Volume 13, Issue 11
NOVEMBER 2011   

   
    With the holidays just around the corner, our staff
    "anxiously awaits" for the mail to see all the cards
    and pictures from our patient families. This gives
    us the opportunity to see how your child(ren) have
    grown and since we love our patients...we'll be
    sure everyone on our staff sees them. If you want
    to save a stamp you can certainly drop off copies
    of your holiday pictures at one of your next visits.
    We definitely look forward to this time of year!
 
 
    With Thanksgiving here, we want to take the
   opportunity to thank you, our valued patient
   families, for trusting us to take care of your
   child(ren) over the years and please know we
   greatly appreciate you. From all of the staff at
   APL, have a great Thanksgiving! - Dr. B.
  
              


    Before you bring your newborn home from the hospital, your baby needs to have a hearing screening.

    Although most babies can hear normally, 1 to 3 of every 1,000 babies are born with some degree of
    hearing loss. Without newborn hearing screening, it is difficult to detect hearing loss in the first months
    and years of your baby’s life. About half of the children with hearing loss have no risk factors for it.

    Newborn hearing screening can detect possible hearing loss in the first days of a baby’s life. If a
    possible hearing loss is found, further tests will be done to confirm the results. When hearing loss is
    confirmed, treatment and early intervention should start as soon as possible. Early intervention refers to
    programs and services available to babies and their families that help with hearing loss and learning
    important communication skills.

    That is why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all babies receive newborn
    hearing screening before they go home from the hospital.

    Why do Newborns Need Hearing Screening?

    Babies learn from the time they are born. One of the ways they learn is through hearing. If they have
    problems with hearing and do not receive the right treatment and early intervention services, babies will
    have trouble with language development.

    For some babies, early intervention services may include the use of sign language and/or hearing aids.  
    Studies show that children with hearing loss who receive appropriate early intervention services by age
    6 months usually develop good language and learning skills.

    Some parents think they would be able to tell if their baby could not hear. This is not always the case.
    Babies may respond to noise by startling or turning their heads toward the sound. This does not mean
    they have normal hearing. Most babies with  hearing loss can hear some sounds but still not hear
    enough to develop full speaking ability.

    Timing is everything. Your baby will have the best chance for normal language development if any
    hearing loss is discovered and treatment begins by the age of 6 months - and the earlier, the better.

    How is Newborn Hearing Screening Done?

    There are 2 screening tests that may be used:

    Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (AABR)—This test measures how the hearing nerve responds
    to sound. Clicks or tones are played through soft earphones into the baby’s ears. Three electrodes
    placed on the baby’s head measure the hearing nerve’s response.

    Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)—This test measures sound waves produced in the inner ear. A tiny probe
    is placed just inside the baby’s ear canal. It measures the response (echo) when clicks or tones are
    played into the baby’s ears.

    Both tests are quick (about 5 to 10 minutes), painless, and may be done while your baby is sleeping or
    lying still. One or both tests may be used.

    If Hearing Loss is Found, What Can be Done?

    This depends on the type of hearing loss that your baby has. Every baby with hearing loss should be
    seen by a hearing specialist (audiologist) experienced in testing babies, a pediatric ear/nose/throat
    doctor (otolaryngologist), and a pediatric eye doctor (ophthalmologist). Some children with hearing loss
    can also have problems with their vision. Many children are also seen by a geneticist to determine if
    there is a hereditary cause of hearing loss.

    Special hearing tests can be performed by the audiologist who, together with the otolaryngologist and
    ophthalmologist, can tell you the degree of hearing loss and what can be done to help.

    If the hearing loss is permanent, hearing aids and speech and language services may be recommended
    for your baby. You will be informed of choices for communicating with your baby including total
    communication, oral communication, cued speech, and American Sign Language.

    The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that free early intervention programs be
    offered to babies and children with hearing loss, beginning at the time the child’s hearing loss is
    identified.

   The outlook is good for children with hearing loss who begin an early intervention program before the age
   of 6 months. Research shows these children usually develop language skills on a par with those of their
   hearing peers.

   Source:
   Newborn Hearing Screening and Your Baby (Copyright © 2010 American Academy of Pediatrics)

At APL, no question is too silly and remember the first five-thousand are free.

   
    “I want I want I want”. “Suzie has a new car why can’t I have one?” “Billy’s
    parents bought him a new iPhone, I need one too.”

    Our children whine and whine about what they do not have. How did they
    get this way? We seemed to do all of the right things. We took them to
    religious school – surely the folks at these institutions told our children the
    evils of greed. We don’t buy them everything they want, well most of the
    time anyway. We made Jimmy buy his latest video game with some of his
    left over Christmas money. I cannot believe he thinks we are just made of
    money. How did our children get such a case of the “gimmies”?

    The easy answer is to always blame the other parent or the schools. (Our favorite two scapegoats)
    But in truth, we actively do not teach our children how to manage, acquire or save money. We live in a
    consumer society driven by slick advertising force fed to us thru the media including video games and
    on our I phones. We ourselves, over extend our bank accounts by using credit cards. We rationalize that
    we deserve the treat, the mocha latte, the new outfit. But what behaviors are we modeling for our kids.
    They are mentally videotaping us constantly and picking up our habits, both good and bad. If you don’t
    believe this, ask yourself how many times you have said, OMG I sound like my mother/father.

