An individualized education plan (IEP) can help you ensure that your child receives the services he or she needs to succeed in school. Your Monmouth County, NJ, developmental pediatrician, Dr. Alison Smoller of G & A Medical Associates, offers IEP evaluations and can provide advice and recommendations on the ideal accommodations for your child.

Who needs an IEP?

An IEP may be helpful if your child has special needs or disabilities that make learning in a traditional setting a little challenging. An IEP can be a good idea if your child has autism, learning disabilities, dyslexia, speech or language difficulties, vision or hearing impairments, mental health or emotional issues, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cognitive problems, physical disabilities, or dyslexia.

What is an IEP?

An IEP details what services your child needs during the school day. Before the plan is prepared, your child may receive a diagnosis from your developmental pediatrician and be evaluated by Monmouth County school personnel, counselors, therapists, or psychologists. Input from the teachers and parents are also crucial. An IEP will be granted if your child's disability has a demonstrated impact on his or her ability to function at school.

Your child's plan includes information on assistive tools and devices, special equipment, alternate testing methods, and other accommodations. For example, if your child has a learning disability that affects reading speed, he or she may be given more time to take tests or finish in-class work. If your child has a physical disability, physical or occupational therapy may be part of the IEP. Therapists and counselors also work with teachers to ensure that classrooms are inclusive.

The IEP will break down each service your child will receive, note who will provide the service, and mention how often your child will receive a particular service. Your child will be assigned an IEP team who will meet with you yearly, or as needed, to ensure that the plan continues to meet your child's needs.

Could your child benefit from an IEP? Call your developmental pediatrician in Monmouth County, NJ, Dr. Alison Smoller of G & A Medical Associations at (732) 660-0220 to schedule an appointment in her Ocean, NJ, office.

Finding medical help during the COVID-19 Pandemic could be immensely challenging. Fortunately, there is a technology that allows remote access to physicians: telemedicine. Here at the Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Monmouth County, NJ, your developmental pediatrician, Dr. Alison Smoller and psychiatric nurse practitioner, Shannon Stoll offers telemedicine consultations from the comfort of your own home.

Understanding Telemedicine

Telemedicine is the use of technology that enables remote healthcare. It allows physicians to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients remotely using telecommunications technology like a computer, tablet or smartphone. This virtual office visit can be a great alternative to the traditional in-person visit especially during a crisis. Some advantages unique to Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey are:

1. Convenient: Some patients of Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey need to travel long distances. Virtual visits eliminate the need to travel. Now they can just log into their device with no travel time.
2. More Informative: In certain situations, our providers are able to observe and evaluate your child’s behavior more accurately in their secure home environment.  Additionally, due to social distancing and the use of face masks during in-person visits, our providers would not be able to observe your child’s facial expressions and would be less comfortable and at times could be stressful.
3. Flexible: Appointment availability is much more flexible now than ever.
4. Cost-Effective: Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey is currently offering reduced prices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
5. Secure and Confidential: The telemedicine platform is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant to protect the sensitive information of our patients.

During a crisis, this type of medical service delivery can provide the distinct advantage of having access to quality healthcare without leaving the comfort and security of your home.

How Can I Get Care for My Child?

Call (732) 660-0220 to schedule your virtual office visit with your developmental pediatrician, Dr. Alison Smoller, or your psychiatric nurse practitioner, Shannon Stoll here at the Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Monmouth County, NJ.

Accommodating Your Child's ADHD

ADHD can affect children from all backgrounds and the symptoms are varied. Many children with ADHD find it difficult to focus and pay attention to tasks at hand. Some children may also display impulsive or hyperactive behavior. Though there is currently no cure for the disorder, treatment from a qualified health professional can ease the symptoms of ADHD. With a proper treatment strategy, most children with ADHD are productive in school and lead successful lives. Dr. Alison Smoller is based in Monmouth County, Ocean, NJ, and specializes in developmental pediatrics.

Developing an IEP for Your Child

School is very challenging for children with ADHD. There are many distractions in the classroom, and it can be difficult for them to focus. An IEP (Individualized Education Program) can help your child with ADHD make the most of their time in the classroom. Here are some tips that target ADHD challenges:

• Reduce distraction: Try seating your child in the middle of the room away from doors and windows.
• Extend personal space: If your child tends to talk to or reach out to other students, try increasing the distance between desks.
• Allow extra time: Make sure your child has plenty of time to finish assignments. You can also break assignments into small stages.
• Help with following instructions: If your child has difficulty following instructions, combine written instructions with oral instructions.
• Help with focus: If your child is easily distracted, give cues such as private signals to help them stay on task.
• Provide positive reinforcement: Ask the teacher to send weekly reports home.
• Provide a role model: To encourage good behavior, have your child sit next to a well-behaved student.

