Category: Occupational therapy

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How to identify Developmental Delays?

Many children with clinically significant developmental delays are not detected until the first few years of school. Consequently, critical early intervention opportunities for young children who are at-risk of developing problems may be delayed and/or lost.

Every child grows and learns differently; however, children are expected to gain some specific developmental skill sets according to their age.  

 

What is a DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY?

A developmental delay refers to when a child hasn’t achieved some of those developmental skill sets expected according to their age. 

These delays may occur in one or more areas, such as motor function, speech and language, cognitive, social and emotional skills. Different from a developmental disability, such as cerebral palsy or autism, developmental delays may not last for life. Early intervention as in screenings, evaluations, caregiver education, coaching and treatment as needed are possibilities to help children overcome their developmental delays.

 

What CAUSES Developmental Delays?

Although developmental delays can happen to any child, some factors can contribute to it. Some of them are genetic or hereditary conditions, metabolic disorders, trauma to the brain, PTSD, exposure to toxic substances, infections and food deprivation.

 

What are the SIGNS of Developmental Delays? 

Signs may vary from child to child and may be difficult to notice at an early age. However, the earlier a concern is identified, the quicker your child may catch up. Here are some of the most common signs:

  • Learning slower than other children the same age
  • Rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking much later than developmentally expected
  • Being clumsy or having difficulty holding onto small objects, tying shoes, or brushing teeth
  • Trouble learning in school
  • Trouble understanding social cues or carrying on two-way conversations
  • Difficulty dealing with frustration or coping with change.
  • Having problems remembering things
  • Difficulties talking or talking late
  • Inability to connect actions with consequences
  • Difficulty with problem-solving or logical thinking

 

Your child deserves a chance to reach his or her full potential!

With that in mind, we developed the K-Shield Assisted Screening: A complete assessment that will give an accurate picture of whether your child’s development is on track. It is a highly effective way to identify developmental concerns and provide guidance to avoid academic or social school related struggles.

 


K-Shield is recommended for kids from 36 to 66 months old, and includes:
• Live video consultation
• Pre-evaluation with specialized therapists
• Assistance to parents in applying ASQ 3™ questionnaires
• Documentation results supporting the new Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship Program
• Recommendation on intervention activities which parents, daycare and preschool staff can use promoting development before starting school

 

You can learn more about K-SHIELD Screening and choose the best date for scheduling here.

We are here to help you from the beginning!

 

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Despite the benefits of using Mobility Aids many people who could benefit from these devices choose not to use them. One of the reasons? Social stigma!

Walkers, canes, crutches, braces, wheelchairs, electric scooters… More than to avoid accidents from happening or further damage, Mobility Aids aim to guarantee people’s freedom and independence despite limitations caused by disabilities, injuries or aging.

Although autonomy and safety are key motivators of mobility devices use, the will to avoid social stigma is what holds some patients back. Concerns such as discrimination, negative attention or even of being perceived as inferiors or too fragile may reduce acceptance and contribute to the abandonment of mobility aids

On the other hand, other users of mobility aids state that they feel strong and proud of using their devices, as it shows that there is always a way to adapt to limitations in order to do the things they love or want to do.

A number of patients states that mobility devices make their disabilities visible and become a welcome card for people to ask invasive questions that most mobility aid users are not comfortable answering.

Those who have anxiety or feel ashamed of using mobility devices are more likely to be sedentary and to limit social contact, which may lead to other conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, poor cognitive function, and depression.

After receiving the recommendation to use a Mobility Aid, having the assistance of an Occupational Therapist is highly encouraged. They can not only suggest the right tools but also teach how to use those tools and their accessibilities in order to gain more self-confidence.

As this process goes beyond physical preparations, it’s also paramount to find a good Mental Health professional who can help through stages such as grieving and accepting the need of using a mobility aid or learning how to cope with social anxiety.

From a grieving or acceptance stage to coping with social anxiety of using mobility aids, patients can benefit a lot from speaking with a Mental Health Professional.

If you thought about yourself or a loved one when reading this blog post and believe that a follow up from an Occupational or Behavioral Therapist would help him or her, schedule a Live Video Consultation and Teletherapy Sessions with us at www.acandassociates.com .

Click here to learn more about our Occupation Therapy Sessions.

You can also find us on our Social Media Channels:

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We look forward to helping you and your family through your wellness journey!

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How can Therapy Sessions help children and adults with Learning Disabilities?

Learning disabilities are neurological disabilities that affect information processing. They may affect how a person learns, understands, communicates, and remembers information.

