Learning Differences

Join us for this podcast episode as we explore the experience of neurodivergent individuals navigating a world designed for neurotypical minds. In this conversation with CHC experts, Melanie Hsu, PhD, Clinical Director and licensed psychologist and Marjan Ebadi, PhD, licensed psychologist, we talk about challenging the traditional deficit model that focuses on "fixing" neurodivergent traits, instead embracing a strengths-based approach that celebrates the unique abilities and perspectives that neurodiversity brings. We also discuss the emotional toll of masking—the exhausting practice of hiding natural behaviors to fit in—and share insights on recognizing when loved ones might be suppressing their authentic selves.

Autism diagnoses have increased in the last several years. Why is that? Join us as we explore the nuanced world of neurodevelopmental disorders and how several conditions can present with symptoms that mimic autism spectrum disorder. Our CHC expert licensed psychologists, Whitney Geller, PhD and Neilson Chan, PhD, discuss the core features of autism—social communication challenges, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors—while examining why diagnosis rates have risen dramatically in recent years. Listen in as we talk about how other conditions like ADHD, anxiety disorders and more can sometimes be mistaken for autism due to overlapping behavioral presentations.

Do you see your kids putting off tasks until the last minute, misplacing their belongings, always running late, or forgetting to turn in their homework? These are all signs of executive functioning challenges. Listen to this podcast episode as we talk with CHC experts, Joaquin Burciaga, PhD, Neuropsychologist and Danna Torres, about the essential role of executive functioning in daily life and how kids rely on these skills in tasks like organizing homework and managing time. We'll discuss how parents and caregivers can teach and scaffold executive functioning skills, breaking them into manageable steps. Plus, what happens when kids just aren't getting it? We'll share strategies to adjust and support them with compassion and patience, fostering growth even in the most challenging moments.

The data shows that ADHD is diagnosed in boys more often than girls. Why is that? Join us as we talk with Marjan Ebadi, PhD and Dylan Stewart, PsyD both psychologists at CHC in exploring the factors behind this disparity. We’ll discuss how ADHD often looks different in girls—manifesting as inattentiveness, emotional sensitivity, or perfectionism rather than hyperactivity—and why these signs are frequently overlooked. Finally, we share practical strategies for parents, educators, and caregivers to recognize and support girls with ADHD, empowering them to thrive.

The journey of a parent is often a winding path, sometimes obscured by the unknown, yet it’s rich in challenges that can become catalysts for growth and understanding. In this special podcast episode, we have a conversation with Jen Ullyot, a parent coach who has longtime connections with CHC through her kids and more. She candidly shares her experiences, offering insights into the rollercoaster of emotions and the unexpected joys that come with parenting a child with learning differences. She knows it’s not easy, but she also knows about the resilience of kids and families and the power and agency found in the positive choices we make. Listen to hear more about how you can navigate your family’s journey with grace and compassion.

Being an adolescent girl can be hard – add learning challenges and giftedness – and everything seems to be amplified. In this podcast episode, we welcome guest, Dr. Lisa White, Psychologist at The Summit Center, who works with twice exceptional girls, as we discuss how these remarkable individuals perceive themselves and navigate school and life. You’ll gain valuable insights about twice exceptional girls and hear some strategies for nurturing their strengths and addressing their specific needs. Dr. Lisa sheds light on the unique experiences of twice exceptional (2e) girls with practical tips for parents looking for ways to provide support to them.

Join us as we talk with Drs. Fernette and Brock Eide about the often misunderstood and overlooked strengths of dyslexia, shedding light on how to identify and nurture these remarkable attributes. The Eides are founders of Dyslexic Advantage and leading figures in the field of dyslexia research and advocacy. With decades of experience, they have altered our understanding of dyslexia beyond its challenges and into the realm of its unique advantages. Discover how dyslexia isn't just about difficulties with reading and writing, but how it shapes individuals' cognitive profiles in distinctive ways. We discuss the amazing strengths that often accompany dyslexia — these different minds will be our creators, discoverers, explorers and more. To quote Dr. Fernette Eide, "something good is coming, or may already even be here!"

