What are some of the signs of autism?

Children with autism generally have problems in three crucial areas of development — social interaction, language and behavior.

The symptoms and severity may vary greatly between two children with the same diagnosis, but here are a few signs to look for:

• No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter
• No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions by nine months
• No babbling by 12 months
• No back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months
• No words by 16 months
• No meaningful, two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months
• Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age

Signs from Austismspeaks.org

The post Early Therapy for Autism Can Make A Difference appeared first on Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy Tampa FL.

The Head Shape Clinic

Led by cranifacial surgeon Dr. Pat Ricalde.

The multidisciplinary team evalutates, diagnoses, and treats infants with positional plagiocephaly. This condition is commonly caused by preferred sleeping positions; however, it may also be due to a malformed skull, congenital muscular torticollis, or other pathologies.

The Head Shape Clinic addresses the questions and concerns that parents have when a skull or facial problem is recognized in their child.

Head Shape Clinic Location

Hillsborough County

Florida Craniofacial Institute
4200 North Armenia Av., Suite 3
Tampa FL 33607

Please call 813-870-6000 for a consultation with the team.

The post The Head Shape Clinic Addresses Positional Plagiocephaly appeared first on Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy Tampa FL.

Babies should always be placed to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of SIDS, but from day one it is just as important to give them plenty of opportunities to play on their tummy when they are awake. Babies who do not get enough tummy time risk having poor neck and shoulder muscles, developing flat spots on the back of their heads (called plagiocephaly) and are at risk for developmental delays including delays in rolling, crawling and pulling to stand; as well as, delays later in life such as poor coordination and hand writing skills.

Tummy Time Tips

Tummy time should start from day one aiming for 30 minutes which can be broken up throughout the day. Place your newborn on their tummy on a blanket on a firm surface for a few minutes while you rub their back and talk with them. If they are fussy in this position you can lay your baby face down on your chest as you recline in a chair or bed for a little tummy snuggle time. As a newborn they are also small enough to carry lying across your arms on their tummy with their head fully supported in your hand. These activities will help your baby get used to spending time on their tummy.

Tummy Time Fun & Games

As your infant begins to hold their head up you can lay them on a blanket on the floor, over a boppy pillow, or even lying across your lap. To encourage your infant to hold their head up and push through their elbows get down on the floor with them – play peek a boo, sing songs, dance, hold up a mirror, anything that will entertain them for a few minutes. If your infant starts to get fussy and even distractions aren’t helping anymore help your infant roll onto their back for a little break. Once they are happy again help them to roll back onto their tummy to see if you can encourage a few more minutes. By helping your infant to roll instead of just picking them up when they get fussy you are teaching them not only to roll, but also that they have control over what position they are in. If your infant seems to have trouble pushing onto their elbows, roll a small towel or receiving blanket and place it under their chest. This will give them a little bit of support so they can practice holding their head up and make tummy time a little less stressful.

From Fussing to Moving

Even if your baby fusses at first, keep trying a little bit throughout the day. As your baby gets stronger they will fuss less and start to move more.

Article written by Michelle C., Physical Therapist

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Children Walking on Toes Can Be Signs Of Two Things

1. Sensory processing disorder (toe walking is a “closed chain” activity that increases feedback to the ankle joint giving additional feedback of where you are in space). If there are other signs of sensory issues you may want to consider a Pediatric Occupational Therapy Evaluation or Screening.
2. Tight heel cords (which may require stretching) – if you have a hard time flexing your child’s foot (bending the ball of his foot up past a 90 degree (L) angle at ankle joint while knee is straight) then you may want to consider a Pediatric Physical Therapy Evaluation or Screening.

Physical Therapist Help Toe Walkers | Children Walking on Toes

One of the first things a physical therapist will assess in a child who toe-walk is the child’s ankle flexibility, especially with knees straight in long sitting position on floor. Can the child stand flat? If they don’t have enough ankle flexibility to walk heel-toe, that needs to be addressed prior to anything else.

Posture and strength are other important areas to assess. Muscle groups that are commonly weak are the tummy muscles (abdominal obliques), buttocks, shoulders, and ankles. Weakness in these muscles can put a child in a forward leaning position when they stand and a slouching position when they sit. When the child in this posture initiates walking, he would naturally walk up on his toes. In addition, children who are toe walkers don’t use body rotation while walking and may have flexibility restrictions while walking. The child with trunk tightness may also frequently “W” sit over other sitting positions.

Home Tips for Children Walking on Toes

There are a number of games that you can play at home to encourage walking with “heels down” but it depends on the age of your child.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• walk in swim fins (with guarding and help of course to prevent falling/tripping)
• walk like a penguin or a duck (waddle side by side while walking on heels)
• tape a penny to the bottom of the shoe so you can hear the “click” noise of the coin in the ground

If your child continues to demonstrate difficulty with these exercises a complete Pediatric Physical Therapy Evaluation or Screening may be indicated.

