Parent
Page
 What is
occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is a health profession
that helps people to participate in meaningful daily roles and
activities. For children this is play, self care (feeding, eating
dressing, safety…), school, and social interactions. An occupational
therapist studies anatomy, neurology, development, and is able to
analyze activities for functional outcomes. The occupational
therapist assesses the whole person while assisting him or her to
find and perform activities that are meaningful to their lives,
enabling the person to increase function that may be delayed or
declined as a result of a developmental disability, accident,
medical or mental condition. The occupation of childhood is to
develop skills necessary to become a functional and independent
adult. These skills include: regulation and arousal level to attend
and participate, sensory discrimination and processing, refinement
of motor and visual processing skills, effective social interaction
and communication skills, cognitive skills, age appropriate self
care skills, and self concept. Adaptive equipment (such as switches,
adapted tools, and splints), sensory integration techniques, and
assistive technology may be implemented by the occupational
therapist to achieve specific goals.
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 What is
sensory integration/Sensory Processing Disorder?
Sensory integration is an innate
neurobiological process and refers to the integration and
interpretation of sensory stimulation from the environment
by the
brain. Sensory integration is the brain’s ability to interpret and
organize information from sensation for use. Sensation includes:
vision, hearing, taste, small, touch, balance, gravity, position and
movement. In contrast, sensory integrative dysfunction is a disorder
in which sensory input is not integrated or organized appropriately
in the brain and may produce varying degrees of problems in
development, information processing, and behavior. Problems in
sensory integration may result in learning problems,
distractibility, hyperactivity, under-responsiveness to stimuli,
poor coordination and balance, and contribute to difficulties at
home work and play. The theory of sensory integration and treatment
has been developed by Dr. A. Jean Ayres from studies in the
neurosciences and those pertaining to physical development and
neuromuscular function. Extensive training and testing is required
to become certified to provide the Sensory Integration and praxis
test.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is the more recent term used to
clarify the disorder. SPD can be described as having 3 sub-types
including Sensory Modulation Disorder or SMD (where one may see
sensory over-responsivity, sensory under-responsivity, or sensory
seeking/craving), Sensory Discrimination Disorder or SDD
(difficulty discriminating differences using the senses), or lastly
a Sensory-Based Motor Disorder or SBMD (where children may have
difficulty with balance, vestibular processing, motor planning and
posture). To learn more go to
http://www.spdfoundation.net
or come to the free, monthly SPD Parent Connections Meeting held at
Kidsense (541-386-0009).
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What is
Therapeutic Listening?
 Therapeutic Listening® is an evidence-backed
protocol that combines a sound-based intervention with sensory
integrative activities which emphasize vestibular stimulation and
postural movement strategies. Occupational Therapists and other
professionals now incorporate sound based technologies using
sophisticated sound technology and music. This specially modified
and filtered music produces specific effects allowing therapists to
approach the auditory and vestibular system directly, having a
tremendous effect on total brain functioning. Therapeutic Listening®
is a structured program in which the child listens to a series of
specifically designed music planned for each individual’s evaluated
needs. The child may be engaged in particular activities to further
enhance the treatment while listening to the portable CD’s twice a
day for 30 minute sessions. There are 4 main areas of treatment
response:
1. Orientation and Regulation
2. Space/Time
3. Core Movement Patterns
4. Connection and Communication
Many areas of change have been noted with
therapeutic listening including: arousal and attention, receptive
and expressive language, speed of processing, social language and
social-emotional maturity, balance and coordination, praxis (motor
planning), motivation, affect, awareness of environment, improved
sensory modulation, organization, feeding and sleeping skills,
gravitational security, eye control, and improved awareness and
regulation of hunger and thirst patterns.
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What is
physical therapy?
Physical Therapy is a health
care profession concerned with prevention and management of movement
disorders arising from conditions and diseases occurring throughout
the lifespan. A physical therapist is trained in anatomy, neuroanatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. Specifically to
pediatrics, a physical therapist studies childhood development of
gross motor movement. A physical therapist will evaluate a patient,
then create goals, develop and facilitate a treatment plan. With
very young children, treatment is centered mostly around
developmental and age appropriate play activities, which could
include gross motor movement training, enhancing motor control and
motor planning, therapeutic exercise, balance facilitation, training
with mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers, or braces and
consultation with parents and educators.
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What is
cranial sacral therapy?
We know that fluids of the
body comprise 60-70% of our total body weight and inhabits multiple
compartments. These fluids are in a in a continuous state of
communication as well as in flux. There is constant change and
renewal.
It is known
now, through studies, that most cranial sutures (lines between
sections of the skull) remain mobile throughout a person's lifespan and most never completely ossify (bind or
harden). Living sutures contain connective tissue, blood vessels and
nerves. They maintain articular (vein and artery) function and serve
as crossroads of metabolic motion and somatic (body) information.
Cranial sacral
therapy works with cranial sacral rhythmic impulses. Every 6-12
minutes there is movement of the cerebral spinal (CS) fluid through
the body. Cranial sacral therapy connects with those subtle
movements of the cranial impulses. By doing certain holds on the
scull, spine and sacrum, as well as places throughout the body, the
pathways are opened up for the Cerebral spinal fluid to flow freely
and naturally. Treatment helps to regulate the central nervous
system by helping to open up a clear pathway for CS fluid exchange.
Waste products are created regularly from CS fluid as well as other
parts of the body. If its not flowing it creates pockets of areas
in the body and brain for disease. Fluid exchange is essential to
health. Treatment helps to calm the CNS and assist the body's
systems to eliminate waste products.
Rather than focusing on
the disease, Biodynamic Cranial Sacral therapy listens to the
health. It listens to the whole and focuses on what is right. Health
guides the treatment.
The embryo, in its perfect
form, serves as a blue print for tour body's ability to heal
itself. The formative, resorbative, and regenerative fluid forces
that organize embryological development are present throughout our
lifespan. Those forces of embryogenesis become the forces of healing
after birth. In other words, the same fluid dynamic that is involved
in embryological development is present throughout your life.
Everything that you need to re-establish a course of wellness is
present in your body.
To sum it up: Jim Jealous
DO, who brought us biodynamics states: “The geometric configuration
of the human body , as well as the metabolic processes, are present
before the central nervous system develops....The innate wisdom is
not contained within the cellular structure...the Original design
and function is in the fluids of the embryo...the forces of
embryogenesis become the forces of healing in adults.” Fluid
exchange is essential to health. “ the cerebral spinal fluid is the
highest known element that is contained in the human body, and
unless the brain furnishes this fluid in abundance, a disabled
condition of the body will remain.”
What does the therapy look
like?
The therapy is non-invasive. There is gentle contact or holding
which may include the skull, spine, sacrum, as well as other parts
of the body (foot, ankle...) . Your child may calm and even fall
asleep.
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