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  • What to expect at your child's therapy evaluation

    Your child has been referred to Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy or Speech Therapy. So, what's next? First of all, don't dread this appointment. Therapists can be a wealth of information and you will leave that first appointment with some useful tools. Part of a therapist’s job is to share valuable information with you about your child- both their strengths and weaknesses. Their job is to help your child reach their maximum potential and equip you to be an expert about your child’s abilities. This is a good thing.

    For All Evaluations

    Bring your child in comfortable clothing that allow full movement Make sure they are well rested Bring any specific equipment they use such as walkers, splints, or communication devices Be prepared to share concerns you or your doctor may have Provide a list of their medications Be prepared to leave for part of the session if asked (so that therapist can build rapport and see how your child works on their own)

    What to bring for Feeding Concerns

    A hungry kiddo Food you’re sure your child will eat Food you have tried to give your child but they haven’t accepted A drink your child typically accepts: bottle, sippy cup, straw cup, etc. A list of their allergies or recent notes from any specialists

    What to Bring for School Related Concerns

    A copy of their 504 Plan, IEP, Behavior Contract or Health Plan A letter from the teacher expressing any specific concerns (if possible) A sample of their written work from class (if this is a concern) Report a from the school psychologist or therapist (if it’s available)

    During the Evaluation

    Let the therapist take the lead but feel free to comment if you feel your child is not showing their full potential. Be as specific as possible. Remember, you are the expert on your child and the therapist is getting a one-time snapshot. Any information on how your child typically functions is very much appreciated. During the evaluation, your therapists will gather valuable information on how your child responds- or doesn't respond- to certain tasks. The therapist is likely to approach your child in a specific way to achieve a desired outcome. For this reason, resist the urge to help your child complete tasks presented. Remember, therapists are looking to build rapport with your little one and form a partnership with you to ensure your child’s success. They’ll definitely let you know if they need you to jump in and help out.

    After your Evaluation

    Ask the therapist for their professional opinion on what strengths they observe in your child and what areas of concern they have. Would they recommend referrals to other professionals or further testing? If therapy is recommended, how often will they need to be seen to achieve their goals? What skills does the therapist see your child achieving through their intervention? How much work at home will be required to achieve these results? Although most of the recommendations will come during your child’s treatment sessions, you can still leave the evaluation equipped with something beneficial for your child. Ask for a few suggestions on what you can work on at home while you await your first therapy session. Therapists want to build your child’s skills and maximize their strengths so they’ll have great suggestions for toys and fun activities to help your child achieve their goals.

  • What we do now may affect our future children’s genetics

    We are all aware that mothers who smoke while they are pregnant run a higher risk of having children who are premature, smaller than they should be, or stillborn. This is likely due to reduced oxygen supply to the baby through mom’s diseased body and to toxins shared by mom with baby. We also know that children who are exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of developing respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic lung disease and even cancer due to direct lung damage from inhaled smoke.

    What you do with your body early in life can affect future generations

    But recent data suggests that a father’s behavior even years prior to conception may affect the health of his children and future generations. For example, early paternal smoking has been associated with increased body mass in children. Paternal alcoholism has been associated with smaller birth weights in babies, and hyperactivity in children. Most recently, smoking even early in life has been found to be associated with an increased risk of certain forms of asthma in a man’s children. A study which was recently presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress looked at 13,000 men and women and found that non-allergic asthma was significantly more common in children whose fathers smoked before the age of 15. In addition, the longer the father smoked, the higher the risk of his child having this kind of asthma. Interestingly, the same link was not found in children whose mothers smoked before they conceived.

  • Breastfeeding? Be sure you know how to handle and store your milk safely

    If you’re breastfeeding your baby, you may decide to express some milk to be used at a later time. Using a breast pump allows you to collect milk to be used when you’re not with your baby and also gives your partner or another caregiver the opportunity to help you with baby’s often demanding feeding schedule. Many nursing mothers enjoy the flexibility of pumping and storing breast milk, and it becomes a necessity for those who desire to continue breastfeeding as they head back into the workplace.

  • How do I raise an introverted child?

    I have always been somewhat of a quiet person- someone who doesn’t want a lot of attention and who needs down time, especially after a social event. I am an introvert through and through and when I met my husband, one of the things that drew me to him was the fact that he is one as well. We have a mutual understanding that there will be times that there is quiet between us, times when one of disappears into a book or activity for hours, and comes back with renewed energy.

  • How to talk to your kids about death

    Written by Jaya Jagmohan, DO

  • How to help a child who may be experiencing abuse or neglect

    As a social worker, I have become the “go to” person for many friends and family members. They will often present scenarios to me, ranging from how to help a loved one who may be a victim of domestic violence to what to do about the homeless family you see sleeping in their car to how to help a child who may be a victim of abuse or neglect. Some of these scenarios require a deeper analysis into the many factors at play, and there may not always be a straightforward answer to the problem. However, any time there is concern that a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect, there are specific steps that anyone can take to help provide for the wellbeing of that child.

  • How to childproof your living areas and outside your home

    In the past few blog posts, we’ve shared some insight about how you can effectively protect your children from the hazards in your and . Once you’ve gotten those rooms under control (well, as much you can get things under control with a toddler in the house!), it’s time to look at other important areas: your living area and the outside of your home.

  • How to childproof your bathroom

    Previously, we shared some ideas about . Today, we’ll continue by talking about another one of the most troublesome areas in your home: the bathroom. It’s no secret that toddlers love the bathroom, and that one tiny room holds the potential for a whole lot of disaster.

  • If your child has had a concussion or brain injury, you may not see the full effects for years to come

    As an occupational therapist, one of the things that I do in my job is assist children who are recovering from a traumatic brain injury. I help them work through the new challenges they face because of their injury in hopes that they can fulfill their full potential. As a medical community, we are still working to fully understand how a brain injury affects a child’s long-term growth and development, but what recent research has shown us is that it may be long after the initial recovery period from a traumatic brain injury (even years later) before we see the full effects the injury will have on their growth and development.

    What parents need to know

    When we talk about brain injuries, it’s important to understand that we aren’t only talking about major injuries; we are also talking about relatively minor brain injuries, such as a concussion. Whether they have had a severe injury or a relatively minor one, children may experience long-lasting effects that can affect their development. A child may sustain a brain injury and experience a significant decrease in social, emotional, behavioral or cognitive abilities at the time of injury. (Cognitive abilities refers to a child’s capacity for learning and understanding, acquiring knowledge). Years later, they may then experience a “stall” where they fail to develop their cognitive, social, emotional or behavioral skills.

                                                     

  • Is your child ready to be potty trained?

    Written by Erika Diogene, DO