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Regular Hearing Test is Important For Your Child

According to the resource from WHO, it is estimated over 5% of the world’s population will suffer from hearing loss*. In 2050, it is about one in every 10 people will have hearing impairment problem.* Therefore, hearing test has become one of the mandatory tests to all babies right after birth.

 

Why is it necessary to get hearing tests done?

Newborn hearing tests are performed on newborns to rule out any problems during early development. However, it is imperative to have your children done with childhood hearing tests, because it can pick up any late-onset problems or preventing hearing conditions from getting worse. Some children can develop late onset or acquired hearing loss due to genetic factors, infections, injury and noise exposure. Even if the babies have passed the newborn hearing test at birth, a regular screening can reveal slight or gradual hearing loss that necessitates treatment and monitoring.

When parents do not get routine hearing tests done, the chances are that multiple hearing problems can remain undiagnosed for months or even years. Hearing problems must be identified at an earlier age because this can affect your child’s speech, social skills, and language development. When the problems are detected early on, management and treatment are easier. Early diagnosis also ensures access to special support, if needed.

 

When should you get your child’s hearing checked?

It is always better to get hearing problems diagnosed early because the prognosis is much better before the child is six months of age. That is why every newborn child needs a hearing screening test before they are discharged from the hospital.

If your baby does not get tested before being discharged, get their testing done during the first three weeks. If your child does not pass the hearing test, it does not imply that they have hearing loss. However, it does mean that they should be tested again after three months. Diagnosis of hearing loss then means that your baby needs treatment.

 

How is the hearing test done?

There are several other types of hearing tests, which are:

 

Auditory Brainstorm (ABR) Test

This test checks for sensorineural hearing loss, which to exam how the hearing nerves and brain reacts to sounds.

 

Otoacoustic Emissions (OEA) Test

This test is commonly used in infants and young children, which to exam how the hair cells in the inner ear reacts to sounds.

 

Tympanometry

This test checks the function of the middle ear, which to exam how well the eardrum moves or responds to the sound.

The audiologist is the designated personnel to do the hearing test, and the type of test depends on the child’s age, development, and health.

Many children will go through a behavioral hearing test, which means checking the child’s response to sounds, for example, calibrated speech and pure tones. Pure tones have a very specific pitch.

Audiologists lookout for behavioral responses after the child listens to a sound. For example, toddlers and babies make eye movements or move their heads. The older kids move a game piece or raise their hands. The kids also respond to speech by choosing a picture or by repeating the words.

A referral to the ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) specialist will be made as soon as your child failed the hearing test. Do talk to your healthcare provider if you noticed your child was not responding well to the sound.

 

Reference:

Deafness and hearing loss page. World Health Organization Website. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss. January 4, 2022.

Sensitive Teeth During Pregnancy

Pregnancy tends to come with some sort of pain or discomfort. It could be as minor as a sore throat, or as major as throbbing joint paints.

There should be no cause for alarm as these are all part of this challenging but exciting state of being pregnant. However, discomfort during pregnancy varies across different individuals, and in some, it may only come in form of sensitive teeth.

 

What is teeth sensitivity during pregnancy?

It’s a dental discomfort that occurs when the inner layer of your gum is exposed. When someone is suffering from this condition, they usually feel pain in the affected tooth or gum when consuming drinks.

There are many different causes of sensitive teeth. In the case of pregnancy, however, it’s usually due to the hormonal changes taking place across the body system.

 

Causes of Sensitive Teeth

As mentioned earlier, hormonal change is one of the major factors responsible for sensitive teeth during pregnancy. Other bodily changes experienced during pregnancy may also be a contributing factor, but what exactly are these bodily changes?

  1. Increased Blood Flow

During pregnancy, your body now has to take care of an additional entity in the form of your baby, which will lead to an increased metabolic rate. The increased blood flow make your tooth and gum become overly sensitive. Consumption of hot and cold food and beverages can accelerate the rate of this condition, even if you have no such episodes in your entire life.

  1. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes in your body may also lead to teeth sensitivity during pregnancy. The presence of pregnancy hormones limits your body’s responsiveness to bacteria, leading to a hypersensitive dental system.

  1. Gum Disease

Pregnant women are more vulnerable to gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis. These conditions can make your dentins more sensitive, leading to tooth sensitivity at its extreme.

  1. Diet

Craving is normal for pregnant women and may be hard to stop or control. This condition makes them vulnerable to eating many sugary and acidic foods, which have been shown to have a strong correlation to sensitive teeth during pregnancy.