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1. Use it as a boundary to improve body awareness. For example, if your child crosses the line you’ve made on the floor, you say “What part of your body crossed the line? Is it your right or left leg? Put it back behind the line…”
2. Make a hopscotch or ladder type design (1 foot per square) on the floor and instruct your child to hop on one foot to (the first, middle, last) square. Or have them stand backwards and jump to a specific square, they can also side step across the ladder.
3. Use the hopscotch or ladder frame, except this time have your child toss bean bags into the squares. Assign each square a different point value by taping the number into the center of the square.
4. Make a small square on the ground as a “fence” and using a straw, blow cotton balls into the square to “herd the sheep.”
5. If your child is clumsy, put a small piece of tape at the eye level of child on the wall, door, doorframe, etc… that the child runs into. Or put small pieces on the corners of coffee tables, desks, etc… The visual cue may help give the child feedback to move before bumping!
6. Work on balance and walking in a straight line by taping a 6 foot strip to the floor. Have your child walk on the line (like a balance beam).
7. Use as a marker to mark off goals for forward jumping. Place a few 6 inch strips on the floor and encourage your child to jump over/past the line. Gradually increase the distance and play “Let’s see how far you can jump!” game each day.
8. Use it as a visual reminder to stay in a designated area for safety and/or to improve participation during games/play. Tape an “X” or your child’s letter, “K” for Katie, on the floor. Encourage your child to “STAY on your spot/letter” when playing a game on the floor, doing homework, helping in the kitchen…etc.

These great ideas are all ways to help improve sensory awareness, walking, balance, jumping distance, attention and behavior all while having lots of FUN!!!

Compiled by ILI’s St Pete Clinic Therapists – Michele F., MOTR/L , Ashley T., DPT, & Sarah G., M.S. CCC-SLP

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“Did you see my son hit that baseball out of the park!” the excited father yelled to everyone in the stands. Everyone stood at the same time watching the boy run from base to base and then slide to home plate.

“Safe”, the umpire declared.

Everyone erupted into a wave of cheering and triumph as the play won the game for the team.

The father was understandably proud of his son. We parents cheer whenever we see our children triumph. Some parents though are experiencing a different journey where victories for their children are not so clearly seen. There is a whole world of special needs parents raising their children and also cheering each victory. Those victories are quite different from an able bodied child. Though different, each victory is celebrated as if the child hit a home run.

Ask any therapist of special needs children and they will tell you that the smallest victory is cause to celebrate. Therapists are schooled to be patient as they wait for these wee ones to display even the most inconsequential accomplishment. For one child it may be eating their first bite of solid food. For another it may be grasping a toy for the first time. Able bodied children also experience these first’s but for many special needs children these victories are years in the making.

Each journey for a special needs family is different. Some disabilities are mild while others are profoundly debilitating. What is the same of all these children is that most parents are fiercely proud of their children no matter what the diagnosis.

What would special needs parents want other parents to know about their children? They are children, perhaps in varying degrees of growth and development, but children none the less. What is the biggest compliment you can give a special needs parent? Pay attention to their special needs child. Talk lovingly to the child even though they may not be able to respond. How can you support special needs parents? If you are curious, ask about the child’s diagnosis instead of wondering and never knowing. Ask the parent what their biggest blessing is in raising a special needs child. Ask what their biggest need is and how you can help. Listening can be the best gift you can offer. Many parents have no support group with which to share their joys and struggles. Simply knowing that you care can mean so much to a special needs family. The next time you see a child who is a little different be bold and reach out to the parent. You will be glad you did.

The post Children With Special Needs Awareness appeared first on Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy Tampa FL.

A characteristic unique to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is the need for structure and repetitive routines. The child’s resistance to change can impede treatment and interventions if started too late when the child has already established inappropriate and non-functional behaviors as a part of his/her routine. Early intervention has also been proven to have more of a significant impact due the theory of brain plasticity, referring to the brain’s ability to change itself. This first occurs when infants are born and start developing into children. Between the ages of birth-six, studies have shown that the immature brain grows and creates neural networks at an unprecedented rate, as the brain is flooded with new sensory input from the outside world. Research continues to show us how the brains of children diagnosed with autism lack this natural ability to integrate and organize the input they receive. However, with specific and consistent early intervention, we have been successful in bridging this gap by facilitating appropriate neural connections to occur. Evidence continues to consistently show that early intervention improves long-term function for children diagnosed in the Autism Spectrum.

To ensure families receive early intervention, early detection is the key. Recognition and diagnosis before the age of two continues to be rare, however there are indications in the usual developmental progress that could suggest autism before the age of two. These include but are not limited to lack of eye contact, avoidance of sounds and non-responsive to name as well as a lack of interest in the types of play that most infants enjoy, such as those which involve social interaction with the parent. Assessment is best done within a child development unit because the expertise of a variety of disciplines is required and a team approach has been found to result in more accurate diagnosis.

This article was contributed by our own Dawn M., OTR/L, Tampa Bay Autism Examiner.

For more information on learning the early detection signs of autism, please go to:

Autism Speaks

First Signs

For local resources and facilities in the Tampa Bay area:

Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy

Jacob’s Touch

The Tridas Center

Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay

The post Autism: The Importance of Early Detection and Intervention appeared first on Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy Tampa FL.