Did you know that although learning disabilities are more commonly identified in children, they can be also acquired later in life?

A person with a Learning Disability may experience problems with reading and/or writing, math, memory, attention, following directions, clumsiness and staying organized. They may feel frustrated that they cannot master a subject despite trying hard, and may act out, act helpless, or withdraw. Learning disabilities can also be present with emotional or behavioral concerns.

At AC&A we offer solutions for patients of all ages with LEARNING DISABILITIES:
–    Whether you believe you (or your loved one) have a Learning Disability or are looking for a second opinion, schedule a Live Video Consultation with one of your Medical Specialists!

–    If you are looking for Evidence Based Customized Therapy Services in the comfort of your home through topnotch Video Conferencing Platform, schedule your Teletherapy Session(s) with one of our highly qualified and experienced Occupational Therapists.

Therapy sessions are customized according to patient’s needs from a variety options to focus on:

  1. Improving organizational skills so you can stay focused on different tasks, and use your time, energy, strength, mental capacity, physical space, etc. effectively and efficiently to achieve desired outcomes.
  2. Increasing attention to a task to help increase attention span and improve overall task performance across all environments through different strategies.
  3. Increasing listening skills to receive and interpret messages in the communication process more accurately.
  4. Understanding your learning type – Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic? – may help find the most effective strategies to increase beneficial outcomes in both natural and learning environments.
  5. Reviewing individualized education program and the appropriate strategies for getting child’s needs met to learn more about program of special education instruction, supports and services your child needs to make progress and succeed in a school environment. (*For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disability, Intellectual Disability and Emotional Behavioral Disability who may have an IEP).

 

Click here to learn more about our Occupation Therapy Sessions.

If you are looking for a diagnosis or any of the options mentioned above, you can schedule a Live Video Consultation and Teletherapy Sessions at www.acandassociates.com .

You can also find us on our Social Media Channels:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

We look forward to helping you and your family through your wellness journey!

 

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TOURETTE’S SYNDROME beyond motor and vocal tics.

A sudden jump, eye-roll, cough, or even a swearing word… These are some of the involuntary tics that characterize and sometimes even stereotype symptoms of a neurodevelopmental disorder called Tourette’s Syndrome.

Tourette’s is a chronic condition that usually starts during childhood. It causes a person to make involuntary sounds and movements called: TICS! Tics can be either Motor (blinking, jerking, shrugging shoulders etc.) or Vocal (humming, yelling a word or phrase, swearing etc.) and are usually worse during stressful or exciting times.

Tics and other symptoms may improve after years or in some cases, go away completely. However, they can also reappear.

Tics are just the superficial characteristics of Tourette’s Syndrome! A person with Tourette’s Syndrome may also suffer from other challenging disorders that are hard to spot by people who are not familiar with this disorder:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)… is the most common co-occurring condition among children with TS. Children with ADHD have trouble paying attention and controlling impulsive behaviors.
  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)… can be easily misinterpreted as a complex tic: Thinking about, saying, or doing something over and over. More than third of people with TS have OCD.
  • Anxiety and Mood Disorders (Depression/Bipolar Disorder)… are more common in TS patients who also suffer with ADHD and OCD. However, mood disorders or anxiety can also be triggered due to emotional distress and loss of self-esteem, which can result from living with TS.
  • Rage Episodes… are more likely to happen with people who have more severe TS symptoms, especially when they are tired or sick. These episodes are unintentional explosive outburst that are out of proportion to the triggering event. The frequency of the outbursts may vary.
  • Sleep Disorders… are common in as many as 60% of people with TS. This can not only be caused by alterations in brain structures or neurotransmitters due to TS, but can also be associated with the ticcing, with conditions like ADHD and depression, and even with medications used to treat TS symptoms.
  • Learning Disorders… may also be cause by co-existing symptoms like OCD or ADHD or can also be developed due to the tics that may disrupt concentration and visual spatial attention, also interfering with reading and writing skills, including handwriting.
  • Speech or Language Disorders… may be associated with vocal tics, such as stuttering for instance.

 

Although TS has no cure, TREATMENT can help manage symptoms and disorders caused by TOURETTE’S SYNDROME:

  • Behavioral therapy –Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Tics, including habit-reversal training, can help monitor tics, identify premonitory urges and learn to voluntarily move in a way that’s incompatible with the tic.
  • Occupational Therapy – If tics, ADD or OCD cause limitations or interruptions to daily life activities or ‘occupations’ caused by TS, then Occupational Therapy can be beneficial.
  • Psychotherapy – It can help not the patient only cope with TS, but also with other conditions such as ADHD, obsessions, depression or anxiety.

