Survey for OTs & PTs: I Need Your Help!

Thanks to all pediatric OT's and PT's who completed the baby gear survey! I have over 150 responses! I will let you know the results as soon as I write them up. :)

Background of Study: 


The Back to Sleep campaign has been a huge success and thousands of infant lives have been saved. However, in recent years, the number of flattened head syndrome cases has increased by approximately 50%, and the number of torticollis cases has also increased. A survey of 400 PTs and OTs revealed that 2/3 of the therapists surveyed reported an increase in infant motor delays in the past 6 years. Many therapists believe that back sleeping combined with the large amounts of time that babies are spending in "containers" (carseats, bouncer seats, etc.) are contributing to these developmental problems. I will use the survey responses from over 150 pediatric OTs and PTs to come up with some "general guidelines" for baby gear use in hopes that this will be helpful to parents. 

Central Auditory Processing Disorder: Treatment Strategies

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)- When the brain doesn’t interpret words or sounds correctly, but there is not a problem with an individual's hearing. There is a reduced ability to discriminate, recognize, or comprehend auditory information with CAPD.

Treatment Options/Strategies
 

1)   Speech Therapy (Oral Reading and Comprehension, Working Memory Skills, Main Idea Skills, Idioms/Figures of Speech)

2)   Listening Systems (Fast Forward, Integrative Listening Systems, CogMed,  PACE (Processing and Cognitive Enhancement)

-Aimed at establishing stronger neurological pathway connections,

-Developing cognitive skills in areas of auditory and visual processing, working memory, processing speed, attention, logic and reasoning, and phonemic awareness.  

3)   Visualization skills

-Vocabulary pictures

            -Use internet to visualize vocabulary

            -Drawing out in frames what you read

4)   Repetition in every day situation; Always ask the question “Do you know what that means?”  Give them time to think and answer, give clues to help before giving the entire explanation.

5)   Eating at the table increases vocabulary

6)   Writing things down increases memory skills

7)   Silly strategies that help with working memory (Trenton, NJ, acute and obtuse angles)

8)   Eye contact so that they can read lips as they listen as well (teacher and parent must face the child when talking to them)

9)   Test break down into one instruction per page format

10)  Recall games – “I went on a trip and I took ____ , _______, ______with me”

11)  Reading out loud (by themselves, with the family, etc.)

12)  Idioms (Visuals, Discuss and demonstrate, “put yourself in Dad’s  shoes” etc.)…americanidioms.net and idiomsbykids.com

13)   Show vs. Explain

14)   Manipulatives

15)    Vary pitch and tone of voice

16)    Ask question (specific) while teaching

17)   Have Students Verbalize Concepts

18)   Child should not be required to listen and write at the same time.

Reference: Thanks to K. Naifeh for the wonderful suggestions regarding treatment strategies!


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