This lovely and heartwarming letter came in to me today from a mother in England who purchased a book via this Danny the Dragon website. As an author this is one of those special moments in our lives that we know we are doing what we love and it is touching others. I think any other children’s author will agree with me on this.

Hi Tina

We have one VERY EXCITED little boy!!

He absolutely loved waking up to a package on Saturday morning. Jumped out of bed and said “Can I go to School today?” and I said “No. But there is a surprise for you downstairs for being so good this week!”

Thanks again for the great service via the site and the ordering arrangement.

As for some of the extra bits and bobs sent in the package ( door hangers, bookmarkers, tattoos, pencils) some of them Ro intends to share with his friends. They will all be enjoying Danny the Dragon here in England.

Thanks so much!

MLV,

Chantelle

Before my visit to a school for the deaf on my East Coast book tour to promote my children’s title, Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy, I hardly knew anything about the subject of deaf literacy. However, since that life-changing day,when I decided to do something on behalf of this issue, I now understand the complexity of the issue, especially for parents of deaf children. Perhaps the most important decision you’ll make as the parent of a deaf child is which method of communication is best for your child. If you’ve decided that your child should join the 219,000 deaf people worldwide who have opted for cochlear implants along with deaf oral education so that they can use spoken language, the issue of timing comes up: when is the best time for your child to get the cochlear implants becomes an issue?

As the parent of a deaf child, it’s likely that you yourself are hearing and that the deaf world is new to you. After all, 90% of deaf children have hearing parents. That means there’s a lot to learn. If you’re interested in getting your young child cochlear implants, you’ve likely chosen this because you’d like your child to have the same opportunitities, educational and professional, as hearing children and adults. As your child becomes better and better with spoken language, you’ll find that he or she is able to attend the same regular classes and participate in the same activities as most of his or her peers. In this way, cochlear implants can be an exciting prospect with the promise of a bright future for your deaf child.

Now the question of “When?” arises. When is the best time for your child to get cochlear implantation surgery? According to research, early implantation allows for earlier exposure to sounds during the critical speech-learning period for children. According to Bella Online, most children are between the ages of 2 and 6 when they get their implants. In the U.S. in 2000, the age requirement for one of the types of cochlear implants was lowered to 12 months.

Is this too young? According to Bella Online, research is showing that “an overwhelmingly majority” of deaf children who don’t have any other health issues see an enhancement in their quality of life as a result of their cochlear implants: “The earlier the implantation the more likely the child will develop hearing, speech, language and cognitive skills at a level similar to a normal hearing child.” In addition to having the same educational and career opportunities, these children are easier to handle by their parents, fit in better socially, able to do activities like using a phone or going to the movies. Science Daily reports that in one study, “the children who received cochlear implants at the youngest ages have nearly the same spoken language skills as children with normal hearing.” Other unpublished studies show that by the age of 4 and a half years old, early implantation children have normal speech and could most likely start school with their hearing peers.

Deciding whether or not to go with cochlear implants is a complex decision, however, that requires time and research. Just as with any surgical procedure, there are risks. Parents may also be hesitant to have their small child undergo such an intensive procedure, and understandably. Moreover, once the procedure is done, the parts of the ear involved in hearing are permanently destroyed so that natural hearing will never take place. Deaf oral education and auditory-verbal therapy are also time-intensive, requiring the participation of the entire family. By the time your child has been correctly diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing, you’ve done your research, and come up with the funds for the operation, your child may be well into his toddler years or older.

As a children’s author and child and family advocate, I’m often asked for advice on all sorts of issues. Although I do lecture, speak, and write on a variety of subjects related to children, I always reassure parents that they are ultimately responsible for their child and know what’s best for him or her. Study the facts, seek professional advice from as many qualified specialists as possible, and consider what’s best for your child. The facts are showing that early implantation is highly effective in establishing language and speaking skills in deaf children, but the decision to go ahead with this is highly involved and will affect your child and your family from here on out.

Tina Turbin

Dr. Andrew Wakefield, who published a study in 1998 about the possible link between autism and vaccines which was subsequently questioned and discredited by the medical community, has defended his work in an interview on CNN.

Dr. Wakefield’s work has been discredited over the past several years, and ten of the eleven doctors who were involved in the study have removed their names from it. The Sunday Times reports that Dr. Wakefield “changed and misreported results” in his research, according to “confidential” medical documents and interviews with witnesses.

Dr. Wakefield’s study was published in February 1998 in The Lancet medical journal, causing widespread concern among parents that the MMR vaccine—for measles, mumps, and rubella—was linked to autism. According to The Sunday Times, the impact of the article was “extraordinary,” with vaccination rates decreasing from 92% to less than 80%, while “herd immunity” from measles occurs when 95% of the population has been vaccinated.

After a British journalist, Brian Deer, published the results of his investigation calling Wakefield’s study an “elaborate fraud,” Wakefield denied these allegations as false in an interview on CNN with Anderson Cooper. Wakefield continues to stand by his findings, saying that the results have been replicated in studies in five other countries and that Deer has received financial support from a pharmaceutical company. Check out the link below to see the interview yourself.

CNN Video Clip

Tina Turbin

www.DannyTheDragon.com

b.a.

Dr. Andrew Wakefield, who published a study in 1998 about the possible link between autism and vaccines which was subsequently questioned and discredited by the medical community, has defended his work in an interview on CNN.

Dr. Wakefield’s work has been discredited over the past several years, and ten of the eleven doctors who were involved in the study have removed their names from it. The Sunday Times reports that Dr. Wakefield “changed and misreported results” in his research, according to “confidential” medical documents and interviews with witnesses.

