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Posts made in April, 2017
One of the early warning signs of Alzheimer’s or dementia is a mild cognitive impairment (MCI). If you or someone you know has been given a diagnosis of MCI, it means a greater risk of developing dementia later on, but it also means that there are some lifestyle changes that can be made to slow the effects of the cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment is not a disease. However, MCI is a diagnosis that physicians may give to a person after issuing several cognitive tests. Those tests include general assessments of mental faculties including problem solving and memory, neurological examinations to test autonomic nervous system responses like reflexes, a psychological assessment of mood, blood tests, and even interviews with family members. There are different types of MCI. Mild cognitive impairment does not mean the same set of symptoms for every person. Some people have a mild cognitive impairment that primarily affects their short and medium term memory. Known as amnestic MCI, the deterioration of short term memory is fairly easy to recognize because usually the person will forget to show up for appointments, forget what they just ate, or forget something that was just said. The other type of MCI is known simply as nonamnestic MCI because it is less related to memory and more to other cognitive processes and functions like problem solving or judgment. A person who suddenly forgets how to do a typical daily task or who starts to exhibit poor driving skills may be diagnosed with nonamnestic MCI. There are no medications or cures for MCI. However, research does show that lifestyle choices including good nutrition, regular exercise, keeping the mind and brain engaged, and also meaningful social interactions can help minimize the symptoms and slow the deterioration of cognitive...
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After an accident, illness, or surgery, a patient is often required to go through physical therapy. Very often, a patient isn’t ill enough to remain in a hospital or a facility for their physical therapy or they don’t want to rehab in an institutional setting. A home physical therapy service can come to their home and deliver the same quality care they’d receive staying in a rehabilitation facility or traveling to one several times a week. Home therapy can include physical or occupational therapy and speech pathology. These services will be in accordance with the physician’s protocol for the patient. A variety of disorders or delays that speech pathology can assist with are: * Dysphagia, also known as swallowing Voice disorders Articulation disorders Social language use or pragmatic disorders Auditory processing Oral motor and feeding issues Fluency and stuttering And much more. Swallowing can be difficult for older adults, babies, and individuals that have problems with their brain or nervous system. Some problems that prevent the esophagus from working properly can be minor and others can be very serious. When a patient has difficulty swallowing on a regular basis, physical therapy can help them regain as much use as possible of the esophagus. Home physical therapy service helps an individual regain their independence with daily activities in the comfort of their own home. They can regain productivity, independence, and maximum functional ability. Patients that receive therapy at home can feel at ease and the therapist will address things that could affect their recovery. An individual that had a hip or knee replacement can benefit tremendously by in-home physical therapy. They will be living in their real-life situation, and the physical therapist will help gain their mobility, strength, and freedom to begin walking again. Occupational therapy can help an individual regain walking, dressing, and feeding skills they may have lost because of a surgical procedure, illness, or injury. Careminders Home Care offers outstanding in-home therapy and delivers the highest quality of home care services...
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The way your foot moves can be the cause of foot, ankle, hip, and lower back pain. Often, the mechanics of your foot movements can be corrected by podiatrists to help alleviate pain in your body. The most common treatment for foot movement issues is to add inserts, known as orthotics, to correct a person’s gait. There are several different types of orthotics and devices which support the ankles and feet to correct various issues. They include: * Rigid orthotics * Heat-molded orthotics * Consumer orthotics Rigid Orthotics When a podiatrist diagnoses foot problems like supination or flat feet, he or she may prescribe foot orthotics in Kenosha, WI. Depending on the severity of the problem, they may order rigid orthotics which are made specifically for your feet. A podiatrist may order rigid orthotics for people with diabetes or who have foot deformities that can be helped with them. Heat-Molded Orthotics Made from material which can be molded using heat, these feet orthotics are a less expensive option to treat foot problems. Rigid orthotics can cost up to $600 a pair, but heat-molded foot orthotics cost about $100 to $150. They are easier to obtain because they can be bought off the shelf in shoe departments or medical supply stores. Consumer Orthotics These are another off-the-shelf option for correcting foot problems, however, this option for Kenosha foot orthotics are for less severe problems. If someone has sore knees, a podiatrist may recommend arch supports to help correct the problem. They can may also recommend inserts to provide more cushion for your feet if you have a job which requires you to be on your feet all day. If you have persistent foot, ankle, knee, or lower back pain, you should consult a podiatrist who may be able to recommend foot orthotics to alleviate the...
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Is your child having trouble concentrating? Are their grades suffering as a result? If you answered yes to these questions, then chances are you need to schedule an ADD assessment. Letting a reputable and experienced neuropsychologist perform this assessment is the best way to find out what is going on with your child. If your child is diagnosed with ADD, you will need to rethink your parenting strategy. The following are some of the things you need to remember when trying to successfully parent a child with this disorder. You Have to Remain Calm Having a child with ADD can cause you to become overwhelmed at times. If your child is being particularly rambunctious and wild, you may find yourself getting a bit hot under the collar. Lashing out and raising your voice at the child will only make matters worse. You will have to work hard to stay calm and speak to your child directly about their behavior. By remaining calm, you will be able to calm them down in the process. During your ADD assessment, the neuropsychologist will be able to offer you some helpful tips on how to keep your child calm. Introducing Structure is Important Another important thing a professional will tell you during an ADD assessment is that introducing structure is important. If a child does not have boundaries or a routine, it will be very hard to keep them focused. While introducing this structure will take some time and effort, it will be well worth it the long run. Eventually, a child with ADD will get used to this structure and will thrive as a result. Getting an ADD assessment is easy when hiring Dr. Joshua Shifrin. If you need to schedule an appointment, call him at 860-966-0309 or visit his website for more information. You can also follow them on Twitter for more...
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While advanced age is the most frequent reason for a hearing loss, noise also factors into the equation. People who are between 65 and 74 years old are often seen by audiology doctors with the number increasing after the age of 75. Scientists do not fully comprehend why a person’s hearing worsens with age. However, they usually conclude that the reason is both hereditary and due to long-term exposure to noise. Ongoing Exposure to Noise at Work Noise is indeed a factor that must be reviewed when a person sustains a hearing loss. When you visit an audiology clinic in Knoxville, TN, you will find that noise as well as medications can have adverse effects. For example, your hearing will suffer if you are exposed to excessive noise levels at work. Some of the areas in which people suffer the most loss of hearing include carpentry, plumbing, mining, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and the military. Medicines That Reduce the Ability to Hear In other cases, audiology clinic specialists often see patients who work in the musical field. Performers such as singers or musicians should always wear earplugs when they are on the stage. Medications, as noted, can also have an adverse impact on the hearing. For example, drugs such as aspirin, antibiotics, chemotherapy medicines, and malaria medications can all reduce a person’s ability to hear. A Sudden and Unexpected Loss of Hearing In addition, audiology clinic doctors add that some people may experience a hearing loss suddenly. When this happens, a loss of 30 decibels can occur over a span of days. In most of the cases, the loss only impacts one ear. While about 4,000 new cases of this type of malady happen annually, physicians only determine the cause about 10% of the time. Infection or a buildup of earwax can affect the hearing as can trauma or an illness such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease. Diseases of the middle and inner ear can also lead to a hearing loss problem....
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