Don’t let your child’s ADHD disrupt his or her learning. Work together with your child’s teachers so that you can all provide the best educational experience possible. You know your child better than anyone, so identify his or her particular challenges so their time in the classroom is a positive experience.

If you have a child with ADHD and you live in Monmouth County, Ocean, NJ, contact Dr. Alison Smoller today at 732-660-0220 to arrange an appointment.

Does your child have a learning disability, or do suspect he or she has one but it's undiagnosed? At Developmental Pediatrics of Central New Jersey, Dr. Alison Smoller helps children and their families in Monmouth County cope with developmental and learning disabilities. She fields questions about school-related difficulties. What would you like to know about your child's learning?

FAQs about learning disabilities

Just what is a learning disability? A learning disability is an inherent, often hereditary, disorder which affects an individual's ability to take in and process information, speak, spell, read, calculate and more. Learning disabilities cannot be fixed or healed; however, children can learn ways to deal with these issues. With the advent of school and work accommodations and computer-based technologies, learning disabilities do not have to impede academic or professional success in adulthood.

What is the most common one? According to Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region, the most common learning disability is dyslexia, a wide-ranging problem which manifests in reading, writing, organizational and math difficulties. Dysgraphia and dyscalculia, which present with misunderstanding of time and money and with poor handwriting, respectively, are prevalent also.

I suspect my child has a learning disability, but how can I know for sure? Sometimes developmental delays are mistaken for true disabilities. With time, delays resolve, while learning disabilities require specific testing, identification and accommodation, especially through the school-age years. Dr. Smoller is specially trained in identifying leaning disabilities. She helps youngsters and their families in Monmouth County cope day to day and in the academic environment. She refers to area experts for additional testing, programs and other helps.

Usually, an IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, test along with a standardized academic test for math, writing and reading, uncover a discrepancy between the two (high IQ, low academic performance) and flags a learning disability. Additional testing and symptomalogy hone in on the specific problem.

What is an IEP? An IEP is an Individualized Education Program. A child with a documented learning disability may have an IEP in place in his or her school so teachers and administrators help the student optimize success. Not only are special considerations given to test taking, tutoring and more, an IEP also outlines ways for the child to be mainstreamed into the everyday academic environment. Dr. Smoller can weigh in on formulation of an IEP or render a second opinion on an existing plan as requested.

How many children have learning disabilities? They are fairly common. The Learning Disabilities Association of America states that 2.3 million children in the United States have specific learning disabilities.

Find out more

At Developmental Pediatrics of Central New Jersey, Dr. Alison Smoller and her caring team understand the concerns of parents whose youngsters are learning disabled. They can help you help your child succeed in school and in life. Dr. Smoller proudly serves patients from all over the state of New Jersey and including Pennsylvania. Call the office for a friendly and informative consultation: (732) 660-0220.

How our Monmouth County office can help your child receive the best education possible

Does your child have an IEP, or Individualized Education Program? If so, you know this important instrument coordinates your child's programs and services in school so that they can reach their academic goals. Here at Developmental Pediatrics of Central New Jersey, Dr. Alison Smoller and her team offer valuable input on IEP compilation and execution, helping families in Monmouth County receive the educational services they deserve.

Just what is an IEP?

Short for Individualized Education Program, an IEP is a written document that outlines a plan of academic instruction that helps a learning-challenged child achieve academic success. Typically formulated by a team of educators, social workers, special education experts, and family members, the IEP:

• Sets academic goals
• Documents learning, behavioral, and medical disabilities (e.g. ADHD, dyslexia, ambulatory challenges, vision/hearing problems, etc.)
• Outlines specific services (speech therapy as an example) and accommodations (such as extended testing time) the child needs to function in the school environment
• Reports findings from in-school evaluators and professionals in the field, such as a developmental pediatrician, psychologist, or physical therapist

Reviewed at least annually by the special education team, the IEP follows the child through their school career to ensure proper placement, evaluation, and services.

Who has input on an IEP?

Parents, caregivers, teachers, doctors and the child may weigh in on the Individualized Education Program.

When should you seek out an IEP second opinion?

As a parent, you have the right to help formulate the IEP and to request meetings to change it as necessary, according to KidsHealth. Usually, changes and compromises are resolved fairly easily.

However, parents have the right to seek help from outside sources, including second opinions on the content of the IEP document itself. This second opinion is called an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE), and parents may choose the professionals they wish to assess their child.

An IEE may better direct the IEP process. This independent evaluation is viewed as objective being without the influences of the classroom teacher, resource room educator or others who are "eyes on" the student on a daily basis.

Our Monmouth County office can help

It's what we do every day. As a developmental pediatrician, Dr. Smoller evaluates children, counsels families, and coordinates care and services for young patients with a range of learning, social, and behavioral issues. She can help you secure the educational program, services, and accommodations appropriate for your youngster's diagnosis and well-being. Proudly serving patients from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania, our West Park Avenue office can be contacted at (732) 660-0220.