) from 9:30 to 10:30 am. The meetings will be held in my office in Sherman Oaks, CA. There will be a nominal fee of $20 per session with all the proceeds being donated to Magen David Adom in Israel (https://www.mdais.org/en).
Please share this info with anyone you know who might benefit from joining the group. Those interested in attending need to call me to get on the list as spots are limited (323) 682-8225

06/04/2023

If you’re worried about dementia, talk to your physician and get a neuropsychological exam, which will shed light on the situation and guide your further treatment. Early detection is critical for several reasons.

Signs that you or a loved one may be experiencing dementia—and not just normal aging—include:

Asking the same question repeatedly

Having trouble following directions like recipes

Getting lost in a place you know well

Becoming increasingly more confused about time, places, and people

Not taking care of yourself, including eating poorly, forgetting to bathe or shower, or acting in an unsafe manner

“We can’t continue to avoid the ‘d’ word,” Kate Lee, CEO of the Alzheimer's Society, says. “We need to face dementia head on.”

04/05/2022

It can be hard to tell if a preschool-age child is likely to have a learning disability. When kids are young, they develop skills at different speeds, and kids have different strengths and weaknesses. As they get older their abilities usually even out.

But there are some signs in preschool and early school that a child may be diagnosed with a learning disorder later on. For example, children who struggle to pick up rhyming may later have difficulty with reading. Likewise, kids who have trouble grasping the basics of counting may have trouble with math.

Children who have trouble holding a crayon or using a fork may have issues with what is called fine motor control. Trouble understanding or using language can be a sign of a language-based learning disorder. Speech and language issues can also be an early sign of autism.

Kids’ behavior can offer clues. If a child often gets frustrated during an activity, like drawing, it might mean those skills are a challenge for them. And if kids are more active, more impulsive, or more distracted than most of their peers, they could be signs of ADHD, which is usually not diagnosed until kids are older.

For some children, however, those early learning struggles may signal future academic difficulties. And though kids may be too young for a formal diagnosis, a baseline evaluation may offer clues into the areas of weakness and guide the necessary early intervention efforts.

In the meantime, if you notice your child is struggling, you can help by supporting their self-esteem. And you can work with them to build skills outside the classroom. Activities like reading, counting, or drawing together can help kids practice skills in a low-stress environment.

01/05/2021

Coparenting in the times of COVID can be especially challenging. If a court finds that a parent is not taking the precautions necessary to protect the children from exposure to the virus, this may be viewed as child endangerment, and that parent may be sanctioned by the court and/or lose parenting time with the children... The article below gives some helpful suggestions on how to better navigate this tricky situation.

Millions of kids move from Mom's to Dad's house; now parents worry about safety.

01/02/2021

Warm wishes for a safe and happy 2021.

Here is some factual information regarding who should or should receive a Covid vaccination if you have allergy concerns.

There is so much disinformation floating around various social media, religious and antivaxer groups that I felt this medical information would be helpful in eliminating some hesitation a few people may have.

Please share this with those whose safety and wellbeing you care about.

Stay Covid safe both for yourself and those around you.

Reports of possible allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines have raised public concern; however, allergists note that allergic reactions to vaccines are rare, and COVID-19 vaccine allergic reactions will have a similarly low rate of occurrence.

11/15/2020

Telehealth is here to stay... While this pandemic has brought on much grief and inconveniences, it has also helped with the evolution and spread of telehealth and greater access to care. The article below specifically addresses mental health services at the times of COVID-19 and beyond

One major concern is whether covid-related emergency policy changes that increased accessibility to therapy over video, phone and apps will continue post-pandemic.

10/29/2020

Pandemic has really highlighted the importance of being “connected” to someone special and the challenges that many single people face during this strange time. But what is one to do when their special person is no longer in their life? Here are several suggestions that are guaranteed to heal a bleeding heart and make one stronger.

What research can teach us about useful strategies for healing heartache.

09/09/2020

The relapse and overdose rate has increased by 30% since March 2020. Mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, The National Alliance on Mental Health has a 24-hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Please share the helpline far and wide

08/28/2020

The man doesn’t know that there is a snake underneath. The woman doesn’t know that there is a stone crushing the man. The woman thinks: “I am going to fall! And I can’t climb because the snake is going to bite me! Why can’t the man use a little more strength and pull me up!” The man thinks: “I am in so much pain! Yet I’m still pulling you as much as I can! Why don’t you try and climb a little harder!?”
The moral is— you can’t see the pressure the other person is under, and the other person can’t see the pain you’re in. This is life, whether it’s with work, family, feelings or friends, we should try to understand each other. Learn to think differently, perhaps more clearly and communicate better. A little thought and patience goes a long way.

Be kind to people. Everyone we meet is fighting their own battle.

*Borrowed from another site

07/02/2020

Quote of the month:

Replacing "why is this happening to me" with "what is this trying to teach me" is a game changer."
~ Unknown