Course Description:

This interactive workshop not only addresses the foundations for eating – the core knowledge of pediatric feeding therapy – but addresses carry-over to the home and school environments as a crucial component to long term success.

• Learn how to create a supportive atmosphere for eating through optimal positioning, respecting the child’s sensory system and developing stable oral motor patterns during the oral phase of the swallow.
• Recognize and address the behaviors that children develop to protect themselves from interacting with food.
• Develop a plan with the family to support their child as he/she learns to love food.
• Learn strategies for keeping mealtimes joyful for the entire family, even if a child is not yet ready to eat new foods.




Note: Therapists are encouraged to invite parents or other caregivers to attend the last hour of this workshop. Please bring specific questions regarding their child’s behavior at home and at school as it relates to food and/or mealtimes. Demonstrate home carryover techniques with real cases!

When:

December 3, 2011

Where:

Jacksonville, FL

Location:

Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville Airport
13503 Ranch Road
Jacksonville, Florida 32218
904-421-2700
CIAO Room Rate: $79/night

Who should Attend:

SLP/SLPA, OT/COTA, Family Members
Price: $160 Early Group (3+ registrations together), $170 Early Individual
CEU’s: 0.8 (8 contact hours)

Register:

Register on CIAO Seminars website.

The post Feeding Therapy: It’s Not Just About Swallowing appeared first on Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy Tampa FL.

]]> https://www.independentlivinginc.com/difficulty-communicating-caused-by-cerebral-palsy-no-match-for-the-assitive-chat-ipad-app/ Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:47:16 +0000 https://www.independentlivinginc.com/?p=2994 Our Katie M., SLP, has been assisting one of our clients that recently purchased an iPad to use as her communication device. She is 20 years old, and has difficulty communicating verbally due to Cerebral Palsy. She has only been using her iPad for a few weeks, and is very excited about how easy it […]

The post Difficulty Communicating Caused By Cerebral Palsy Is No Match for the Assitive Chat iPad App appeared first on Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy Tampa FL.

]]> Our Katie M., SLP, has been assisting one of our clients that recently purchased an iPad to use as her communication device. She is 20 years old, and has difficulty communicating verbally due to Cerebral Palsy. She has only been using her iPad for a few weeks, and is very excited about how easy it is to communicate with her friends and family. Here are a few quotes about why she likes the Assistive Chat app, and her new iPad:

“It’s faster than some other communication devices.”

“I like the word predictor.”

“It’s small so you can take it everywhere and people don’t look at you funny.”

Come meet her in person as she demos the Assistive Chat app on her iPad at our ILI training on November 12th, 2011 at our Citrus Park Pediatric Clinic.

Assistive Chat
By Assistive Apps

The developer, Assistive Apps created an affordable Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) device. Assistive Chat is catered to speech and language difficulties. The biggest challenge for such users when using AAC devices is the number of key strokes required to construct any one sentence, which can take a significant amount of time to have a decent conversation with anyone. They have overcome this challenge by designing a simple and efficient application to allow users to communicate at the fastest rate possible, with natural sounding voices. Here is a list of Assistive Chat’s features:

• Landscape and Portrait Modes to cater to different needs.
• Word Prediction to minimize keystrokes.
• Adaptive learning to add new vocabulary used into the Word Prediction list.
• Favorites list for users to save commonly used sentences.
• 3 preloaded voices for user to pick through.
• Adjustable volume and speed for voices.
• Large font and buttons for easy access.
• Recent list for quick access to previously spoken sentences.
• Self-learning “next word” prediction.

Assistive Chat is currently only designed for the English Language.

Check out these Assistive Chat screenshots:

     



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]]> https://www.independentlivinginc.com/hosts-articulation-phonology-motor-speech-disorders-slp-cfy/ Wed, 26 Oct 2011 21:13:08 +0000 https://www.independentlivinginc.com/?p=2968 When: Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 8:30am to 12:20pm Where: ILI Citrus Park Outpatient Clinic 6508 Gunn Hwy Tampa, FL Who Should Attend: All Speech-Language Pathologists Price: Free for all ILI SLP and CFY’s; small fee for non-ILI employed therapists Continued Education Units (CEU): 4 contact hours Presenter: Melissa P., SLP, Citrus Park Clinic She […]

The post Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy Hosts: Articulation, Phonology, and Motor Speech Disorders | SLP & CFY appeared first on Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy Tampa FL.

]]> When:

Saturday, November 12, 2011 from 8:30am to 12:20pm

Where:

ILI Citrus Park Outpatient Clinic
6508 Gunn Hwy
Tampa, FL

Who Should Attend:

All Speech-Language Pathologists

Price:

Free for all ILI SLP and CFY’s; small fee for non-ILI employed therapists

Continued Education Units (CEU):

4 contact hours

Presenter:

Melissa P., SLP, Citrus Park Clinic
She was recently certified in the PROMPT program and is eager to share her knowledge with fellow speech-language pathologists. Focus will be on diagnosis and treatment skills.

RSVP:

Please RSVP to Carrie Guise.

The post Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy Hosts: Articulation, Phonology, and Motor Speech Disorders | SLP & CFY appeared first on Independent Living Inc. Pediatric Therapy Tampa FL.

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