 

How to Cure Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth aren’t a permanent condition. If you experience any discomfort when you eat or drink, follow some tips from the experts to cure sensitive teeth.

Xerostomia or dry mouth is a catalyst for sensitive teeth. To avoid abnormal teeth sensitivity, drink enough water to prevent abnormal teeth dryness first.

Trying to limit the consumption of acidic and sugary foods in your diet can also help prevent sensitive teeth. You should also try to prevent cold beverages from making contact with your gums, as very low temperatures can trigger sensitivity.

Familiarizing Baby and Maid

The mаtеrnіtу brеаk is оvеr аnd you аrе аll ready tо go back to work again. But what tо do wіth thе bаbу? If уоu are оnе оf thе luсkу few who have parents оr раrеntѕ-іn-lаw ѕtауіng wіth you, then іt gives уоu relatively more flеxіbіlіtу tо рlаn уоur dауѕ.

But whаt іf you hаvе nо ѕuрроrt ѕуѕtеm? Or you hаvе a ѕuрроrt system, but your раrеntѕ are older оr they might be constantly buѕу? Then уоu nееd to make a сhоісе – whеthеr tо ѕеnd уоur сhіld to a childcare centre fоr thе durаtіоn оf your оffісе hоurѕ or kеер your child аt hоmе and hire a nаnnу/mаіd tо tаkе саrе оf him/her. Both орtіоnѕ no dоubt hаvе its оwn рrоѕ аnd соnѕ. It is іmроrtаnt you undеrѕtаnd thеѕе аnd make a сhоісе bаѕеd оn уоur рrеfеrеnсе, judgment and соnvеnіеnсе.

Onе оf thе hаrdеѕt things a раrеnt could dо is leave thеіr bаbу іn thе hаndѕ of аnоthеr person and evеn whеn thаt оthеr person іѕ a family member.  Passing off your baby for аnу reasons сould bе dіffісult, and when thаt tіmе frаmе hаѕ tо bе еxtеndеd (example fоr wоrk), іt сould bе even hаrdеr.  Pаrt оf thаt соmеѕ frоm thе fасt thаt it іѕ ԛuіtе common to hеаr from раrеntѕ sharing аwful ѕtоrіеѕ of thеіr babies screaming for them аѕ thеу leave for work.

Cаrеgіvеrѕ often rеаѕѕurе parents that this phase would eventually pass, but fоr mаnу, wе wоrrу аbоut what could hарреn tо thе bond and trust bеtwееn us and оur сhіldrеn.  Some children adapt quite rеаdіlу wіth lіttlе to nо problem, but ѕоmе ѕtrugglе.  Thіѕ сould саuѕе a lоt of stress for uѕ аnd fоr оur сhіldrеn.

 

Whаt ѕhоuld I lооk fоr in a mаіd for mу bаbу?

Whіlе each fаmіlу mіght have its ѕресіfіс wishes, ѕоmе basic qualities mаkе for a good саrеtaker.

Hеrе аrе ѕоmе things to look fоr:

Truѕtworthiness. It іѕ important that thе реrѕоn whо would be taking саrе of уоur bаbу іѕ trustworthy. Thіѕ is perhaps thе hardest ԛuаlіtу tо judge whеn meeting ѕоmеоnе fоr thе fіrѕt tіmе. One wау оf deciding іf the аррlісаnt іѕ trustworthy іѕ by lооkіng аt hеr track rесоrd. Ask the mаіd fоr соntасtѕ оf people whоm ѕhе has worked wіth before. Thіѕ wау уоu could understand from hеr рrеvіоuѕ employers tо knоw hоw ѕаtіѕfіеd thеу wеrе wіth hеr. Alѕо, don’t forget to truѕt уоur instinct. Sоmеtіmеѕ, іt’ѕ еаѕу tо fоrm an оріnіоn almost immediately about оthеrѕ and all mіght ѕееm well on thе surface but уоu hаvе a nаggіng ѕuѕрісіоn or hesitance that you just can’t explain. Whаtеvеr уоu fееl, gо wіth what уоur gut tеllѕ уоu. Evеn іf уоur gut is wrоng, it’s bеttеr to be ѕаfе than sorry.