It’s also important to raise awareness in the community in order to avoid misconception and even bullying, which increase the risk of Social Phobia, Anxiety and Mood Disorders for people who suffer with TS.

If you are looking for a diagnosis or any of the Treatment Options mentioned above, you can schedule a Live Video Consultation and Teletherapy at www.acandassociates.com .

You can also find us on our Social Media Channels:

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

We look forward to helping you through your journey of healing and wellness!

 

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5 Benefits of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy (OT) was once known as the therapy that people who had been injured sought out in order to regain the ability to work. Over the years it has proven to be one of the most beneficial treatment options for those who wish to regain the ability to do everyday tasks such as reading and recalling information. Occupational therapists work with a variety of patients to provide the skills and information they need to meet these goals.

Here are five of the most common benefits of OT.

Prevent Return Hospital Stays

Patients who have had an extended hospital stay due to an advanced infection or serious injury may have trouble readjusting to everyday activities. Extended bed rest can cause patients to have difficulty with balance and posture due to muscle wasting (muscular atrophy), which could result in repeated injuries. The most common injuries are caused by falling: sprains, fractures and head injuries. An occupational therapist will work closely with these patients to rebuild their muscle strength, coordination and balance with exercise and adjustment/adaptive options.

Regain Independence

The type of injuries and illnesses that OT can best help may cause people to lose their ability to do normal activities like driving, walking or cleaning. This particular form of therapy was shown to be beneficial for people who were recovering from stroke. According to Medical News Today, it lowered the risk of further deterioration.

“Patients who participated in after-stroke rehabilitative therapy proved better able to perform self-care tasks and were more likely to maintain these abilities, compared to patients who did not undergo occupational therapy, the researchers found. The most important finding is that occupational therapy actually works…” – Medical News Today

In this review, they found that 97 out of every 1,000 patients given therapy fo this type avoided death, dependent care or future health complications caused by deterioration. To maintain or regain the ability to live independently, occupational therapists teach their patients how to perform everyday tasks within motor/neurological and psychological limitations.

Develop Memory Aids

Memory loss is a problem that most people develop over time, or due to injury or illness. Most cases of memory loss are ascribed to advanced age, but in other cases, injury, illness or lack of nutrition can be the cause. While the latter may be treated by simply improving nutrition, the others may require more personalized treatments. OT for memory loss consists of brain exercises and tricks that help to improve organization, memory and attention. Some common memory aids may include:

  • Placing everyday items (such as keys) in an area of high visibility
  • Using audio books instead of reading manually
  • Marking important information on a calendar
  • Using tools to improve everyday life (computer, notebooks)
  • Playing memory games

Some people see improvement within a short amount of time after using these methods. However, for those with severe impairments, OT may be a lifelong treatment option.

Download the eBook: A Guide To Vocational Rehabilitation For Employers & Employees

 

Gain Meaningful Employment

One of the main causes of depression in those with physical disabilities (both temporary and long-term) is the inability to return to work or find meaningful employment.

Movement restrictions can limit the number of job fields a person can apply to, and in some cases, it could limit just about every field. People in this situation can seek the assistance of an occupational therapist who can help them find work. Therapists will assess the condition and each person’s ability to perform tasks that require mental alertness, memory and physical strength. After the assessment, the therapist will provide the patient with back-to-work coaching that includes:

  • Important job skills,
  • Instruction on how to perform tasks without causing further injury, and
  • Advice on how to modify tasks.

Since the nature of the patient’s condition could change, the condition must be reassessed multiple times by the therapist. New information may be given if the situation has changed.

Improve Sleep/Wake Schedule

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) is a condition that affects more than one million Americans. It is often a side effect of more serious illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, and cancer, although the condition may also occur as an effect of long-term bed rest or prescription medication. Since there isn’t a cure or treatment for CFS, doctors normally recommend a variety of options used to manage the condition, such as exercising, treating the underlying cause and using CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) along with occupational therapy. This type of therapy session will provide the patient with task-completion skills and goal-planning skills. Both are designed to help patients learn how to complete tasks based on their limitations/abilities. With OT, a CFS sufferer may successfully return to work or school, or maintain a current occupation with less stress.

Occupational therapy is not just used to treat or manage conditions, it is also used to prevent complications if sought out soon enough.