Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Occupational Therapy Students to Learn Neuro-Feedback Techniques for Treating Autism

scottie — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Occupational therapy students will soon add neuro-feedback training to their field practice with children with autism.

Body:

Occupational therapy students will soon add neuro-feedback training to their field practice with children with autism. The University of Texas, El Paso OT students will participate in hands-on neuro-feedback at the Omega Rehab Center. In addition to the "brain exercise that monitors brain waves and displays them back to the child in the form of a video game or movie," students will receive training in physical, speech, and occupational therapies. Students have found that field practice adds valuable experience when it comes to actually working with their own clients. "Field work is crucial to our education because it allows us to put theory into practice," said Jesse Aguirre, graduate occupational therapy student. Neuro-feedback is finding advocates in El Paso among parents of kids with autism.

Read original article: Occupational Therapy Students May Get Chance Pediatric Field Experience

St. Kitts/Nevis Federation Hopeful About Autism Early Intervention Center

scottie — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:19:19 +0000

Teaser:

The Ministry of Education on St. Kitts, with funding UNESCO, held an autism training workshop.

Body:

The Ministry of Education on St. Kitts, with UNESCO funding, held an autism training workshop. For two days, preschool teachers, special education professionals, day care supervisors, and nurses learned about recognizing early signs of autism in children. The Principal at the Special Education Unit on Nevis, Mrs. Violet Clarke, hopes this education results in an early intervention center. “The centre will be set up as a demonstration environment to provide training for parents, nurses, preschool providers and teachers. Children will have the opportunity to be screened and receive intervention programmes designed by a multi professional team,” she explained. The focus therapies for the children will be speech and occupational therapies in order to best increase social and communication skills. Clarke hopes this goal will prompt different governmental and educational agencies to work together, sharing knowledge and funding.

Read original article: UNESCO Workshop on Nevis Draws Attention to Federation's Children with Autism

Florida Youngster with Asperger's Syndrome Thrives in Early Intervention Environment

scottie — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:40:15 +0000

Teaser:

Luke's parents noticed a difference in him from their other two children from the beginning; he was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.

Body:

Luke's parents noticed a difference in him from their other two children from the beginning; he was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. They got involved with a state-sponsored early intervention program, Early Steps. Luke receives occupational therapy (OT), which has been key in helping decrease his sensory integration issues. Luke's mom said they are doing floortime at home that helps with social and communication skills. Dana L. Johnson, a pediatric therapist has been working with Luke, and at not-quite-2, Luke is speaking complete sentences and learning to read.

Read original article: Therapy Brings Son Out From His Autistic Shell and into the Arms of His Thankful Parents

Two Moms in the Philippines Share about Their Children with Autism

scottie — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Gina Luna-Bermudo and a college classmate, Mary Rose Ramoso-Pena, both have children with autism.

Body:

Gina Luna-Bermudo and a college classmate, Mary Rose Ramoso-Pena, both have children with autism. In this article, they share how they have coped, found resources, and used various autism therapies with their kids. What the moms have done is inventive and supported by the Autism Society Philippines. Both have found that their children have strengths, such as athletics and academics, which can be fostered. Both agreed that the earlier years were the most difficult as they tried to find time for occupational therapy, speech therapy, and behavioral therapy while coping with daily activities. Interestingly, both moms take the media to task as they present autism in various ways that might not always be accurate.

Read original article: How Two Moms Deal with Autistic Children

Speech Center Uses Total Approach to Help Children with Autism

scottie — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:50:01 +0000

Teaser:

The Suburban Speech Center in New Jersey is able to treat children as young as one year of age.

Body:

The Suburban Speech Center in New Jersey is able to treat children as young as one year of age. By adopting a total approach, speech therapists work with learning consultants, occupational therapists, and physical therapists to help children with autism and other disorders as soon as they are diagnosed. So that their skills can keep increasing, therapists give parents and/or caregivers a list of speech and language-related apps for the iPad as well as interactive DVDs. Finally, to help raise awareness for early intervention, Suburban Speech Center offers free screenings at nursery schools. Nancy Polow, the Center’s founder, explains, “Parents want to be reassured. We can give them suggestions about ways to work with their children at the time of the screening."