Rеѕроnѕіbіlіtу. Thе реrѕоn should bе dереndаblе and responsible еnоugh to take your bаbу’ѕ well-being ѕеrіоuѕlу. Yоu саn judge ѕоmеоnе’ѕ ѕеnѕе оf rеѕроnѕіbіlіtу bу ѕреаkіng tо рrеvіоuѕ еmрlоуеrѕ аnd asking for ѕресіfіс еxаmрlеѕ that ѕhоwеd hеr dереndаbіlіtу. You сould also dеѕсrіbе a ѕсеnаrіо tо your mаіd іn whісh уоur bаbу gеtѕ hurt. Aѕk her hоw ѕhе wоuld reасt іn ѕuсh a ѕіtuаtіоn. If thе mаіd rеѕроndѕ thаt she would саrе for thе bаbу and іnfоrm you іmmеdіаtеlу by рhоnе, іt ѕhоwѕ ѕhе іѕ rеѕроnѕіblе. Aссіdеntѕ dо hарреn аnd whеn thеу dо, іt іѕ important that you should bе informed іmmеdіаtеlу. If thе mаіd says thаt ѕhе wоuld nеvеr let your bаbу gеt hurt, ѕhе mіght hаvе a tendency tо cover uр оr hide whеn something wrоng does hарреn bеhіnd your bасk.

Lоve оf children. It mіght ѕееm оbvіоuѕ but nоt аll mаіdѕ lооkіng fоr a job like сhіldrеn. If they dо, they would be much hарріеr wоrkіng fоr уоu аnd your bаbу would be bеttеr саrеd for. You mіght bе able tо gаugе this bу ѕееіng hоw the mаіd іntеrасtѕ wіth уоur сhіld durіng thе іntеrvіеw. Intrоduсе уоur bаbу аnd ѕее hоw she rеѕроndѕ. Or уоu can lеt уоur bаbу рlау nеаr you during the interview аnd see if ѕhе іѕ іntеrеѕtеd іn whаt уоur baby іѕ doing or mаkеѕ an аttеmрt to соnnесt.

Patience. Whеn іt соmеѕ to babies, раtіеnсе іѕ іmроrtаnt. A baby mіght сrу оr throw a tаntrum for any reason. The maid needs to be аblе tо handle these ѕіtuаtіоnѕ wіthоut losing patience. Aѕk her about how mаnу сhіldrеn ѕhе hаѕ worked wіth and whаt ѕhе usually dоеѕ tо soothe аn uрѕеt or angry bаbу.

Wіllіngnеѕѕ to lеаrn. Each fаmіlу іѕ dіffеrеnt аnd hаѕ slightly different сuѕtоmѕ whеn іt соmеѕ to raising thеіr сhіld. To be hарру wіth уоur mаіd, ѕhе nееdѕ to bе someone whо is willing tо аdарt hеrѕеlf tо уоur раrеntіng ѕtуlе. Sоmеtіmеѕ, еѕресіаllу іf the mаіd hаѕ rаіѕеd hеr оwn сhіldrеn, ѕhе mіght trу tо іmроѕе hеr сhіld rеаrіng beliefs on уоu. Thеrе might bе a fеw thіngѕ you саn lеаrn frоm her, but she ѕhоuld аlѕо rеѕресt thаt уоu mіght wаnt to do thіngѕ differently.

Hygiene. Sеvеrаl іllnеѕѕеѕ ѕuсh as dіаrrhоеа, соughѕ, colds and the flu, саn be trаnѕmіttеd thrоugh lасk оf simple hуgіеnе. Tо judgе уоur mаіd’ѕ hуgіеnе, ѕее hоw ѕhе рrеѕеntѕ hеrѕеlf fоr thе іntеrvіеw. Yоu саn аlѕо dіѕсuѕѕ сеrtаіn kеу hygiene роіntѕ that уоu fееl ѕtrоnglу about ѕuсh аѕ washing hаndѕ wіth soap, kееріng nаіlѕ short, keeping hair tіеd up, еtс. Sее hоw ѕhе reacts tо уоur соnсеrnѕ.

 

So how do I familiarize my baby with the maid?

Mееt аhеаd оf tіmе.

Onсе уоu hire a nanny, hаvе thеm come to thе hоuѕе a few times bеfоrе thеу оffісіаllу ѕtаrt work. Mауbе it mеаnѕ hаvіng coffee with thеm оr gоіng оn a wаlk around thе сіtу tоgеthеr. Dоіng thіѕ hеlрѕ іntrоduсе thе сhіld tо thе nanny аnd thе nаnnу could ѕtаrt to gеt uѕеd tо thе сhіld, their schedule, and unіԛuе needs.