    First – model responsible economic behaviors. It is ok for your kids to understand and be aware that
    you do not purchase certain items because you cannot afford them. No need to keep up with the
    Joneses. Teach your children to live within their means by doing so yourself.

    Second – open a passbook account or IRA account for your children. Have them deposit their money
    they receive into these accounts. Show them the interest or growth accrued. Teach them to save part
    of their money. But, they should get to spend some if they so desire. For larger ticket items, have them
    save over time to make these purchases. They will feel tremendous pride after working to save for the
    coveted item. They will also value and appreciate it much more.

    Charity:  In my house, we have the children donate to charity on a regular basis. They can donate their
    time, talents, money or all three. This step is optional and should be aligned with your family philosophies
    and morals.

    Working: As a pediatrician I cannot emphasize the need for children to study and learn. In our
    competitive society those with the most education or training certainly have the best shot at obtaining a
    job. This is true from across the spectrum, from manufacturing to medicine. (Similarly, you need to teach
    your children the importance of networking, but that is a topic for another day.) But, children need to be
    taught from a young age the importance of work and the great satisfaction and feelings of
    accomplishment it can provide. Household chores should be mandatory in your home without pay.
    Encourage your children to work outside the home. Mowing lawns, shoveling sidewalks expands to
    bussing tables and to other jobs at age sixteen.

    WORK is not a just another bad four letter word! Nothing has taught my children more about the value of
    money than jobs requiring physical labor. Being a caddy at the golf course has driven my son’s desire
    for better grades at school. My daughter’s stint as a server for a caterer was also extremely enlightening.
    Suddenly, doing well in college took on a renewed vigor.

    Making Change:  Is there anything more frustrating than when dealing with a cashier who does not
    know how to make change? Kids today do not know how to do this because they get no real exposure to
    money. Teach them. Play “store” a few times with real money. They can master this task quickly. This will
    also help them obtain and keep that first job as they will be so far ahead of their peers.

    Teach your children what things cost. Discuss household finances with them. Junior year in High School
    at my house is the learning/exposure year. My kids start spending only their own money on wants and
    some needs. They learn what our mortgage is per month, the cost of groceries, the phone bill, the
    electric bill, their siblings college expenses, etc. Combine that with the first job and the EUREKA
    MOMENT occurs. Wow, I worked that hard and I only get that much to spend after taxes. AHA, welcome
    to the real world.
 
    Senior year they get a credit card and have to live on a budget, just like they will need to after graduation,
    whether they go to college or not. They must pay off their credit card each month. They are not allowed to
    carry a balance forward. They need to start making choices about what they can afford for their
    entertainment. This type of simple training paid off for my daughter in college. As her friends' parents
    complain to me about their children’s miserable spending habits. My wife and I just smile and nod. Our
    daughter has it down. She stays within her budget. (In case you think she is just a frugal Jane…COACH
    is her favorite store!)

    Now…for the lucky few of you where money is no object, just because you can afford to buy your kids
    things, you don’t have to. I have a friend, non-doctor, who has more money than he knows what to do
    with it. All three of his children had to make a financial contribution to their college education. None of
    them received a car for their sixteenth birthday. They had to earn money through working to purchase
    these items (and not at dad’s company.) He wanted his children to know the value of the dollar and could
    see the effects of “giving too much” by observing his friend’s children.

    Lastly, teach your children the difference between wants and needs. They are quite different. Our
    greatest wish for our children is that they be happy. If they understand the difference between wants and
    needs, it will be that much easier to achieve that goal.
  

   
    We understand things can come up during the night and it would be helpful for you to be able to contact
    the office at an earlier time, so we are excited to introduce our new phone hours.
 
    As of Tuesday, November 1st, APL will have a staff member available to make "same day sick"
    appointments for your "sick child" beginning at 7:30 am. Please understand if you call before 8:30 am
    regarding anything other than just needing to make a "same day sick" appointment, we will have to take
    a message and call you back. This process will make scheduling more efficient and better
    accommodate your needs.
 
    Once our nurse triage staff arrives at 8:30 am, we will be able to take all calls (as usual) and return any
    prior messages. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you even better.
 

To make an appointment or to talk
to a nurse, dial our main number.
 
(847) 398-0400 Phone
 
arlingtonpediatrics.com
 
3325 N. Arlington Hts. Road, 100A
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004
  
    

   Below are a few jokes we found
   funny. Let us know if you have any
   good ones for our next issue.
 
   What did Bruce Lee catch?  
   The kung flu!
      
   What did the lawyer name his
   daughter?   Sue!
 
    When does Christmas come before
   Thanksgiving?   In the dictionary!
 

APL is... "Where we treat our patients like our own children."
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Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice of your physician. The dispensing of this information should in no way be construed as establishing a doctor-patient relationship.