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| Sharper Mind Centers Newsletter April 8, 2007Sharper Mind Centers Newsletter Topics
The Mysterious Brain: Overcoming it's Challenges" a Seminar April 12th
You can meet the co-founders of Sharper Mind Centers including Dr. Meelhuysen. Chat with them afterwards. We'll have available a functional brain model and show you what segments of the brain are usually "out of order". Pre-register online via a link off the following page: http://www.sharpermindcenters.com/Seminar or call Ed at 503-641-5707 or toll free 1-866-HELP-A.D.D.
In a very exciting breakthrough, Sharper Mind Centers has
developed a safe, simple to use protocol that has been quite effective in
reducing the severity of autistic spectrum disorders. Krista brought us her severely autistic six-year-old son who still wasn't talking. Joshua was experiencing 5 to 8 seizures a day, expressed little or no emotion, and had just been potty trained. We put him through Stage One of our new Sharper Minds protocol for autistic children. I talked to his mother three months later. Joshua had not had a seizure for three weeks, was beginning rudimentary speech and was beginning to express emotion. His parents for the first time in years have been able to take a family vacation. I saw Joshua last Friday. It was exciting to see him beginning to talk. We're looking forward to much more progress. If you know of someone that has an autistic child, please put them in contact with us at 503-641-5707. Newswise — In a small but startling preliminary new study, Texas researchers have found that after just three months, every one of a dozen children treated for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with the drug methylphenidate experienced a threefold increase in levels of chromosome abnormalities—occurrences associated with increased risks of cancer and other adverse health effects.
Researchers at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) reported their detection of the chromosome abnormalities in the journal Cancer Letters. The authors said they undertook the study because, even though methylphenidate has been approved for human use for more than 50 years, “there are surprisingly few studies” in either animals or human beings “on the potential for serious side effects,” such as causing mutations and cancer. The new Texas study involved researchers drawing blood from children diagnosed with ADHD before they began taking methylphenidate in order to get a baseline level of chromosomal abnormalities. Three months after the children had begun taking the drug, the researchers drew the children’s blood and tested it a second time. Chromosomes are the bodies within cells that carry the genes and genetic information. All 12 of the children whose before-and-after blood cells were studied were treated with normal therapeutic doses of methylphenidate. (read entire article) For more information, click here. In a 2006 study of 84 Sharper Mind Centers program graduates, of those who were on medications such as Ritalin or Adderall, ALL (100%) were able to discontinue medications due to greater mental performance. Missed the study results reported in our last newsletter, click here? Brain Boot Camp (Summer Classes)
Participants would do some of the fun elementary exercises of the Sharper Minds program (including auditory integration therapy), along with brain-building activities, exercise, and wholesome lunches designed to improve thinking and focus. Classes would be limited to 10 students to allow for more personalized student attention. Fees for the two-week course would run $595 for one child, $495 per additional child. A $75 registration fee applies against the total fee. We're also considering offering Before Care and After Care for families (that need the extra child care) at around $5 per Care session (these rates are very similar to OMSI's summer class rates). Sessions are based upon age group, and will likely run three 2-week sessions from the 3rd week of June through the end of July.
Eligibility Requirements: the child should be of the proper age group (or could participate with a sibling of close age), be independent enough to participate (but not oppositional) and not require one-on-one care. Note: This summer class does not take the place of the full Sharper Minds program, but is designed to improve brain function as much as possible within a fairly short period of time without the parents' active involvement. The family does not need to purchase any equipment and the student does not need an evaluation in order to participate. We'll make this happen if there is enough interest. So please reply to this e-mail if this would be of interest to you.
Dr. Meelhuysen is now a featured columnist in the Multnomah County edition of Kidsville News, a publication targeted toward kids and their families. Kids can pick this up at their schools, or you can obtain one by contacting C.J. Publishing at 360-254-3977. Click here to read her column. You can access the national version of Kidsville News at http://www.kidsvillenews.com/portland/
Scheduling Evaluations or Program Starts Spring is a busy time of the year, when a lot of families elect to move forward with getting their kids started in the Sharper Minds program. Don't be left behind or be put on a waiting list. By next school year, things could be very much improved! Call us to discuss your unique situation and to schedule an evaluation. Call 503-641-5707 or toll free 1-866-HELP-A.D.D. Limited evening time slots available. Dr. Meelhuysen has an evaluation appointment opening on Thursday, May 12th and one on Friday, May 13th. After that, she is scheduling evaluations out around the beginning of May. Therapist evaluations in Beaverton or Clackamas must be done before April 24th (due to the foregoing staffing change). Evaluations in Salem, Oregon are done on Mondays and in Lebanon, Oregon on other days. Evaluations in Vancouver are usually done in the evenings. Respectfully yours, Ed Meelhuysen, Have
you misplaced or discarded some of our past mailers to you?
You can download updated versions at: http://www.SharperMindCenters.com/mailers Want to view some of our past e-mail newsletters, click here. We hope you have found this e-newsletter helpful and informative. You inquired about our program back on ________ and provided us with your e-mail information. If you do not wish to receive informational e-mails in the future, you may ask to have us remove your e-mail address from our active list. Reply to the e-mail with the word REMOVE in the subject line. If you wish us to delete your name from our database, reply to the e-mail with the word DELETE in the subject line. |
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If learning how you or your loved one can improve their
thinking processes is important to you, then you'll
want to attend our exciting informational seminar on the brain this
coming Thursday evening (April 12th). A pre-seminar slide show with
interesting tidbits about the brain as well as a video begins around 7:00
p.m. with
the main presentation beginning at 7:30 p.m. It will be held at our 
This is generally a small interactive presentation that encourages audience
participation. We will be touching on some awesome new material and
discoveries. No charge, bring a friend.
The
researchers say that to their knowledge this is the first study addressing
the potential chromosome-breaking effects associated with treatment of
children with methylphenidate, the generic name for a group of drugs that
includes Ritalin, Concerta, Metadate CD and others. . . . Methylphenidate is the
most widely prescribed of a class of amphetamine-like drugs used to treat ADHD,
with more than 10 million prescriptions written for it in 1996 alone.
Are
you looking for summer classes that would benefit your struggling child mentally
and academically? We're looking at offering several exciting and intensive
2-week long "Brain Boot Camps" that would run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00
p.m. Monday through Friday and include lunch. Designed to improve thinking
abilities and focus.
Staffing
change
, our
therapist in Clackamas on Wednesdays, is moving to California, where her husband
will be working on a Masters degree. All Clackamas or eastside clients
(after April 18th) will be seen in our Beaverton office. Alison has been
with us for three years and will be greatly missed. Alison, we wish you
all the best and many blessings on you and yours.