 

Utilize a trаnѕіtіоn wееk.

 One оf the bеѕt wауѕ tо ease еvеrуоnе іntо thе nаnnуіng еxреrіеnсе іѕ to use a ‘trаnѕіtіоn week.’ Thіѕ ѕіmрlу mеаnѕ thаt on thе first dау, thе nаnnу would оnlу bе thеrе for a соuрlе оf hоurѕ, thе nеxt dау, a few hоurѕ, and so оn. Grаduаllу, wоrk уоur wау uр during the wееk tо a full dау. Thіѕ аllоwѕ thе nаnnу and bаbу to familiarize thеmѕеlvеѕ wіth each оthеr аnd уоu саn gеt uѕеd to being away from thе bаbу for increasingly lаrgеr роrtіоnѕ of time.

 

Practice patient.

Yоur nanny wіll wоrk hard to learn аnd listen tо thе rоutіnеѕ thаt уоu hаvе іn рlасе for your baby. However, sometimes nap ѕсhеdulеѕ оr оthеr rоutіnеѕ will сhаngе a bit when thе nanny ѕtаrtѕ. It may tаkе some tіmе for thе baby to get used tо thе nanny’s presence all dау, аnd thеу mау dіgrеѕѕ in their sleep schedules. Be раtіеnt, bесаuѕе wіth tіmе, rеаdjuѕtmеnt can аnd wіll hарреn.

 

Lіѕtеn tо уоur bоdу.

Bеіng a раrеnt is a lоt оf work. It takes a ѕіgnіfісаnt аmоunt of emotional аnd рhуѕісаl еnеrgу. And whеn іt соmеѕ tо heading bасk tо wоrk, you wіll bе еxеrtіng more mental energy. Lіѕtеn tо your body іf you’re tіrеd аnd feeling еxhаuѕtеd. Tаkе time to rеѕt. If уоu аrе ѕtrugglіng wіth thе emotional раrt оf bеіng аwау frоm уоur child, listen tо thоѕе fееlіngѕ and tаlk through them.  Mоѕt оf all, take tіmе for yourself – еvеn if it’s juѕt a fеw minutes here аnd thеrе during thе dау. Breathe, gо outside fоr a bit оf frеѕh аіr, оr ѕеt аѕіdе ѕоmе tіmе tо do an activity or hоbbу that еnеrgіzеѕ уоu.

In conclusion, rеgаrdlеѕѕ оf уоur ѕіtuаtіоn, the most important thing іѕ tо find a caregiver уоu truѕt and whо treats уоur child wіth lоvе аnd rеѕресt.  Thаt wіll mоѕt lіkеlу mеаn hаvіng to саll уоu durіng thе early ѕtаgеѕ, but thаt іѕ раrt of whаt trаnѕіtіоn is аnd helping your child tо knоw уоu аrе thеrе whеn needed.  Thеrе аrе еxсеllеnt саrеgіvеrѕ оut there, thеу juѕt mау take a bit оf lооkіng!  Gооd luсk!

8 Things to Avoid When Trying to Conceive

Getting pregnant can be harder than it looks and multiple factors come into play in increasing your chances of conceiving. This is why it is best to avoid doing certain things in order to boost your odds of getting pregnant. Let’s take a look at 10 such things that you would have to avoid when you are trying to conceive.

 

  1. Excessive caffeine

Consuming excessive caffeine can dramatically decrease your chances of getting pregnant. That’s because large amount of caffeine could affect overall fertility and you may take longer time to get pregnant. It’s better if you can stick to your morning cup of coffee and limit your overall caffeine intake.

  1. Smoking

Smoking affects both your hormonal production and makes it more difficult for the fertilized egg to reach the uterus. It is also said to cause a negative impact on every stage of the reproduction process and accelerates aging of the ovaries, which reduces overall fertility. According to the saying – parenthood begins before conception, it is recommended to quit smoking to protect yourself and your unborn child.

  1. Excessive alcohol

What many might be unaware of is that even moderate drinking of alcohol (about 3-6 drinks per week) may reduce your chances of getting pregnant. For women, excessive intake of alcohol may affect their hormonal sequence, suppress their ovulation and thus, making it harder for them to conceive. Similarly for men, it reduces their serum testosterone and decreased sperm counts.