In a world where ADHD is often overshadowed by its challenges, this episode offers a refreshing perspective that focuses on uncovering its strengths. Listen now for an insightful conversation with Ross Loofbourrow, a millennial who not only lives with ADHD but thrives! Through Ross’s lived experience, we gain a unique vantage point that highlights the importance of understanding and harnessing the inherent strengths of ADHD all while navigating its inevitable challenges. Ross shares his journey with ADHD openly with personal insights and stories offering a firsthand account of how ADHD has shaped his life in unexpected and empowering ways.

Our brains are not fully developed until the mid-20s, so it’s no wonder that our adolescents still need help with the all important executive functioning skills. In this episode, we talk about the often underestimated yet pivotal aspect of cognitive growth: executive functioning in teens. Tune in as our guest host, Natalie Tamburello, discusses executive functioning with Dr. Sharmila Roy, and Stacey Soderquist both from The Schwab Learning Center at CHC. They talk about real-life scenarios and the impact of executive functioning skills on our ability to complete a task, plus how we can nurture executive functioning skills to empower adolescents to thrive academically, emotionally, and socially. They also explore the role of organizational tools and communication techniques in enhancing these cognitive abilities.

Our first ever LIVE Voices of Compassion Podcast episode.

ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder among U.S. children and adolescents, leading to differences in attention, impulsivity, energy and behavior. All of this can be disruptive to a child’s school and learning experience as well as their social-emotional wellbeing. There is no cure for ADHD, but there are treatments available to reduce the impact of these brain differences on a child’s functioning. How do you know what will work best for your child? Join us for today’s podcast episode as CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services experts Bayan Jalalizadeh, MD, licensed psychiatrist and Liberty Hebron, LPCC, licensed clinical counselor, dive into the research behind ADHD and options for treatment.

When you hear a sound, how do you respond? You might choose to ignore it or investigate its source. This process of using our senses to interpret a situation and respond in a purposeful way is called sensory integration. When these systems don’t synthesize, whether due to a diagnosis like autism or ADHD or to a skills deficit, it can lead to a whole host of learning and behavioral challenges. Studies have found that 1 in every 6 children has sensory processing issues that make it more difficult for them to thrive in school. In today’s podcast episode, we sit down with CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services Occupational Therapist, Pamela Olson, MOT, OTR/L, to learn how best to support our child’s sensory skills development and what to do when things don’t seem quite right.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, today’s podcast is all about pursuing what you love. While it’s never too late to follow your dreams, we hope you’ll share this inspiring episode with the young adults in your life! We have all heard the phrase, “find a job you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life.” But is it really possible? Do we have to choose between happiness and a living wage? What if we’re still figuring out what fulfills us? While “pursuing your passion” may not be as easy as it sounds, Dr. Sharmila Roy, Special Projects Consultant at The Schwab Learning Center at CHC shares her sage advice in this special episode. “Explore yourself and give time to finding out what you love, then life will love you back.”

Navigating learning and mental health challenges is difficult; adding racial and ethnic diversity to the mix can magnify the inequities and complexities of the journey. In today’s podcast episode we talk with Dr. Melina Foden, licensed clinical psychologist at CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services and Atira Roberson, a full-time learning disabilities advocate who proudly proclaims, “I'm black, I'm female, and I have a learning disability.” Our guest host is my CHC colleague, Natalie Tamburello, who has dyslexia and has invested the past several years advocating for young adults with learning differences. The conversation delves into diagnosis, accommodations, stigma and resilience.

We are all different, and we know that not every child fits into a specific category. Is your child struggling with learning or behavioral outbursts? Your child is not broken and you are not a bad parent. One helpful tool may be getting your child evaluated. An evaluation is not about labeling, but providing useful information and practical insights on strengths and weaknesses so your child can thrive throughout their lifespan. Listen to today’s episode featuring CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services experts Dr. Erin Hoolihan, Licensed Psychologist and Kimberly Yu, Doctoral Psychology Intern.

Self-advocacy is more than speaking up for yourself--it’s about self-awareness, understanding our needs and clear communication. It’s about asking for what we want and need, but not demanding it. In today’s podcast episode, CHC’s Catherine T. Harvey Center for Clinical Services experts Joan Baran, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and Meghan Collins, MS, MPhil, doctoral psychology intern share strategies for parents and caregivers to model and build self-advocacy skills, independence and confidence in our kids.

