Is it Shyness or Selective Mutism?

A parent might wonder why their child is socially shy, but there could be something more serious that should be looked into. In my search for different and interesting topics to write, I came across selective mutism. In researching selective mutism I discovered that parents who were not aware of this disorder could become completely frustrated toward their child.

Selective mutism is described as a psychological disorder in children. Children with this disorder are fluent and have an understanding of the language but fail to speak in certain social situations. Parents often believe their child is refusing to speak due to shyness, but with selective mutism the child is truly unable to speak. It can appear as there is nothing wrong since the child’s functions are normal in other areas of behavior and learning. During these periods the child becomes severely withdrawn in such things as group activities which are due to their extreme anxiety. These group activities typically occur in school or social settings.

Children acting withdrawn from selective mutism unfortunately sometimes may be confused with an autism spectrum disorder which can lead to incorrect treatment. The main difference between selective mutism and autism is that the child with selective mutism can communicate normally when in a situation where they feel comfortable. These are some of the characteristics of selective mutism:

• Will not speak in specific social situations but will at home
• Temper tantrums
• A difficulty in maintaining eye contact
• A reluctance to smile
• Displays blank facial expressions
• Awkward body movements
• Anxious saying hello, goodbye, thank you, etc
• Worry about things more than other people
• Sensitivity to noise
• Sensitivity in crowds or crowded situations
• Difficulty with non-verbal expression
• Fear of using public restrooms
• Compulsive traits
• Clinging behavior
• Extremely shy
• Fearful of people

If you feel your child has selective mutism you should consult a professional. To truly secure your children when they can not speak for themselves, it is crucial to have a MedFN® account. Having their www.medfn.com alphanumeric access code on them at all time will give them a voice. Med File Now® is doing its part to bring safety to your children.

Something about the Heart

February is the shortest month of the year, but it is never too short to reflect about one’s heart, spiritually and literally. Studies show that healthy relationships can significantly extend one’s life expectancy, but when was the last time you checked your resting Pulse or Blood Pressure? Even more critical, when was the last time you had a doctor listen to your heart or had an EKG?

Every February since 1963 - 2008 has been declared American Heart Month by the sitting President. Americans need to be aware of our nation’s number one killer which is cardiovascular disease. It is also one of the leaders in disabilities. Estimates show that 1.2 million Americans will have a myocardial infarction this year. This works out to be about one every 26 seconds and on average one person will die every minute.

You need to be aware of the increase risk factors that can lead to heart disease such as; high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, tobacco, physical inactivity and/or unhealthy diet. One can reduce these risks by having a healthy diet and exercise regime. Always seek a doctor’s advice before inducing a new diet and/or exercise program.

February 2008 is also Safety Awareness Month. What should this mean to you? Let’s define each word. Safety: Freedom from harm or danger. Awareness: The state or level of consciousness. The word Safety infers to at that times and the word Awareness infers to being in a state of consciousness. So what would that mean if you were unconscious? You are no longer safe! This could be a reality where no one would ever want to find themselves. To truly be safe you need a voice to be there when you can not speak for yourself. That is why it is crucial to have a MedFN® account and have your www.medfn.com alphanumeric access code on you at all time. Med File Now® is doing its part to bring safety awareness to you this month.

New Year’s Resolutions

January is here and it is a new year. What does that mean to you? To many, it is the turning of a page to a new chapter in the book of life. As this new chapter prepares to unfold, we all view it a bit differently. Some will wipe the sweat from their brow and be happy to have survived another year. Others may be anxious or some even excited for the mystery of the future. Even though we all have different ideas about the year, most of us will start it off with a New Year’s Resolution.

Most New Year Resolutions are made for self-betterment. The top resolutions according to a pole taken by the US Government are;

Lose Weight
Pay Off Debt
Save Money
Get a Better Job
Get Fit
Eat Right
Get a Better Education
Drink Less Alcohol
Quit Smoking Now
Reduce Stress Overall

As you can see, of the top ten, half of them are related to health. This is good news that people are concerned about their health. The reality of this is that over one third of individuals will break their New Year’s Resolutions by the end of January.

How can you beat the odds? Make your New Year’s Resolutions realistic. Setting your goal so high that it is unattainable is a recipe for disappointment. It is the baby steps of small goals that give you the feeling of success. Writing down your goals and/or even letting others know what your goals are, puts it at a higher level of commitment. Track your progress and always remember to reward yourself along the way as you complete each of your interim achievements. But if you do slip up do not give up. Just remember that no one is perfect even though we would like to think we are. Just simply put it behind you and get your self back on track to achieving that goal. Reaching a goal can be challenging but very rewarding. So when setting new goals it is best to only take on no more than two a time, otherwise it could become overwhelming.

All of us here at Med File Now (MedFN) hope you will accomplish all your goals. If you want to achieve a simple goal this year, challenge yourself to tell one person about our website www.medfn.com and how they can protect them self and their loved ones during a time of emergency. Thank you, good luck and Happy New Year.