  1. Junk food

Do you know that regular consumption of junk food can could hurt your fertility? Studies have shown that your diet before pregnancy had an impact on your chances of conceiving. Hence, there is an emphasis on preconception health and it is encouraged to consume more fresh fruits and vegetables for a healthier lifestyle.

  1. Extreme exercise

Even though regular workouts are generally good for your health, too much of a good thing may also be detrimental to your health.  Intense workouts are proven to contribute to ovulation problems, reduce IVF success rates and reduce fertility in women with normal weight. Hence, you are recommended to do moderate exercises such as adding a brisk walk to your daily routine to raise your heart rate and try to hold off that marathon for the time being.

  1. High-mercury fish

We all know that fish is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Unaware to many of us, certain fish types actually contain dangerously high levels of mercury, which is known to reduce fertility and damage the nervous system. Hence, it is best to avoid consumption of fish types such as shark, king mackerel, tilefish, and swordfish meat as they are known to contain higher levels of mercury.

  1. Chronic stress

Being under prolonged high-level stress does interfere with your ability to get pregnant and reduces your fertility. Some experts suggested that stress may led to less frequent sex due to lower libido, lower sperm count and also affects our immune system, such that it creates a bad environment for implantation to occur.  Stress could be caused by many lifestyle factors and hence, you might want to consider speaking to your therapists for help.

  1. Sugary beverages

Sugary beverages may affect the couple’s chances of conceiving as is linked to early menstruation and can cause semen quality to be poor. Such drinks high in sugar content may result in high blood sugar and insulin levels, which in turn, negatively impact our reproductive health. Hence, couple planning for pregnancy should limit their consumption of these beverages.

What is Pregnancy Fatigue and How to Deal With It

It is completely normal for you to experience extreme fatigue during pregnancy. This is one of the most common early signs of pregnancy as well. Extreme fatigue is not just common during first trimester, but it may also happen during your third trimester of pregnancy as well.

 

What is pregnancy fatigue all about?

You would feel a lack of energy such as having a difficult time getting out of your bed in the morning, dragging to get work done, and even making your favorite cup of coffee in the morning might seem tedious to you.  The fatigue you experience is akin to running a marathon and this is because a large number of changes are taking place within your body. Things might seem to look better with your second trimester, but pregnancy fatigue usually makes a comeback in your third trimester.

 

How to deal with pregnancy fatigue

To overcome pregnancy fatigue, you should start making adjustments to your sleep routine with safe and a proven methods available. For example, you could try going to bed early and get your full 8 hours of sleep or even have small naps during the day time if possible. You should stay away from caffeine for the time being as caffeine might keep you awake during the night. In the case if you are working during day time, take regular breaks and your body a rest.

 

Consume healthier foods

Nutrient-rich food helps keep your energy level high during the day time, and it is best to prepare a pregnancy diet plan to ensure that you get the recommended intake of nutrients for your baby. Start by consuming food that offers complex carbohydrates and protein to your body. Expecting moms should also try to avoid skipping meals to keep your blood and sugar level steady. It is also important that you are getting sufficient calories and take note to scale back on the candy and coffee that you consume.

 

Get your daily exercise

 It is recommended to get some exercise done daily so that it helps to reduce nighttime leg cramps and improve your blood circulation. However, do try to avoid exercises late in the day as exercises encourages your body to release more adrenaline, which might keep up during the night.

Do keep in mind that it is possible to manage pregnancy fatigue just by following these easy and simple steps. Having regular checkups performed by your doctors ensure that you get the necessary treatment required.

About Reading/Writing Learners

A reading/writing learner is a child who learns most effectively with written materials. Such learners love to write and they tend to comprehend what they have read better. Most reading/writing learners grasp information best by note-taking strategies as well as transcribing ideas and concepts. Reading/writing learners can learn through a combination of techniques that have been proven to be effective.

  1. Notes taking

Reading/writing learners can hardly listen and remember the information later. This is why they need to take notes by paraphrasing what the teacher is saying and what is written down on the slides. The idea is not to write down everything the teacher says word for word, but to take down the key ideas as they are delivered. Reading/writing learners are likely to understand and retain what they have learnt after reviewing their notes at a later time.

  1. Making lists

Most reading/writing learners are list people, who prefer organizing their thoughts by chronologically listing their ideas. They love to make lists about key ideas, keywords, and the main concepts, which helps their brains. This helps their brains easily organize and remember the information. Besides, these lists also act as prompters that help reading/writing learners not forget to go through anything that has been taught to them.

