- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
The Beat Goes On
Interactive Metronome Helps Children With Attention Difficulties Get on Track
By Emily Gorovsky
Parents are advised to read the research, case studies and testimonials available on the IM Web site, www.interactivemetronome.com. A questionnaire, which Dr. Greenspan assisted in developing, helps parents identify their children's weaknesses and strengths in important areas of cognitive and social functioning. Questions address issues in relationship building, planning, problem solving, speech, coordination, learning and several other significant areas. After this assessment, interested parents can contact a local IM provider to learn more about the program and participate in a demonstration. Most IM providers are occupational therapists, physical therapists, clinicians and educators, all of whom undergo training in order to administer the program.
Patricia Holsclaw is an art therapist and a mother in Mebane, N.C., who decided to become an IM trainer as a way to help her three sons, ages 10, 8 and 6, work on various goals. She initially heard about the IM on a CBS Early Show segment and decided to look into the program further after finding out her oldest son, who has Tourette syndrome, also had ADD. Looking for alternatives to medication, Holsclaw went on the IM Web site, read the available research and articles for six months and then contacted a local IM provider to find out more. During this time, Holsclaw became interested in going back to work in the school system with children with special needs and thought becoming an IM provider might allow her more opportunities to help her children while simultaneously helping other students and introducing the IM to schools.
Although she has yet to return to the school system, Holsclaw went through training to become a certified IM provider last spring. This training involves using the IM program on two people for the complete 15, one-hour sessions each. The sessions typically span a three- to five-week period and progressively challenge individuals to improve their response time and accuracy. Holsclaw trained with her oldest son and another child who has ADHD, calling in each session's scores to an IM counselor, who would then give Holsclaw additional strategies, motivational techniques and games to improve the children's progress.
