Épisodes

  • Connected Dad: Supporting Fathers of Neurodivergent Children
    Oct 5 2026

    In this episode, Dr. Inyang Takon talks with John Greenall, Consultant Community Paediatrician, coach, father of four and author of Connected Dad. Together they look at why dads can seem distant or reluctant during an autism or ADHD assessment, what is really going on underneath, and how parents and clinicians can bring dads back into the picture.

    In this episode you will learn:

    • Why dads often see their child's difficulties differently, and why that view still matters
    • What John means by "fatherhood is an identity before it's a performance"
    • John's three-step framework for dads: calm, confidence, connection
    • How to handle disagreements as parents: back each other publicly, talk it through privately
    • Why looking after your relationship as a couple is good for your child
    • The difference between being given advice and being coached to find your own answers
    • Practical ways clinicians can include dads before, during and after an assessment


    ABOUT JOHN GREENALL

    John Greenall is a Consultant Community Paediatrician, author, coach and father of four, with over 20 years' experience working with children, young people and families. His clinical experience spans neonatal, acute and community paediatrics, with particular interests in neurodevelopment, behaviour, safeguarding and family stress.

    Alongside his clinical work, John writes and speaks about fatherhood, parenting and family life, particularly where neurodiversity and additional needs make family life more complex. His book, Connected Dad, helps fathers become calmer, more confident and more connected with their children.

    TIMESTAMPS
    00:56 Introduction
    01:58 Meet John Greenall
    03:20 The dad who fainted: how Connected Dad began
    06:28 When dads are missing from the clinic room
    09:52 Fatherhood is an identity before it's a performance
    12:13 Calm, confidence, connection
    14:56 When parents disagree about what they are seeing
    17:27 Looking after yourselves and your relationship
    19:37 Coaching versus advice: you are the expert on your child
    22:38 One or two questions clinicians can ask
    24:10 Why dads are reluctant to ask for help
    26:23 How clinicians can include dads in the assessment
    30:08 John's book, Connected Dad
    32:14 What's next: While You Wait
    34:41 Where to find John
    35:10 A message to dads: we do see you

    RESOURCES MENTIONED
    Connected Dad by John Greenall

    Are you a dad (or know a dad) who wants to make a difference but isn't always sure how? Rooted in real stories, clinical experience and evidence-based insight, 'Connected Dad' gives practical tools and a clear framework to help dads grow in confidence and strengthen their relationship with their child as they grow.

    Get the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Connected-Dad-Becoming-Father-PublishU/dp/1917829906

    Also mentioned:

    While You Wait, John's forthcoming co-authored book with Jessica Kingsley Publishers, for families waiting for an ADHD or autism assessment

    Dr. Takon's Waiting Well series for parents - find it on www.braindiverse.org

    CONNECT WITH JOHN GREENALL
    Website: https://www.connected-dad.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohngreenall/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tallmedic/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.greenall.357 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@johngreenall9461 Connected Dad on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Connected-Dad-Becoming-Father-PublishU/dp/1917829906

    Support the show

    Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:

    (NEW!): https://braindiverse.org

    A Resource Library of tools, tips, tutorials, Apps & Training for Parents, Teachers and Health Professionals

    Other links:
    Website: https://www.drtakon.com
    General Information for Parents and Teachers: https://www.school-doctor.com
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inyang-takon-paeds/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/early_interventionmatters/
    Subscribe: https://neuropaeddoc.substack.com/
    Read: https://braindiverse.substack.com/
    Questions? Email: eim@drtakon.com
    Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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    37 min
  • Waiting for Speech Therapy? Start Here... Dr. Inyang Takon Interviews Jeaneen Tang
    Oct 3 2026

    Doctors told Jeaneen Tang her son might never walk or talk. He is 12 now, and he loves to sing and hold a conversation.

    Jeaneen is a speech-language pathologist with 25 years of experience and the author of Play Dumb and Sabotage. In this conversation with Dr Inyang Takon, she shares the simple, everyday strategies parents can start using at home, especially while they are waiting to see a speech therapist.

    You will hear what to expect from your child's speech from birth to three, the signs that mean it is time to ask for help, how snack time and bubbles can become daily speech practice and more.