  1. Reading supplementary information

Reading/writing learners can excel better by reading supplementary information. They naturally love to read, so reading supplementary information will help them understand ideas and concepts from different perspectives. Besides, reading/writing learners can always gain in-depth knowledge about particular topics being assigned, but they also reading what other authors are saying about the subject.

  1. Re-reading notes

Taking down notes is not enough for reading/writing learners. They need to re-read their notes to excel in flying colors. The ability to read and comprehend in reading/writing learners is above average, so they should invest time in reading useful materials such as articles, textbooks and other pieces of information related to topics for a clearer picture.

As a parent or teacher, it’s your responsibility to nurture your reading/writing learners in the right learning environment that works for them. You should therefore conduct lessons using worksheets and handouts for better understanding. Paying close attention to developing your child’s reading and writing skills will also go a long way to groom him to learn well. Moreover, teaching reading/writing learners about document management such as weekly feeling and termly organization will equally go a long way to make learning conducive for them.

Signs of Ovulation that Help Detect Your Most Fertile Time

If you are a healthy couple, you have about a 20 to 25 percent chance of getting pregnant each month. While other factors may affect fertility, you can only get pregnant the natural way if you have ovulated. Ovulation is simply the act of releasing a matured egg from one of your ovaries and it happens every month. A woman can only conceive around her ovulation period because that is when she is most fertile. Most often, ovulation occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle, notably around the 14th day of the menstrual cycle for women with an average cycle of 28 days.

A matured egg could be fertilized up to 12 to 24 hours after it has been released. Therefore, to boost your chances of conceiving each month, you need to monitor yourself to determine when exactly you are ovulating. Here are some pointers to watch out for:

  1.     Cervical mucus

Most women normally would have stickier cervical mucus. However, during ovulation, the cervical mucus increases and becomes stretchy like raw egg white. Naturally, this makes sex more pleasurable and also makes it possible for the sperms to swim right into the female reproductive system to fertilize a matured egg. If you are looking forward to getting pregnant, you need to observe your cervical mucus and indulge in sex as soon as you notice the egg-white-like type of mucus.

  1.     Basal body temperature

Basal body temperature refers to one’s temperature when she is at rest. However, during ovulation, you might experience an increase in basal body temperature even though you are not sick. This happens because, during ovulation, the level of some hormones including progesterone increases, thereby causing body temperatures to rise a little. You, therefore, need to track your body temperature often around your ovulation period.

  1.     Breast tenderness

Most women would experience breast tenderness around their ovulation period. Well, the high levels of hormones during ovulation are responsible for this. Hence, if you notice your breasts are tender and somewhat sore in the midway of your menstrual cycle, know it’s a good time for you to indulge in unprotected sex.

  1.     Ovulation pain

Some women experience random sharp pains in their lower abdomen during their ovulation period. While this pain may be severe and sharp for some women, others describe it as mild and temporal. Research has however revealed that most mid-cycle pains occur just before ovulation, so you need to watch out for that.

All these signs would not necessarily pinpoint your exact ovulation date but to boost your chances of getting pregnant, you need to have sex regularly during your fertile window.

About Kinesthetic Learners

A kinesthetic learner is a child who learns by doing things by touching or manipulating objects. Kinesthetic learners do not learn by seeing or listening but rather prefer to be engaged in physical tangible learning exercises. There are indications that most kinesthetic learners are sensory people whose minds thrive better from the things they touch, smell, taste or experience with their bodies. This is why hands-on learning projects are the most effective way of teaching kinesthetic children. For example, while visual and auditory learners can easily grasp the concept of volcanic eruptions by watching videos and listening, a kinesthetic learner may instead grasp the concept by constructing the process out of clay and mixing substances to cause an eruption.

There are a few characteristics to distinguish kinesthetic learners from the other types of learners. Kinesthetic learners love doing practical work with tools, instruments and supplies. They are more skilled at solving puzzles and tend to remember the things they have done as opposed to those they have seen and heard. Moreover, kinesthetic learners love to construct things like crafts or DIY projects with their hands. They think more critically and clearly when they move around and engage with objects and their peers rather than just sitting in the same position and listening to explanations.

Kinesthetic learners can conveniently learn at a pace that is comfortable to them, without having to worry about falling behind their auditory and visual peers. This is why teachers need to use multiple different teaching methods to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each student, to make adjustments that give students room for improvement.