We receive lots of questions from parents about evaluations: Does my child need one? Or should we just start treatment? An evaluation by a psychologist or a multidisciplinary team can be a valuable tool in understanding your child’s strengths and weaknesses and provide a roadmap for next steps. It can reveal whether what seems like distraction, laziness or reluctance could actually be a sign of mental health or learning challenges. In today’s podcast episode, CHC experts Dr. Pardis Khosravi, Clinical Director and Psychologist and Ann Lyke, Educational Therapist, share their professional perspectives on everything from the differences between evaluation types to how to talk to your child about the results.

A lack of socialization over the past two years has a lot of parents worried about their children’s language development. In fact, one of the most viewed articles in our online Resource Library right now focuses on speech delays in young children during COVID. How do we know when our kids should be progressing from first words to full sentences? Have masks and social distancing affected typical language development? Where should we turn if we’re concerned? Today’s podcast guests — two CHC Speech and Language Pathologists, Shirit Megiddo, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL and Kharyl Anne Piano, MS CCC-SLP — will put these questions to rest and share ideas to foster healthy language development at home.

Parenting is never easy, but raising a child with exceptional talents who also struggles with learning differences (such as autism, ADHD or dyslexia) is even more complex. This combination of giftedness and challenges — known as twice exceptional (2e) — creates a confusing picture for parents and educators. It can be difficult to see the signs of 2e because it looks different in every child. Their strengths can mask their challenges and their challenges can mask their strengths. Today we talk with Callie Turk, a parent of a 2e child and Dr. Vivien Keil, neuropsychologist, about the journey of understanding and parenting these unique and extraordinary kids.

The transition from high school to college is a rite of passage, a benchmark between parent and child. While exciting, balancing academic demands with the sudden need to be independent can feel daunting, especially for students with learning differences. How can you as a parent best prepare them while they’re still under your wing? In this podcast episode, we sat down with Dr. Nicole Ofiesh, Director of the Schwab Learning Center at CHC, as she shared wisdom from her 30 years in the field. She covers everything from resilience and self-advocacy to electronic calendars and on-campus support systems, reminding us that, above all, “it always comes back to love and compassion.”

A dyslexia diagnosis can be bittersweet: in some ways, it might help explain your child’s struggles in school and their anxieties about falling behind. But finding the right supports for your child is daunting, and you can't help but worry about the long-term impacts on their happiness, confidence and success. In today’s podcast episode, we sat down with CHC’s Lisa Parnello, MEd and Dr. Vivien Keil, both of whom have devoted their lives to evaluating, educating and advocating for children who learn differently. Listen today to learn how to partner with your child’s school to ensure appropriate accommodations, how to talk to your child about their diagnosis, and pro tips for fostering strengths and finding support.

It’s hard to see our child struggling in school without comparing them to other kids or wanting to “fix” them. But once we recognize that there is no such thing as average, we can learn to appreciate our children’s differences, understand their challenges and foster their strengths. Today’s podcast guest, Dewey Rosetti, is a parent of a child with dyslexia and the author of a new book, Parenting Bright Kids who Struggle in School. She shares her experiences as a mom, an author and an advocate for the 1 in 5 with learning differences, and offers advice for parents to help develop and celebrate their children's unique strengths.

After nearly a year of remote learning, parents have a window into their child’s learning style like never before. As a parent, you may have observed some behaviors that make you wonder: does my child have a learning or attention difference or is it just Zoom-fatigue? We sat down with Chris Harris, MEd, an expert in learning, social-emotional, behavioral and attention challenges, to find out. In today’s podcast episode, Chris tells us what behaviors might be cause for concern and offers concrete action steps to support and advocate for your child.

Distance learning is a challenge for us all, especially those with learning and attention issues. In this episode, we continue our conversation with CHC’s Chief Psychiatrist & Medical Director, Dr. Glen Elliott, and learn strategies to help kids with ADHD mitigate distractions and maximize the motivation to learn. Be sure to catch Part I of this episode if you haven’t already!

Distance learning is a challenge for us all, especially those with learning and attention issues. In this episode, CHC’s Chief Psychiatrist & Medical Director Dr. Glen Elliott discusses the ADHD brain through the lens of distance learning.