Holiday Health

The holiday season is upon us and it is that time of year when many people say eat, drink and be merry. The reality is, if you have a medical condition you may want to be more aware in these three areas.

Eating is something we all do on a daily basis. Sticking to a normal diet may be a little more challenging during holiday gatherings with all the wonderful foods of the season. Parties with endless food choices and the treats given as gifts are all so tempting. One way to cut the calories is to simply re-gift all fruitcakes that are sent to you. I believe this is now an accepted tradition. Besides it is the thought that counts.

Drinking alcohol may have some medicinal advantages. On the other hand, this can be a whole other matter if you have a condition and/or take medication(s) that may react with alcohol. You should not increase your normal intake of alcohol for it may cause harm. Alcohol consumption does increase during this time of the year, so just remember if you are in good health, drink in moderation. Watch out, the eggnog might be spiked.

Being merry can at least minimize your stress. Stress can be brought on in many different ways. Stress can be manifested by oneself or it can be thrust upon them. Either way one must learn to recognize areas that increase their stress levels, so try to manage them. This can help year round, but also can be a big plus for the end of the year push and/or the holiday season. So do your best to keep it a merry one.

During the holiday season, many will travel to visit family, friends or take that needed vacation. What if one of those travelers would be your medical professional? Could you get your medical information as soon as you need it? Members of Med File Now® (MedFN) can. If you know someone who could benefit from a Med File Now® (MedFN) account, tell them to visit our website at www.medfn.com to get them started.

From all of us at Med File Now® (MedFN) we hope you have a happy and healthy holiday season.

Patient Can’t Remember Their Medication

Could your medication kill you? If you don’t remember what it is, it could. While working in the insurance industry and in the medical field I was very concerned by the number of people that could not recall their medications. I could understand the confusion if the individual was taking a number of medications, with the different names, frequencies and dosages. What surprised me the most was the number of individuals that could not recall their medication even if it was just one. Doctors must rely on the accuracy of the patient’s memory to properly treat these patients. Plus patient’s record may not be readily available. This inaccuracy of the patient’s information and an introduction of a new medication could have adverse interactions and lead to death.

You might be asking yourself, how frequently does this happen? Recent research studies at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine delved into this issue. They found that 50% of patients taking antihypertensive drugs in three community health centers were unable to accurately name a single one of their medications listed in their medical chart. That number climbed to 65 percent for patients with lower health literacy. The results from this study indicated the problem is worse than expected. This left researchers to believe that doctors may not know the medications actually being taking by patients for their chronic conditions. This makes it truly difficult for the doctor to know what medications the patients are actually taking.

Research has identified a definite problem that may lead to deadly consequences to a patient. Some people choose to still leave it in the hands of the medical profession. On the contrary it is the responsibility of the individual to have access to this pertinent information. It is human nature to believe that this will not happen to you, but in a critical situation the simplest things can be forgotten. You need to prepare yourself and your loved ones by taking action. It can be as simple as having a Med File Now (MedFN) account online that will make this information available 24/7. You may think how would only having one medication online save your life, but that is what people thought about wearing a seatbelt.

Autistic Children Can Speak Out Now

Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that is part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). First estimates were said to be 1 out every 166 children are born with autism. Recently that number has been reported to even be higher. Today the estimate stands at 1 out of 129 are autistic. Individuals who are diagnosed with autism are becoming more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It is four times more likely to strike boys than girls and it is found in all racial, ethnic, and social groups.
Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe. That is why two children with the same diagnosis may have strikingly different skill sets and act quite differently. Autism impairs a person's ability in three crucial areas of development, which are the social skills, language and behavior. In the most severe cases of autism it becomes the complete inability to communicate or interact with other people.

Social skills;
They do not respond to their name
Acquired ability for words or sentences, become lost
Have a lack of eye contact
At times it seems that they do not hear you
Unaware of others' feelings
Prefers to play alone than with others
Retreats into their own world

Language;
Late starter in talking, compared to other children
Acquired ability for words or sentences, become lost
Lack of eye contact when trying to communicate
Abnormal tone or rhythm in speech
Uses singing voice or robotic type speech
From verbatim repeat words or phrases but do not understand the uses
Will not start or keep conversation

Behavior;
Rocking, spinning or hand flapping repetitively
Rituals or routines and change in these rituals or routines becomes disturbing
Constantly moving
Becomes fascinated on an object
Can also have a sensitivity to sound, light and touch

As children with autism become more mature and engaged with others they may show less behavioral traits associated with autism. Usually those with the least severe impairments eventually may lead normal or near-normal lives. Children with autism can have normal to high intelligence. As a result they may learn quickly but still have trouble communicating and applying their skills to their everyday life and adjusting in social situations.There may come a time when an autistic child needs to communicate information. Who will be their voice if they are separated from the guardian? Recently parents have used the power of MedFN to safe guard their children for that reason. The MedFN program will become the voice for that child. It can provide as much information as you want to make available to secure and comfort your child until you are back together. We must all take steps to assure the safety our children. With MedFN, as their voice, autistic children can speak out now.