The advantages of kinesthetic learners over the other types of learners include the fact that they often grasp the big picture of the task as a result of their hands-on involvement in the project. Besides, kinesthetic learners tend to think out of the normal classroom assignments, thereby seeking real-world applications. Above all, kinesthetic learners can easily fix their mistakes since they often learn organically through trial and error.

Some of the best teaching strategies for kinesthetic learners include using charts and presentations, utilizing games and activities, going on field trips, bringing in subject experts, having class discussions and above all, letting the children teach their classmates during some lessons. Meanwhile, some of the best teaching tools and supplies for kinesthetic learners are matching games, molding clay, puzzles, index cards, puppets, countable objects as well as arts and craft supplies.

Many kinesthetic learners go on to have careers that are related to hands-on field activities such as athletics, carpentry, plumbing, dancing, acting, physical therapy and agriculture, etc.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) During Pregnancy

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the urinary system of the body. The urinary system consists of the kidneys, uterus, bladder, and urethra.

The main cause of UTI is a bacterial infection. The infection can be experienced by anyone but is more common in women. Although UTI isn’t fatal, it can be a cause of great concern in pregnant women.

If you think you’re suffering from UTI when pregnant, do consult your doctor as soon as possible. Although the infection is mostly found in the urethra and bladder, it may also lead to infection of the kidneys, which can cause preterm labor and low birth weight.

 

Symptoms of UTI

UTI has the following symptoms:

  • The urge to pee all the time
  • Difficulty in peeing
  • Burning sensation while peeing or lower abdomen/back cramps
  • Cloudy urine that smells
  • Blood in the urine

If your UTI has caused an infection in the kidney, you will have fever, nausea, one-sided upper back pain, and vomiting. Consult your doctor right away if that is the case. If left untreated, the infection can spread to your bloodstream, which is life-threatening.

 

UTI Prevalence in Pregnancy

One reason for UTI during pregnancy is the fluctuation of hormones. This causes changes in the urinary tract, and that leads to infections. When there are hormonal changes, the pee goes back to the ureters from the bladder (vesicoureteral reflux), which causes UTI. In addition, pregnant women have a growing uterus that presses against the bladder, making it hard for them to excrete out all the urine. The leftover urine is the causative factor of UTI.

 

Treatment of UTI During Pregnancy

If the infection causes severe discomfort, treatment should be prescribed. The symptoms may relieve itself in three days. But pregnant women must finish the prescribed course even if they feel better already.

 

Complications of UTI in Pregnant Women

UTI complications may cause the following in pregnant women.

  • Severe infection
  • Long term infection
  • Preterm labor
  • Anemia
  • Adult respiratory distress syndrome

While UTI in pregnant women can cause multiple complications, it can be prevented by taking precautions. By drinking enough water every day, wiping yourself from front to back after urinating, and wearing loose and cotton underwear, UTI may be prevented.

Chances of Getting Pregnant at First Time Trying

Some couples are fortunate enough to get pregnant within the very first month of trying, but most end up trying for more than one month before having success. It is found that only around 30% of the couples end up getting pregnant within the very first month and there can be multiple reasons behind this. In this article, we are going to explain more about the chances of getting pregnant when couples try it for the very first time.

How long does it take for you to get pregnant?

The exact time to get pregnant would vary from one person to another. Even though there are couples who can achieve pregnancy within the very first few months of having unprotected sex, some would be faced with a difficult time trying to conceive.

According to recent studies, it has been shown that one out of every eight people who are aged between 15 to 44 years old encounter challenges in some way or another in trying to conceive. Thus, it is generally recommended to give yourself sometime say, up to one year, to try for pregnancy. However, if it is taking more than a year, it is then best to talk to a doctor and seek professional help. It is important not to delay help as time is of the essence and with the increasing of age, it significantly affects your odds of conceiving.

 

Why do I face challenges with getting pregnant?

There are few good reasons on why you cannot get pregnant naturally such as:

  • Health issues with sperms (Sperm quality)
  • Unexplained infertility
  • Consumption of alcohol and smoking
  • Chronic stress
  • Blockage of one or both fallopian tubes
  • Age
  • Issues with ovulation

How to increase your chances of getting pregnant?