    Timestamps:
    00:56 Welcome and introduction
    02:05 Jeaneen's journey: Hawaii, Los Angeles and 25 years in speech therapy
    03:25 Why late talkers often have very caring parents
    04:16 Her son's fall, brain bleed and stroke
    05:02 How he is doing today, and how music helps his language
    06:45 Turning every interaction into speech practice
    09:13 Long waiting lists and missed opportunities
    10:32 "You don't know what you don't know": why parents wait
    15:24 Speech milestones from birth to three, and red flags
    20:39 What early intervention looks like: structured play
    24:50 Don't ask a yes/no question unless you will honour the "no"
    28:42 What to do while you wait: choices, snack time and bubbles
    34:47 The progress children make when parents are involved
    38:17 Late talker or something more?
    40:14 The book: Play Dumb and Sabotage
    45:27 Where to find the book and contact Jeaneen
    47:39 Jeaneen's final message: don't be afraid to ask for help

    Bio:
    Jeaneen Tang, speech-language pathologist and mother of a special needs child. Along with her over 24 years of experience working with children and adults with neurodiversity, she also has an 13 year old son who is neurodivergent. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and stroke at 13 months old. Her personal and professional relationship with this amazing population has forever changed her. She hopes to change their world too.

    Resources
    She recently published her first book called PLAY DUMB & SABOTAGE. It addresses early language development and is meant to be helpful for parents, caregivers, and educators to work with young children and hopefully decrease the number of children needing speech therapy. Through preventative training, she believes we can achieve success and raise confident communicators.

    IG personal: @jt808
    IG business: @playdumbandsabotage
    https://www.playdumbandsabotage.com/
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeaneen-tang-707a6730

    Her Book: Play Dumb & Sabotage: Mindfully under-anticipating the child’s needs and creating opportunities to practice language

    Check it out on Amazon: https://a.co/d/8WgnAsP

    This episode is for general information and does not replace advice from your own health professional. If you are worried about your child's speech, please ask for a referral.

    Support the show

    Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:

    (NEW!): https://braindiverse.org

    A Resource Library of tools, tips, tutorials, Apps & Training for Parents, Teachers and Health Professionals

    Other links:
    Website: https://www.drtakon.com
    General Information for Parents and Teachers: https://www.school-doctor.com
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inyang-takon-paeds/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/early_interventionmatters/
    Subscribe: https://neuropaeddoc.substack.com/
    Read: https://braindiverse.substack.com/
    Questions? Email: eim@drtakon.com
    Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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    49 min
  • Empowering Neurodivergent Teens: Lawrence C Harris's Advice for Young People and their Parents
    Sep 16 2026

    In this episode, Lawrence talks with Dr. Inyang Takon about what a late autism diagnosis looked like from the inside, why cultural and faith-community stigma can delay families getting support, four years of therapy and what actually changed for him, and the practical, no-jargon advice he now gives teens and parents navigating similar struggles.

    Diagnosed with autism at 15, bullied through school, and later dealing with an abusive parent, Lawrence knows what it feels like to be a teenager who's struggling and doesn't know why. Now 20, he's a public speaker who helps other teens and young adults work through mental health challenges and low self-worth — using everything he learned getting through his own.

    You'll learn:

    • What it's like to grow up autistic and undiagnosed, and why late diagnosis is common
    • How cultural and faith-based stigma can affect whether families seek assessment and support
    • The turning point that shifted Lawrence from surviving to healing
    • Simple, repeatable tools Lawrence teaches teens for managing difficult emotions
    • What parents can do to support a struggling teen — starting with their own wellbeing first


    Timestamps

    00:00 — Lawrence’s story: autism, bullying, and mental health struggles

    02:12 — Receiving an autism diagnosis at 15 and missing early support

    12:13 — Family trauma, therapy, and beginning the recovery process

    17:05 — The turning point: taking responsibility for getting better

    21:34 — Practical steps for improving mental health one day at a time

    30:42 — Why autistic young people may struggle to express their feelings

    41:04 — Advice for parents supporting a child through a difficult period


    About the guest:


    Lawrence C. Harris is a youth speaker and author who helps students handle difficult emotions, make better decisions, and prepare for life after high school. He has spoken to thousands of students through school assemblies, workshops, conferences, podcasts, and virtual events. His presentations give students specific strategies for calming themselves during stressful situations, working through conflict, challenging negative beliefs, building confidence in their ability to succeed academically, and turning long-term goals into actionable plans.

    He began sharing what he'd learned on YouTube at 16 and now speaks in schools and organizations across the country.

