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The End Result
By Jonathon Freeman-Anderson
The End Result's Director of Corporate Development Carlos Martinez sat down with Valley Scene Magazine to give a break down of their services, educational purpose, and the effect that their company had had on the community.
The End Result is a tutoring company that has been around for 20 years. Scott Pauker started it in Woodland Hills and now, there's an office in West Hills, Sherman Oaks, Burbank, West L.A., and Granada Hills.
VS: How has the response to The End Result been? "The response has been great. Each one of the offices has it's own manager and staff with 10 or more staffers. They are busy relatively early Mon-Fri, and sometimes open as late as 10PM, on weekends it's as early as 8AM to 9PM."
VS: What level of education does The End Result cover? "We cover everything from kinder to college. Any subject that you need help in, we've got it. All of our tutors have degrees in what they are teaching. Any major that is available in school; we will find somebody to teach it. If we don't have it, we will find it."
VS: What are prices like for tutors at The End Result? "Prices range from $30-35/hour to $100/hour, depending on the need of the student. Our SAT tutoring is a guarantee that we provide where that if someone takes the test once, The End Result will guarantee at least an hundred point improvement."
VS: Have you heard any response from schools on the progress of students? "Some of the private schools have been one-on-one with us and many counselors and teachers reference us. Many parents love us and we have testimonials proving that 95% of our customers are referred customers. Many of our clients have returned over the 20 years that The End Result has been open."
VS: How does your staff like working for The End Result? "Our staff has such an appreciation for whatever that they are tutoring that they develop relationships with students and help them succeed. Tutors take personal time and really focus with their students. We've had a few people that don't like a specific teaching style and if there's a problem, then we will reimburse their money and arrange a new tutor."
VS: What makes you different from other tutoring centers? "We're all one-on-one with the customers. It's all based on the subject for teaching, unless it's SAT where we will test to see you're level of ability. We will work with the individual student to see where they need the most focus. We will buy booklets for younger students. Many students just bring in their homework and the tutors use that as a basis for their work. Many parents have tried other companies and what keeps us standing out is the one-on-one time. We focus on the task of the student and we show them on a chart their progress. We give progress reports to parents. Some facilities are only group settings and that doesn't help for individual growth."
VS: What does the future look like for The End Result? "We're actually expanding our company from L.A. to Santa Barbara, Washington D.C., and the Santa Clarita Valley area as well. We are freelancing out to teachers in other districts and we hope to expand to more cities in the next five years."
VS: How are your services for special needs children? "Anything that special needs children have, need, or want, we are also available for their care. One thing that I think is lacking in the education system today is the one-on-one attention. With classes so packed, it's hard to understand what's going on. It's difficult for an individual student to get the attention that they need. Some children, especially special needs children, really need that extra attention."
VS: What do you say to those parents that need that extra help? "When they need extra help and no one's there for them, we are, and we're open early and late, call us any time. We are very accommodating for the student and the teacher. We even do house calls."
www.theendresult.com
Why are We Having an Autism Epidemic?
By Dr. Gary Erkfritz
Prior to 1986, the incidence of autism was 1:10,000 children. Today, depending on who you quote, it is 1:91 -1:110 children nation-wide, and 1:67 in California. The numbers continue to rise on a world-wide basis. What could possibly cause this "perfect storm" of autism spectrum disorders? The answer is genetic, epigenetic and environmental forces. Unfortunately there is not one "smoking gun" when it comes to autism.
Genetics
A number of probable genetic variations have been discovered especially chromosomes 5 and 16. However, if autism were purely a genetic disorder, we would not continue to see an escalation in this problem.
Diagnostic Criteria
A recent University of California - Davis study indicates about 40% are due to diagnostic criteria change. The remaining 60% increase continues.
Epigenetics
Epigenetics refers to external environmental factors which alter the expression of the genes. The purpose of epigenetics is to alter genetic expression to maximize survival outside the womb. There are a number of epigenetic factors known to influence the development of autism:
-Increased parental age, both mother and father;
-Stress
-Numerous other factors
-Post-natal Influences
-Digestive difficulties and food sensitivities
-Detoxification issues
The end result of this "perfect storm" of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors is
called a "Functional Disconnection Syndrome."
What is Functional Disconn-ection Syndrome?
Simply put, it is de-synchronization and ineffective communication between the hemispheres of the brain, where one hemisphere overworks and dominates function while the other hemisphere remains immature and under-functioning.
While both hemispheres can under-function in some areas, in autism largely the right hemisphere is under-functioning even more so.
What Is the Best Approach in Treating a Child with Autism?
First, early diagnosis is critical. Some signs will appear as early as six months of age. The following symptoms can indicate the need to consider further investigation:
-Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by 1 year of age
-Does not speak one word by 16 months
-Does not combine two words by 2 years
-Does not respond to name
-Loses language or social skills
-Poor eye contact
-Doesn't seem to know how to play with toys
-Excessively lines up toys or other objects
-Is attached to one particular toy or object
-Doesn't smile
-At times seems to be hearing impaired
Often brain inflammation is present, which is the foremost problem. Consulting a Doctor who specializes in evaluating and working with autistic children is critical. Those trained in the Defeat Autism Now (DAN) protocol are among those. Using nutritional and other protocols the inflammation can come under control.
Once the inflammation is under control, it's important to stimulate neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, especially in the under-functioning hemisphere, utilizing a multi-modal approach such as that used in Brain Balance Centers.
Neurophysiologist Michael Merz-enich, Ph.D., gives us the formula for regaining normal circuitry through the process of neuroplasticity:
"Research has shown that engaging the brain's plasticity to drive beneficial changes requires exact stimuli delivered in the appropriate sequence with precise timing. The training must be intensive, repetitive, and progressively challenging. Individuals must be strongly engaged in the training, paying close attention."
Brain Balance uses this philosophy in a specific protocol to achieve maximum reorganization of the brain. As this reorganization progresses, many of the symptoms of autism diminished and more typical function is restored.
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