Dr. Wakefield’s study was published in February 1998 in The Lancet medical journal, causing widespread concern among parents that the MMR vaccine—for measles, mumps, and rubella—was linked to autism. According to The Sunday Times, the impact of the article was “extraordinary,” with vaccination rates decreasing from 92% to less than 80%, while “herd immunity” from measles occurs when 95% of the population has been vaccinated.

After a British journalist, Brian Deer, published the results of his investigation calling Wakefield’s study an “elaborate fraud,” Wakefield denied these allegations as false in an interview on CNN with Anderson Cooper. Wakefield continues to stand by his findings, saying that the results have been replicated in studies in five other countries and that Deer has received financial support from a pharmaceutical company. Check out the link below to see the interview yourself.

CNN Video Clip

Tina Turbin

www.DannyTheDragon.com

Resources:

CNN: Autism-Vaccine Study Author Defends Work http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2011/01/05/ac.autism.wakefield.intv.cnn

MSNBC: Doctor defends research tying vaccine to racism http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40930256/ns/health-mental_health/

Sarros, Connie. FREE Gluten-free Newsletterette. (Feb. 2011.) www.gfbooks.homestead.com

The Sunday Times: MMR doctor Andrew Wakefield fixed data on autism http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5683671.ece

Danny fans can now see a preview of the iPad Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy app, which stands out as a groundbreaking innovation for being the first children’s book app with a sign language interpretation mode. iStoryTime, the app developer for DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, has posted a sample of the signed reading of the book on You Tube.

I’m very pleased with the wonderful job iStorytime has done with the app. iStoryTime co-founder, Woody Sears, has said of the project, “We are extremely proud to release the first-ever children’s book app for the deaf community.”

Check out the link below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bijyi6sO20k&feature=fvw

The full app is available for purchase from the iTunes app store.

Tina Turbin

www.DannyTheDragon.com

Stay-at-home mom and blogger Annie (www.MamaDweeb.com) has posted a delightful reading of Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy to her adorable three-year-old daughter, Lizzie, on YouTube. Have a look yourself at the link below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8wKtMwFiKI

Tina Turbin

www.DannyTheDragon.com

The easiest way to avoid or reduce your exposure to chemical coloring is simply to avoid a lot of processed food.  Check your gluten-free labels always.

FD&C on a label means the FDA allows the dyes to be used in food, drugs and cosmetics.  Sometimes you’ll see FDA Red 40 or FD&C Red 40, so these are just 2 ways the labeling is used.

The FDA allows nine synthetic color additives to this date despite consumer advocacy groups showing mass evidence of the 2 dyes; Red 40 and Yellow 6 linked to hyperactivity, hence attention disorders.

Also, the term artificial colors means “dyes from plants and minerals”, not a synthetic source.  Two of these are caramel (used in cola) and annatto extract from a tropical seed and used in some cheeses to make the color desired.

Click here to read Part 1 on how chemical food dyes are linked to hyperactivity.

Tina Turbin
www.DannyTheDragon.com

     Recent research is now indicating that there may be a link between Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other developmental and child psychiatric disorders and an allergy or sensitivity to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in barley, rye, and wheat, and it is estimated that millions of Americans have a sensitivity or allergy to it. Gluten intolerance can affect the entire body, leading to a variety of troubling physical as well as mental symptoms.

     Upon a change in diet, various developmental disorders have been documented to lessen in some cases. Some of the disorders the symptoms for which were relieved are autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), non-verbal learning disorder (NLD), and pervasive development disorder (PDD).

     These studies which link gluten intolerance to autism and other child mental disorders have noted that gluten-sensitive children will also display physical symptoms such as bloating, frequent gas, constipation, diarrhea, dark shadows under the eyes, excessive sweating, and pale skin. These physical problems can clue parents into whether their autistic or ADHD child may have a gluten allergy.

     So what can you do if you suspect that your child has a gluten allergy? Thankfully, a gluten allergy can be confirmed with a simple blood test. Also, gluten can also be eliminated from the diet and then the child observed for improvement. It is important to check with your doctor before significantly changing the child’s diet.

Tina Turbin

     There are so many reasons to dramatically cut down on television or to cut it out altogether. You’ll find in the end that your children will be much more likely to become avid readers and, as a result, perform better in school and in life. Instead of acting out the drama and degradation on popular TV, your kids will demonstrate the values you seek to pass on to them. You’ll also find your own productivity will increase, and oftentimes, a marriage will be sparked back to life by eliminating television. It may be a challenge at first to get used to your new lifestyle, but soon the benefits will be so rewarding that you’ll be too busy enjoying your higher quality of life that you won’t even think about the absence of television in it.

Tina Turbin

What should you look for in a good friend whose companionship will bring health and happiness to you instead of just raising your blood pressure? There are a few things you should ask yourself before befriending someone. First of all, make sure to choose a friend who has positive things to say to you. Every once in a while, a good friend may need to tell you something that might be tough to hear—“hard truths”—but these remarks should be very infrequent and you should generally walk away after spending time with them feeling better about yourself.

Also, look for friends who are living life in a responsible manner. Otherwise, the stress of their own lives due to their bad habits and poor decisions will surely stress you out. Nobody is perfect, but avoid befriending people who are making bad life decisions such as abusing drugs, having extramarital affairs, and engaging in criminal activity, for instance. Every once in a while, a good friend may make a bad decision; this doesn’t mean you should abandon the friendship, but help them instead. However, my best advice is that if you meet someone and find right off the bat that his life is out of control, it’s best to refer him to help and save your energy for friends who are overall positively contributing to society.

Having lots of friends can boost your immune system, help you survive longer after a heart attack, fight serious illnesses such as cancer, and increase your life span. With such positive advantages, you should make sure to increase your number of friends, but also keep in mind the importance of avoiding stressful, low-quality friendship and seeking out positive companionship.

Tina Turbin