Our Doctor | United States | Wellness Institute of Neurodevelopment

WIN's FAQs

Who is Dr. Carmen Báez Franceschi?

Dr. Carmen Báez Franceschi has over 15 years of experience in Pediatrics. For the last couple years Dr. Báez Franceschi has focused her time on working on with children with developmental problems. Her work has focused on children with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, ADD, Processing Disorder, Sensory Integration Disorder and related conditions like: speech impediments, auditive processing, fine motor, low self-esteem and depression.

What are some of Dr. Baez credentials?

Med Achievement Award The Legacy 2013
ACAM Mitochondria in Health and Disease: A Clinician 's Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment, Hollywood, FL, USA - May 2013
2012 Top Management Awards, Health, SME, San Juan, PR - November 2012
Homeopathic Seminar on Metabolic Syndrome/Autism, Prague, CZ - October 2012
Autism Research Institute Clinical Seminar II New Jersey, USA - April 2012
Integrated Listening System International Annual Conference Invited speaker, A DAN Doctor Approach Utilizing Biomedical Treatments and ILS
(Case presentations) Denver, CO - 2011
Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Advanced Undersea/Hyperbaric
Medical Team Training Key Largo, FL - 2010
Certification on the operation of a medical team for Hyperbaric Chamber
Integrated Listening System Course advisor Miami, FL - 2010
Autism Seminar I Clinical Research Institute Tampa, FL - 2010
Autism Research Institute Clinical Seminar II Baltimore, MD - 2010
Integrated Listening System Advanced Professional Certification Denver, CO - 2007
Homeopathic Medicine Certification, PR Board of Physicians, San Juan, PR – 2007 to 2008

What is Autism?

Autism is a spectrum of closely related disorders with a shared core of symptoms. Autism spectrum disorder appears in infancy and early childhood, causing delays in many basic areas of development, such as learning to talk, play, and interact with others.

What are some of the early detection signs for Autism?

Your baby or toddler doesn't:

Make eye contact, such as looking at you when being fed or smiling when being smiled at
Respond to his or her name, or to the sound of a familiar voice
Follow objects visually or follow your gesture when you point things out
Point or wave goodbye, or use other gestures to communicate
Make noises to get your attention
Initiate or respond to cuddling or reach out to be picked up
Imitate your movements and facial expressions
Play with other people or share interest and enjoyment
Notice or care if you hurt yourself or experience discomfort

What are some signs or symptoms of Autism in older children?

As children get older, the red flags for autism become more diverse. There are many warning signs and symptoms, but they typically revolve around impaired social skills, speech and language difficulties, non-verbal communication difficulties, and inflexible behavior. Basic social interaction can be difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder. Many kids on the autism spectrum seem to prefer to live in their own world, aloof and detached from others. Children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty with speech and language. Often, they start talking late. Children with autism spectrum disorder have trouble picking up on subtle nonverbal cues and using body language. This makes the "give-and-take" of social interaction very difficult. Children with autism spectrum disorder are often restricted, inflexible, and even obsessive in their behaviors, activities, and interests

What are some developmental red flags?

By 6 months: No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions
By 9 months: No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions
By 12 months: Lack of response to name
By 12 months: No babbling or “baby talk”
By 12 months: No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving
By 16 months: No spoken words
By 24 months: No meaningful two-word phrases that don’t involve imitating or repeating

What is ADD?

Attention Deficit Disorder is a collection of traits that reflect the child’s inborn, neurologically based temperament. The four main qualities that define A.D.D. are selective attention, distractibility, impulsivity, and in many children, hyperactivity (A.D.H.D.).

What is ADHD?

is the most commonly diagnosed mental disorder of children. Children with ADHD may be hyperactive and unable control their impulses. Or they may have trouble paying attention. These behaviors interfere with school and home life. It’s more common in boys than in girls. It’s usually discovered during the early school years, when a child begins to have problems paying attention.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

Symptoms are grouped into three categories:

Inattention.

Hyperactivity.

Often squirms, fidgets, or bounces when sitting
Doesn't stay seated
Has trouble playing quietly
Is always moving, such as running or climbing on things (In teens and adults, this is more commonly described as restlessness.)
Talks excessively
Is always “on the go” as if “driven by a motor”

Impulsivity.

What is the difference between ADD and ADHD?

Attention-deficit disorder (ADD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) both affect people’s ability to stay focused on things like schoolwork, social interactions, and everyday activities like brushing teeth and getting dressed. The biggest difference between ADD and ADHD is that kids with ADHD are hyperactive. They have trouble sitting still and might be so restless that teachers quickly notice their rambunctious behavior and suspect there might be attention issues involved. On the other hand, kids with ADD might fly under the radar because they aren’t bursting with energy and disrupting the classroom. Instead, they often appear shy, “daydream” or off in their own world.