    Resources:

    The Story of Your Life (Journal):

    This 111-day journal is for anyone who feels stuck, overthinks everything, struggles with confidence, or knows they want more out of life but doesn’t know where to start.

    https://www.lawrencecharris.com/shop/e5cbad63-f80b-42c1-885d-7d8d9982d8d5

    Connect with Lawrence:

    Website: https://www.lawrencecharris.com/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawrencec.empowers

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawrencecempowers

    TikTok: Lawrence C Empowers

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-harris-8b0177324/

    Speaking/podcast enquiries: lawrence@lawrencecharris.com

    Support the show

    Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:

    (NEW!): https://braindiverse.org

    A Resource Library of tools, tips, tutorials, Apps & Training for Parents, Teachers and Health Professionals

    Website: www.drtakon.com

    General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com

    Questions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.com

    Connect on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician

    Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals

    Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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    40 min
  • The Tiegerman Story: One Family's Relentless Journey to Build a School for Neurodivergent Learners.
    Sep 15 2026
    His mother watched her sister lose the ability to speak — Forty years later, that story is a school that's changed 700 lives annuallyIn this episode, Dr. Inyang Takon sits down with Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman, licensed psychologist and Chief Operating Officer of Tiegerman, a life-cycle agency serving children and adults from age 3 through adulthood on Long Island, New York. They cover how families get admitted through the IEP and CSE process, why Tiegerman staffs two certified teachers per 12-student classroom, what 20 speech-language pathologists for 130 children actually looks like in practice, how transition planning works from preschool through the adult services side, and the story of the aunt whose traumatic brain injury sparked it all.Parents and educators navigating a neurodevelopmental diagnosis — or wondering what happens after a specialist placement ends — will find a genuinely hopeful, practical picture of what a fully joined-up system can look like.cation Department, and also runs a private psychology practice in Syosset, NY.Timestamps:00:00 — Introduction to Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman and the episode04:39 — The family story behind the founding of Tiegerman School06:35 — Supporting children with speech, language, autism, ADHD, and learning needs16:33 — Why language is the foundation of learning17:33 — Tiegerman’s intensive classroom staffing and therapy model33:13 — Preparing families for educational and life transitions43:53 — “Teaching the extraordinary”: Tiegerman’s mission and long-term impactGuest bio Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman, Psy.D., is Chief Operating Officer of Tiegerman Schools and Tiegerman Community Services, a family of non-public, state-approved schools and community services in the New York City Metropolitan Area. They offer residential, vocational, and day rehabilitation programs. He has spent most of his career at Tiegerman — advancing from School Psychologist to Principal to Program Director before becoming COO in January 2023. Dr Tiegerman carries forward the organization's mission of "teaching the extraordinary" by focusing on early identification of language and autism spectrum disorders. He holds a bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Maryland and a master's, Certificate of Advanced Studies, and Doctorate in School Community Psychology from Hofstra University. He is a licensed School Building Leader and School Psychologist certified by the New York State Education Department, and also runs a private psychology practice in Syosset, NY.Connect with Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman Website: https://tiegerman.org Leadership team: https://tiegerman.org/executive-team/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiegermanschools/ LinkedIn (Tiegerman): https://www.linkedin.com/company/tiegerman85/ LinkedIn (Dr. Tiegerman): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-tiegerman-01473b17/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tiegerman85 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tiegerman85Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon(NEW!) Resource Library: https://braindiverse.orgSupport the showResources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:(NEW!): https://braindiverse.org A Resource Library of tools, tips, tutorials, Apps & Training for Parents, Teachers and Health ProfessionalsWebsite: www.drtakon.comGeneral Information for Parents www.school-doctor.comQuestions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.comConnect on LinkedInSubscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com
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    42 min
  • "Decisions About Patients Should Never Be Made Without Patients"
    Aug 31 2026

    Summary:
    Ruth Ajayi, Patient Advocate, Public Speaker, and Non-Executive Director, joins Dr. Inyang Takon to talk about how a traumatic maternity experience sixteen years ago launched a career spent bringing patient and carer voices into rooms of power. Ruth explains the difference between consultation and co-production, how she built community engagement from scratch by walking into GP surgeries and hair salons rather than waiting for people to come to her, and what she looks for as a patient and public voice partner on NHS England's Responsible Adoption of AI Committee — including whether new tools widen health inequalities or advance health equity. She closes with direct advice for parents of neurodivergent children: find your tribe, and don't be afraid to be labelled a "difficult patient."

