Pediatric Speech and Language Therapy: Servicing children from Birth - 21 years old

Pediatric Speech and Language Therapy provides the highest level of individualized speech, language and social communication services to children in need, including diagnostic and therapy services.

How can I encourage my child to use words?

    Activities to Encourage Speech and Language Development:

·        *Talk to your child. Encourage your child to make vowel-like and consonant-like sounds. “ma”, “ba”, “da”

·        *Model what you want your child to say. “Ball”. “This is a ball”. Teach your baby to imitate your actions, including clapping hands, blowing kisses, and using finger-songs like “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

·       * Identify items and colors, count things around the home, use gestures like waving “bye, bye” to help learn meaning.

·        *Expand on what your child says. “Mama. Here is mama, I’m your mama.”

·        *Read to your child. Reading can be pointing to objects and pictures in books. Encourage naming and identifying familiar items.

How do i know if my child needs a Speech Therapist?

     Indicators That Your Child May Benefit From a Speech and Language Evaluation:

·        *Child is not expressing at least 50 words by the age of two years old.

·        *Child is using pointing and gesturing to request everything without vocalizations beyond the age of two years old.

·        *Child is not making eye contact when communicating with the parent or during play activities.

·        *Ask other parents or your child’s pediatrician if your child is comparable to other children his or her age.

**The younger your child is evaluated and diagnosed, the more positive outcome he or she will experience in speech and language development.

Heat vs Ice

When you first sprain your ankle, injure your elbow; turn your knee, etc...  What will make you feel better?  Heat or Ice?  Within the first 3 days, rest, ice and elevate the injured limb.  After 3 to 5 days, use whatever will help your symptoms.

Heat:
Relaxes tight muscles
Causes soft tissue to relax
Decreases pain caused by muscle tension or spasms
Increases circulation to the area
Helps those with muscle strain, spasms, and arthritis

ICE:
Decreases inflammation
Decreases pain
Decreases swelling

Do not apply for more than 20 minutes at a time!  It could cause nerve damage.  See your physician if you believe you broke something or symptoms last longer than 5 days with no change.  

Wii-habilitation

What is Wii-hab?  Wii-hab is rehabilitation therapy that uses the Nintendo Wii gaming system.  Physical therapists often use alternative methods to keep their patients interested in their therapy.  Wii-hab can be used with people who have Orthopedic and Neurological injuries.  Some of those injuries are broken bones, strokes, joint replacements, vehicle accidents, and other types of surgeries.  Wii-hab can also be great for people with pulmonary issues like COPD and have shortness of breath with activities.

Why is it beneficial? Could it help me?  Many functional areas can be targeted like: balance, activity endurance, upper body strength, lower body strength, core strength, eye/hand coordination, and memory skills. 

Wii Sports and Wii Fit are 2 games that require physical exertion.  (There are many games available for home use.)  Usually the patient becomes so engrossed in the game and competition that they do not realize how much exercise they are getting until they stop to rest.  The longer you play, the better your endurance gets.  That endurance can improve your everyday activities.  Can you imagine being able to sweep or vacuum the house without getting tired? 

Repetitive motions not only help memory skills, but increase muscle memory as well.  It increases communication between the brain and muscles requiring less time to complete an activity.

If you are tired of being inactive and unable to complete a simple without being exhausted, call your doctor and ask for a prescription for physical therapy.  Wii can help!!

It’s that time again!

Everyone is making their New Years Resolutions. More often than not, folks resolve to lose weight and get in shape. Intentions are good but time is limited with busy schedules and hectic lives. Before you know it the best intentions are lost in the shuffle.  How does one stick with it?  We all know that a healthy lifestyle includes exercise, but how do we do it? 

First, make realistic goals.  Try to do activities you enjoy.  Exercise with someone or a group. Walk with a friend or join the gym.  Be realistic about your capabilities.   Start out slowly and increase the time and intensity of your workout gradually.

Secondly, do your best to stick with it.  It takes time and repetition to make exercise routines a habit.  Try to make exercise a regular part of your schedule.   As time passes you will find it becomes easier and easier to maintain your exercise routine.

Next, utilize community resources to help you with your fitness goals. It’s good to have knowledgeable instruction to help establish your exercise program. It can help you avoid unnecessary pain and injuries. The Frank W. Stevens Wellness Center (located on the ADMC campus) can provide you with individualized instruction to meet your needs.

Above all, make it your priority to exercise and improve your fitness level. Any regular exercise can help you improve your overall health.  It’s well documented that improved fitness and weight loss can reduce your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.  Thirty minutes a day three times a week is a great way to start.  The health benefits from regular exercise more than offset the sweat and effort expended.

Be sure to check with your physician before you start a fitness program,  then go for it. You’ll be glad you did!

Inhale......Exhale.......

Deep breathing is a great relaxation technique and well known stress reliever.  A study done by the Mayo Clinic found that deep breathing can calm the heart rate, promote focus, and even decrease pain.  When performing these deep breathing techniques your body releases toxins and circulation improves.  You also increase the oxygen in the blood stream which helps to increase energy levels.  So when you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed from a busy day, take a few minutes to focus on breathing.  Sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, breathe in through your nose slowly and deeply, and then exhale through your nose using your abdominal muscles to push all the air out.  Do this about 5 or 6 times whenever you need to decrease stress levels.   

How do I know if my child needs Pediatric Therapy?

ð      Frequently says, “I can’t” or “I won’t” to age appropriate self-care and play activities.

ð      Low muscle tone, seems weak or floppy.

ð      Clumsy, fall frequently.

ð      Bumps into furniture or people, has trouble judging body in relation to spacer around him/her.

ð      Breaks toys or crayons easily.

ð      Does not enjoy jumping, swings, or having feet off the ground.

ð      Difficulty coloring in lines, doing puzzles or cutting with scissors by age 4 ½.

ð      Delayed language development.

ð      Overly active, unable to slow down.

ð      Difficulty tolerating lying on stomach.

ð      Dislikes bathing, cuddling, or hair cuts.

ð      Overreacts to touch, taste, sounds or odors.

ð      Avoids playground activities.

ð      Unable to settle down, sleep difficulties.

ð      Extremely sensitive to how clothes “feel”.

If your child is experiencing 3 or more of these problems, pediatric therapy intervention may be helpful.  You can contact our facility for more information, 979-848-9195.

Foot Pain and Orthotics

Foot pain from flat feet, fallen arches, neuromas, plantar faciitis, heel spurs, bunions, etc. can be helped by orthotics.

An orthotic is defined as a device for supporting, treating, or immobilizing specific muscles or joints that are weak from injury, deformation, or ineffectiveness.  Many people use them to correct structural issues of the foot.

Most people think that orthotics are ugly and cumbersome; yet, the truth is that most orthotics fit into your regular shoes and are unseen. 

At first they may be uncomfortable due to the newness and correcting of your problem/diagnosis: after a few days you get used to them, and your feet start feeling better.  You may even notice that your whole body feels better!

Orthotics can be purchased over the counter, but they can also be custom made for your specific difficulty.  Here at Angleton Danbury Medical Center Rehab we offer custom made orthotics.  For more information please feel free to call us at 979-848-9195.