It is important that both you and your partner maintain a healthy lifestyle as this will increase your chances of getting pregnant fast. Healthy lifestyle factors that couples should adopt are consumption of a healthy diet, maintenance of appropriate body weight, and staying away from stress. These are essential to prepare the body. In the meantime, you may consider taking prenatal vitamins, which would help maintain healthy eggs needed for fertilization. Frequent checks are also necessary to determine if you are infected with sexually transmitted diseases and would need to seek treatments for them. If you are able to follow these tips, then you can easily increase your chances of getting pregnant fast.

About Auditory Learners

An auditory learner is a child who learns effectively by listening. An auditory learner will rather listen to lectures and instructions than reading textbooks. Auditory learners tend to process the information better when they have heard instead of reading or seeing.

Auditory learners have some characteristics that make them thrive perfectly in classroom settings. For example, they are eloquent and good at telling stories. Auditory learners have excellent listening skills and they retain spoken information perfectly. They enjoy conversations and are often not afraid to express their opinions. They excel well in oral presentations or oral exams and they can explain ideas well for the understanding of others.

There are many ways to effectively teach auditory learners. For example, you can conveniently teach an auditory learner through repetition. This assertion can be backed by the fact that repeating spoken details can help them understand best since they learn best by listening. Auditory learners can also learn effectively through verbal discourses, discussions and conversations. Moreover, including social elements such as group assignments, paired reading and group projects can help auditory learners to excel. To teach auditory learners effectively, you must first help them identify their learning style, so they can play an active role in learning.

Auditory learners can conveniently learn through powerful educative tools such as;

  • Podcasts: They will learn easily if you give them opportunities to listen to podcasts;
  • Question & Answer Sessions: They will learn better by verbally asking questions and listening to the answers. The whole essence of this is to clear up misunderstandings or concerns.
  • Recorded lectures: Give recorded lectures to students who missed lectures for one reason or another instead of giving them a chunk of notes to read.
  • Background music during quiet times: Auditory learners usually appreciate short background music so that they don’t get distracted by noise or silence.

There are a few tips to help auditory learners to focus in classroom or work settings. For example, asking questions in the classroom is an effective learning tip for auditory learners as it gives them the opportunities to learn by listening carefully to the answers. Having a study buddy is also ideal for auditory learners because having someone to repeat information or read out information will facilitate the process of learning. Above all, participating in discussions is a good idea for auditory learners. Discussions give them the opportunities to listen to others and also share their ideas which could go a long way to clear up their misunderstandings.

5 Ways to Deal with Ferocious 4

As a parent, you will probably be shocked that your four-year-old suddenly starts throwing tantrums again. I mean, you had already dealt with the Terrible Twos phase and suddenly, your child starts deviant behaviors whenever things do not go his way. Well, that’s because they are going through another phase of naughtiness, tantrums, and disobedience. You should be consoled that your child is normal and going through the obvious stages of development.

However, you will need to adopt the right techniques to help your child through this phase.

  1. Prevent tantrums from occurring

At four, most children can understand perfectly. You should therefore devise a way of preventing tantrums by warning your child in advance. For example, if you are planning to take your child shopping, make it clear to him that you are only going to buy groceries or toys and he shouldn’t expect to get anything else that isn’t on the shopping list. This will go a long way to prepare your child’s man such that he will not get disappointed when you fail to buy him ice cream or candies.

 

  1.     Don’t give in to unreasonable demands

Make rules for your child and stand your ground. Remember that good habits are cultivated over time, so once you set rules that are good for your child’s optimal health, be ready to stand by them no matter how much he tries to resist. For example, brushing his teeth before bedtime should be a routine that is strictly followed even if he hates it. He will get used to it with time.

 

  1.     Reward your child for being well behaved

Another trick to help your child through the ferocious 4 phase is to reward them whenever they are well behaved. For example, give your child a treat whenever he doesn’t make a mess of his room. The truth is that at four, most children already know the difference between right and wrong, so rewarding them whenever they act well will motivate them to do better next time.

 

  1.     Make clear-cut consequences for poor behaviors

Sometimes, you have to make your children learn the hard way. There should be aware  consequences whenever they behave poorly. For example, it’s ok to give them time out whenever they start throwing tantrums. Also, you can make it clear to your four-year-old that you won’t be taking him shopping until he learns to be calm at the shopping mall instead of being everywhere and wanting everything.

 

  1.     Exercise patience

Dealing with children is not easy, so you will also have to learn to stay calm and patient with your child. Do not overthink nor give meaning to every tantrum your child throws. Before you know it, this phase will be gone.