    Key Takeaways for Parents and Teachers:

    • Genuine patient engagement means going out into the community — GP surgeries, schools, local businesses — not expecting people to come to you.
    • "Co-production" goes further than consultation: co-planning, co-designing, co-evaluating, and co-delivering alongside the people a service is built for.
    • New tools and services (including AI) need to be tested against whether they widen or narrow health inequalities, especially for people who are less digitally connected or have complex needs.
    • One small, human gesture — like warming up gel before a scan — can make a lasting difference to a patient's experience.
    • Parents of neurodivergent children should find community with others who understand, and shouldn't fear being seen as a "difficult" advocate for their child — persistence can be lifesaving.

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC), now Maternity Voices Partnership
    • NHS England's Responsible Adoption of AI Committee

    Connect with Ruth Ajayi:
    Website: https://www.ruthajayi.co.uk/
    Self Advocacy Guides: https://www.ruthajayi.co.uk/home
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-ajayi-storytoaction/
    https://brandangelz.com/creator/LadyRuth

    Support the show

    Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:

    (NEW!): https://braindiverse.org

    A Resource Library of tools, tips, tutorials, Apps & Training for Parents, Teachers and Health Professionals

    Website: www.drtakon.com

    General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com

    Questions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.com

    Connect on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician

    Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals

    Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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    1 h et 12 min
  • Aggressive. Manipulative. Lazy...?" Why We're Getting FASD Behaviour Wrong
    Aug 27 2026

    Antonia Rathbun Lindsey, an internationally recognised art therapist and FASD specialist with 40 years of experience, joins Dr. Inyang Takon to reframe how we understand behaviour in children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Drawing on her own experience as a late-deafened clinician who learned to adapt her own body, and her years working within an Afrocentric family reunification programme, Antonia explains why alcohol exposure in pregnancy disrupts neuronal development, why children with FASD often can't "read" their own distress (interoception), and why what looks like defiance is frequently a nervous system stuck at threshold — what she calls a "bristle attack." She shares concrete, play-based strategies for helping children regulate and shows why "workarounds, not stops" changes outcomes for families.

    Key Takeaways for Parents and Teachers:

    • FASD is caused by alcohol exposure in pregnancy — it's the most preventable cause of intellectual disability, and no amount of alcohol during pregnancy is considered safe.
    • Children with FASD often struggle with interoception — the ability to sense and signal their own overwhelm — so meltdowns are often prolonged "episodes," not typical tantrums.
    • Labels like "aggressive" or "manipulative" often describe survival responses to sensory overload, not the child's character.
    • Physical, sensory-based interventions (deep pressure, movement, rhythm) can help a dysregulated child re-organise faster than verbal redirection alone.
    • Supporting these families means acknowledging intergenerational trauma and cultural context — not just clinical symptoms.

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Parenting Your Porcupine: A Toolkit for Children with FASD, Other Drug Effects, and Neurodiversity by Antonia Rathbun Lindsey — available via Books.by (English, French; German translation in progress)
    • The Lewis Protocol
    • SAMHSA's FAS Centers for Excellence
    • Canada's British Columbia Ministry of Education
    • State of Alaska Drug & Alcohol Services

    Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:
    Website: www.drtakon.com
    General Information for Parents: www.school-doctor.com
    Questions? Email: eim@drtakon.com
    LinkedIn: Connect with Dr. Takon
    Subscribe: Ask a Developmental Paediatrician
    Read: Braindiverse Substack
    Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com


    Support the show

    Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:

    (NEW!): https://braindiverse.org

    A Resource Library of tools, tips, tutorials, Apps & Training for Parents, Teachers and Health Professionals

    Website: www.drtakon.com

    General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com

    Questions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.com

    Connect on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician

    Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals

    Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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    1 h et 17 min
  • The Language of Play: Dinalynn Rosenbush on Speech, Sign Language, and Waiting Lists
    Aug 24 2026

    Summary
    Dinalynn Rosenbush, a 30-year speech-language pathologist and creator of the top 1.5% podcast The Language of Play, joins Dr. Inyang Takon to reframe how parents think about speech and language delay. They cover the misconception that only a speech pathologist can move the needle (parents' time and connection matter just as much), why signing supports rather than delays speech, why "play" is not a break from language-building but the mechanism of it, and practical, low-cost strategies parents can use the moment they notice a concern — rather than waiting for an assessment.

