I am a mother of a 10 month old baby boy who has stiffness or hypertonicity in his ankles that keeps his leg claw shaped. By 10 months he should be showing independent sitting and crawling but my baby is not doing so. He was able to roll on tummy before and is not even doing that for the last two …
Q&A: Speech Therapy for a Child with PVL (Periventricular Leukomalacia)
What types of therapy could the speech therapist do with my child who has PVL (Periventricular leukomalacia)? He is 14 months old and doesn’t have an interest in toys. Periventricular leukomalacia is often seen in premature infants when there is decreased blood flow to the brain before, during or after birth. Due to the decrease in blood flow to the …
Q&A: 4 Year Old with Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) is Very Fussy
My daughter is 4 years old and was diagnosed at birth with PVL and a Stage 3 Brain Bleed. She was born at 29weeks. She does say words but doesn’t say sentences and she is in special services programs through Rise. She’s really smart. My problem is that she is really fussy and throws fits everyday especially with her dad …
Q&A: Boy With Down Syndrome Hasn’t Been Potty Trained
I have a 12 year old (soon to be 13) boy with Down Syndrome who has never been potty trained. He has been in my care for 2 months. I spent the first week teaching him not to be afraid of the toilet. He will potty in the tub, shower, floor, pull ups… if he’s sitting on the toilet and …
Q&A: My Son Was Recently Diagnosed with Autism
My first son is 17 months old. He is not playing with toys & has difficulty in maintaining eye contact. He watches TV & doesn’t respond to his name always when called. He has the habit of rubbing anything to the ground or on the sofa. We consulted a neurologist. He gave the diagnosis as PDD/autism. Now I am very …
Q&A: Child With Noonan’s Syndrome Cannot Sit or Stand
My son has been diagnosed with Noonan’s Syndrome. He is presently on the medication Verapamil. However, he is now 15 months old and still shows no indication of desiring to sit up and his legs cannot support his body. He holds up his head in an erect position but it seems that the his muscular and bone development to support …
Q&A: How Much Therapy Should My Child with Down Syndrome Receive?
I have a 12 month old little girl with Down Syndrome. We participate in an early intervention program. Currently, she receives 2.5 hours a week of PT,OT, and developmental and 1.5 hour a week of speech. My question is two fold: First, how do you know if your child is receiving good quality therapy, and second, how much therapy should …
Q&A: Best Early Intervention Program For Asperger Syndrome?
My son has Aspergers. We found out 2 months ago. What is the best early intervention program for my son? He is 3-1/2 years old. Most children with Aspergers benefit from a combination of therapies depending on the severity of their disorder. The National Institutes of Health in the USA recommend the following based on their Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet: …
Helping Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Avoid Mealtime Stress
Many children experience mealtime problems at some point, including inconsistent appetite, pickiness, fear of new foods, clumsiness with self-feeding, or difficulty sitting still. These challenges are often more pronounced in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). In addition to the social and communication impairments that characterize ASD, there may be difficulties with sensory processing, motor skills, attention, and behavior. For …
How to Potty Train Your Child With Special Needs
If your child is diagnosed with autism, Down Syndrome, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, or other condition of developmental delay, it may be more difficult to train him or her to use a toilet. Signs Your Child with Special Needs is Ready for Potty Training While most children between 18 months and 3 years of age are ready to learn to …