The Intensity of Treatment for Articulation
The intensity of treatment is an essential aspect of pediatric speech therapy. A child may be unable to handle long treatment sessions many days in a row. This post pulls evidence-based research as to how the intensity of treatment is recommended to be handled.
What If My Child Has Trouble with Articulation?
Articulation is an integral part of speech as it allows us to create clear, understandable sounds that form words, which then make up speech. It will enable us to communicate.
Hippotherapy as part of Physical Therapy Treatment
Hippotherapy is the use of equine movement as part of physical, occupational, or speech therapy. It is a strategy or tool to incorporate within traditional PT, OT, or Speech treatment; it is not a standalone treatment. It is beneficial to both pediatric and adult patients. Hippotherapy involves cooperation from the therapist, horse handlers, and even volunteers. It is even possible to cotreat during hippotherapy. Regardless of how hippotherapy is conducted, it will not be just the therapist and child; it will be an operation calling for teamwork.
What is Hippotherapy?
Believe it or not, hippotherapy has nothing to do with hippos! It is actually a strategy used by occupational, physical, and speech therapists where treatment involves the aid of horseback riding. It is a strategy or tool to incorporate within traditional PT, OT, or speech treatment and is not considered a type of therapy in itself. It is beneficial for both children and adults, and can be used in cases of Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, developmental delays, and more.
Effectiveness of Art Interventions for Children with ASD
Art interventions are effective for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Creative arts interventions target behavioral, sensory processing, communication, and social skills.
Art for Children with Autism: Help Build Your Child’s Creativity
Art and creativity are not only a way for your child to play, but it allows for crucial cognitive growth opportunities and provides many benefits. Keep reading to learn more about art's benefits and some art activity ideas!
Obstacle Crossing as an Indicator of Dynamic Balance in Children with CP
Obstacle crossing is a part of daily life. A child may be walking and has to step over a stick or manipulate around objects, like desks or toys. This requires dynamic balance. Obstacle crossing requires trunk control and stability in the lower limbs to maintain a center of mass.
Balance as a Part of Child Development
Did you know that balance is integral to your child’s development? It is the foundation for all motor skills. Balance is the ability to maintain a body position. It allows your child to sit at a table, lets them participate in sports and activities, and helps prevent injury. It is considered a foundational motor skill because all motor skills require some aspect of balance. It is a building block that allows other motor skills to develop.
Evidence-Based OT Interventions for Fine Motor Skills
The American Journal of Occupational Therapy released a study to show that common occupational therapy interventions effectively address fine motor problems and define the most common interventions used. The multisensory and motor development approaches were the most common and effective interventions.
Home Activities That Benefit Your Child’s Fine Motor Development
Fine motor skills are an essential part of your child’s daily life. They allow your child to interact freely with the world around them. The best way to help your child develop fine motor skills is through play! The activities on this list are great to incorporate into a play session to help develop fine motor skills.
Gesture Milestones as an Indicator of Language Development
Gestures are a precursor to speech and language, so looking at a child's gesture development is a good indicator of how a child’s speech and language will develop. If a child is not reaching typical gesture milestones, early intervention is crucial to help facilitate development.
What are the Important Gesture Milestones for Your Child?
Gestures are one of the earliest forms of communication. They are a good indication of how your child’s language will develop.
Your child learns gestures by watching you and your reactions. The earliest gestures serve as a way to get attention and communicate the child’s needs. Gestures are what lay the foundation for language development.
Walker Type Recommendations for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a common motor disability encountered in pediatric physical therapy. Depending on the GMFCS Level, a child may benefit from a walker to help ease the strain of walking, increase stability and posture, and reduce energy costs.
How to Make Puffy Paint
Puffy Paint is an excellent tool to have in your toolbox. This is a fun medium for teaching your kids how to draw lines and shapes or even trace letters. It’s also great entertainment if they like to free draw. The paint dries puffed up, so it brings their creations to life! What’s great about this is that it’s easy to make at home with ingredients you probably already have.
Different Types of Walkers and Why We Use Them
The purpose of a walker is to provide support and balance and serve as a weight-bearing mechanism. Walkers are often recommended in pediatric physical therapy as a mobility aid for short-term or long-term use, depending on what a child is dealing with.
Handwriting Interventions for Occupational Therapists
The American Journal of Occupational Therapy published “Interventions Within the Scope of Occupational Therapy to Improve Children’s Academic Participation: A Systematic Review.” This systematic review looked at OT interventions to improve components, including educational participation, literacy participation, and handwriting. Since occupational therapy interventions often target handwriting, it is crucial to use evidence-based and best-practice interventions.
What Does Occupational Therapy Have to Do with Handwriting?
Handwriting is a daily occupation for most, involving a series of fine motor and even some gross motor skills. This makes handwriting an area of expertise for occupational therapists. Writing builds on each other or, in other words, is a progressive skill. Basic shapes, like lines, circles, and crosses, make up the alphabet. As your young child begins to doodle, their scribbles eventually become more refined until they build the fine motor skills that are required to learn how to write letters.
Sensory Play and Sensory Bins
We’ve talked a bit about sensory regulation, how it works, and why it is essential. So, how can you expose your child to different sensory experiences and stimuli? Through sensory play! Sensory bins are a great activity for your child to participate in sensory play.
Research-Based Suggestions for Teaching Joint Attention to Children with ASD
Children with autism often have trouble with joint attention. They may not respond to people around them and seem aloof. This can become harmful when this lack of interaction leads to a delay in language and learning. The lack of joint attention causes this delay as children learn to communicate verbally and nonverbally by watching and interacting with others.
Joint Attention: How it Plays a Role in Your Child’s Language Development
Joint attention is a child’s ability to focus on a thing or event with another person. For example, a child looks at you and points to a teddy bear on a shelf. This attention or interaction can be verbal or nonverbal, such as gestures, gazing, or verbal exchanges.