    Key Takeaways for Parents and Teachers:

    • Don't wait for a diagnosis or a waiting-list appointment to start supporting a child's language — early, everyday interaction matters more than parents often realise.
    • Signing does not delay speech — it gives children access to language through larger muscle groups before fine motor speech control develops, and children naturally transition to spoken words as they become easier.
    • Parents have something a therapist can't replicate: frequency, time, and connection — pairing that with the right strategies can accelerate progress significantly.
    • "Play" isn't just toys — sensory exploration (like mashed potatoes at dinner) is also play, and redirecting rather than shutting it down protects the learning opportunity.
    • If you're on a waiting list, don't just wait — small, consistent daily strategies can start making a difference immediately.

    Resources Mentioned:

    • The Language of Play podcast
    • Small Steps in Speech (Amanda Barati) — speech therapy scholarship program

    Connect with Dinalynn Rosenbush:
    Website: https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/
    Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-language-of-play-kids-that-listen-speech/id1661880535
    Freebie — 5 Ways to Get Kids to Listen Better: https://www.thelanguageofplay.com/5-ways-to-get-kids-to-listen-better
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dinalynn-rosenbush-b5750854/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557381098806
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinalynnrosenbush/

    Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:
    Website: https://www.drtakon.com
    General Information for Parents: https://www.school-doctor.com
    Questions? Email: eim@drtakon.com
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/inyang-takon-paediatrician-co-founder-school-doctor-25a0b551/
    Subscribe: https://neuropaeddoc.substack.com/
    Read: https://braindiverse.substack.com/
    Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com


    Support the show

    Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:

    (NEW!): https://braindiverse.org

    A Resource Library of tools, tips, tutorials, Apps & Training for Parents, Teachers and Health Professionals

    Website: www.drtakon.com

    General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com

    Questions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.com

    Connect on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician

    Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals

    Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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    1 h et 4 min
  • Seeing the Whole Child: Beyond the Diagnosis with Dr. Sudipta Sen
    Aug 21 2026

    Summary:
    Dr. Sudipta Sen, a consultant paediatrician with over 33 years of experience across NHS and private practice, joins Dr. Inyang Takon to unpack what it really means to "see the whole child." Drawing on a career that began at one of Kolkata's busiest hospitals and was shaped by a formative encounter with Mother Teresa, Dr. Sen explains why she pushes back against rigid referral criteria, how she builds trust with a child in the first moments of an appointment, and why a diagnosis should open a roadmap for a child — not define them.

    Key Takeaways for Parents and Teachers:

    • A diagnosis explains a behaviour; it's the whole-child view that explains the person — don't let a label become the whole story.
    • Children shouldn't have to "fit" narrow referral criteria to get support — if something isn't working for a child, it's worth pursuing even without a tidy diagnostic fit.
    • Teachers and parents should assume good faith in each other: a child who "looks fine" at school may be dysregulated at home, and vice versa — neither setting invalidates the other.
    • Trust-building starts small — Dr. Sen gets down to a child's eye level, shares something personal about herself, and treats the child (not just the parent) as the main person in the room.
    • Burnout in this field is real; Dr. Sen's advice to fellow clinicians is to keep learning, find mentors, and hold onto interests outside of medicine.

    Resources Mentioned:

    • Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's organisation)
    • NRS Medical College, Kolkata, India
    • ADHD Embrace
    • Hounslow ADHD/learning disability pilot clinic

    Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:
    Website: www.drtakon.com
    General Information for Parents: www.school-doctor.com
    Questions? Email: eim@drtakon.com
    LinkedIn: Connect with Dr. Takon
    Subscribe: Ask a Developmental Paediatrician
    Read: Braindiverse Substack
    Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

    Support the show

    Resources & Connect with Dr. Inyang Takon:

    (NEW!): https://braindiverse.org

    A Resource Library of tools, tips, tutorials, Apps & Training for Parents, Teachers and Health Professionals

    Website: www.drtakon.com

    General Information for Parents www.school-doctor.com

    Questions? Email Us at eim@drtakon.com

    Connect on LinkedIn

    Subscribe to Ask a Developmental Paediatrician

    Read our SUBSTACK Articles for Short Simple Smart tips for parents, health professionals

    Guest enquiries: podcast@drtakon.com

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    1 h et 18 min