Read original article: Suburban Speech Helps Children Master Language

Easter Seals Opens New Pre-School in Illinois for Children with Autism

scottie — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:19:26 +0000

Teaser:

Easter Seals in Peoria opened a pre-school for children with autism.

Body:

Easter Seals in Peoria opened a pre-school for children with autism. The Intensive Therapeutic Autism Program will focus on applied behavior analysis (ABA) and DIR/Floortime. This “bridge” to kindergarten will help kids increase academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. The 3-hour-a-day, 2-day-a-week program is designed to complement current early intervention services. The class team includes an early childhood educator, speech therapist, occupational therapist, a certified ABA therapist, and several aides.

Read original article: Easter Seals to Provide Pre-School for Kids with Autism

Listening Therapy Center Opens in the Philippines

scottie — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 12:28:10 +0000

Teaser:

Dr. Gina Diaz-Cembrano recently opened the I Listen Enhancement Center for Maximum Learning in the Philippines.

Body:

Dr. Gina Diaz-Cembrano recently opened the I Listen Enhancement Center for Maximum Learning in the Philippines. Although a dentist by training, Gina felt teaching preschool was a better way to help families who had children with autism and other developmental issues such as ADHD. The center uses the Tomatis Method. Gina explains, “The Tomatis method re-trains the listening system by using electronically modified music and language to re-educate, stimulate and improve the way in which we process auditory information.” Children with learning disabilities often have difficulty in communication and social interaction, the Tomatis methods attempts to increase listening skills, communication, and memory and attention. Gina has seen that Tomatis worked well with other therapies including occupational therapy, sensory integration, and speech therapy.

Read original article: All Ears for the Tomatis Method

What Should You Look for in a Special Ed Program for Your Child with Autism?

scottie — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:11:08 +0000

Teaser:

Lisa Jo Rudy has some great suggestions on choosing a special education program for your child with autism.

Body:

Lisa Jo Rudy has some great suggestions on choosing a special education program for your child with autism. Rudy, a long-time friend of the autism community and mom of a son with autism, says the first thing to consider is the uniqueness of your child and his or her therapeutic needs. Next, she discusses those areas which are crucial for any good special ed program: 1) the teacher should have special training in working with kids with autism; 2) the teacher should have administrative support and resources; 3) the teacher should have the flexibility to follow your child’s IEP; 4) there should be various methods of teaching in the classroom; 5) speech, physical, and OT should be available for free; and 6) you should see results in your child academically and socially.

Read original article: What to Look for in a Special Education Program for Your Child with Autism

Groups Raising Funds for Equestrian Therapeutic Center

scottie — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:15:12 +0000

Teaser:

Sitrin Health Care Center, Upstate Cerebral Palsy and Kelberman Center are fundraising to build an equine therapy center.

Body:

Sitrin Health Care Center, Upstate Cerebral Palsy and Kelberman Center are fundraising to build an equine therapy center for kids with autism and other developmental and physical delays. These New York organizations will build the center on the Sitrin campus and will employ occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, and equine therapists. Studies have found that a horse’s movement mimics that of the human body; this in turn helps build muscle strength in kids who might be weak in those areas. In addition, being in relationship with a horse has been shown to promote calm, relaxation, social integration, and responsibility for people who receive equine therapy.

Read original article: Equestrian Therapeutic Center to be Built on Sitrin Campus

Responding to insurance

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:57:34 +0000

We have private insurance for which we pay a premium and deductible. It covers occupational therapy, language therapy, physical therapy and psychological therapy but at a combined 75 visits for calendar year. This is not for each therapy but rather 75 total for all together. Thus, even with illness or vacation times taken, we do not have enough alotted time slots covered to continue therapy for a full year. Once we run out of the 75 covered slots, we must pay out of pocket. We pay a copay of $20 per visit. So, for example, if my child sees a language/speech therapist and the ot once per week it is $40 out of pocket until we hit the magic 75 allowed under the insurance. Then we woud have to pay $150 for one therapy and $160 for the other per week. The psychology/psychiatrist appointments are monthly. All of these therapies would be available more frequently and I am told by the therapists very helpful if we could do more than once a week for 1/2 a session but we cannot afford to do this. The children on the autism spectrum benefit greatly from these therapies and it is something that should be covered under the insurance policies, just as any health or mental health issue should be.