Back from my conference with the OT...

[amelia1]

We are going to do 12 OT sessions with DD and then re-evaluate her at the end of the 12 sessions. She has sensory issues in the following areas: auditory processing, visual processing, emotional reactivity such as easily to frustrate during motor planning tasks and she is fearful of new activities and concepts. She showed over-reactivity to movement input.
Postural control- she demonstrated extreme head lag and difficulty with flexion against gravity. She also showed difficulty with praxis on new and on some practiced activities, such as orienting scissors and cutting fluidly. She is unable to successfully mount her body on suspended equipment and imitated a gallop, skip, etc. but was stiff in her body movements.
She demonstrated decreased strength at her shoulders and in her hands.
We will be using Listening Therapy to help with the auditory part and hopefully it will be beneficial in other areas as well. So....that's pretty much it in a nutshell. We'll see how it goes next week.

[sugarsue]

Will it be

one session a week? I am so glad you are getting some OT. I hope you see improvement quickly. How do you feel about it all?

Susan

[NancyR]

Leela had a lot of similar movement issues...

She went to a sensory gym and they really just gave her tons of movement input (both in OT and PT). I can not tell you the amazing difference it has made for her! she's so much free-er in her movements now. Leela had 3 x 60 PT and 2 x 60 OT at the sensory gym for about 2 years... We live in the city in a small apartment, which I think added to some of her issues. If we had more access to swings and see saws and other playground equipment, her playtime would have certainly incorporated tons more movements. As it is now we have a small indoor trampoline, do a lot of following along with dancing with the stars, a sit and spin, and a wobble board.

Where are you getting services thru? Can you get any PT to work on trunk and upper extremity control (and also just to get a few more sessions in?). Can you try to get services at a pediatric sensory gym?

Off to a good start! Nancy

[amelia1]

Yes...one session a week. I am fine with it all now. This experience has opened my eyes a bit. Some of her behaviors I just brushed off as typical 4yr old behavior and I thought she was a very non athletic, uncoordinated kid! LOL I had no idea it was all related to SPD. I am anxious to get started with therapy now. I wish I would have picked up on these things sooner. Maybe I could have prevented some issues. She has been through a lot of testing these past weeks(SPD and bladder clinic) and we are getting all the diagnoses now at one time. It's a bit overwhelming to be honest, but we are ready to tackle anything and everything. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions when we get started with the actual therapy, esp. listening therapy.

[amelia1]

The place we are going has a sensory gym. It's called Cincinnati Occupational Therapy Institute.(CintiOTinstitute.com). They specialize in SPD. I was really impressed with the center.
One of the goals the OT wrote out for DD was to work on strengthening her upper body so I think she will get some exercises for that. As far as more sessions, Our plan is to see how DD is doing after the 12 sessions, and then re-evaluate to see if she would benefit from more OT. I'm sure this is different for each person but what seems to be the average # of sessions. In DD's case, I think she must be on the mild side. The OT was very impressed that she fell in the "Typical Performance" for most categories on the Peabody and the Sensory Profile. The areas she did have problems in she showed "Definate Difference" and a couple "Probable Difference".

[pepperlc]

great news. good luck and I hope you see a lot of progress after 12 sessions. Is it over 12 weeks?

karen

[angeleena]

Wow, great news that you know for sure what is going on.

Ella started out very timid around the swings and equipment and could barely get on them and now just runs to get on them.

It took a few months for it to kick in....but the difference in her is amazing and I am sure you will see it too.


Glad you have answers. I swear just having answers and a plan made us feel SOOO MUCH BETTER!

- hugs

Angi

[amelia1]

Yes...one session per week. thanks.

[amelia1]

Thank you. I hope she has a quick improvement.

[jeninnc]

Wow, that sounds just like Ellie's report LOL. A lot of the same sensory and processing orders.

We've just come off a year of intensive OT (at a sensory gym too) and let me tell you, I have a different kid now. We did a 12 week listening therapy program. In fact, I am going to start with my older dd now in hopes of helping her muscle and attention issues.

I couldn't be more pleased with the OT results though. I will warn you though, sometimes the first few weeks of OT can cause a backslide, but then things get better after that.

[trek]

Great news. I bet even one day a week will help. Cannot wait to hear an update!

[amarie1]

My DS has been going to COTI once a week since last Sept. It has made a world of difference for him. They are wonderful people that do great work.

Anne

[amelia1]

Are you in Cinti? We see Liz . She's really nice and great with DD.

[amarie1]

Yep in Cinci

and we have Liz (at blue ash)as well. She is just wonderful, she has such energy and has been just what DS needed in that environment. Everyone I've encountered there has been great. Our insurance benefits run out end of May, so we may have to cut back to every other week but we'll see how it goes. Glad to have "met" you.

[amelia1]

We go to the Blue Ash office as well! Isn't that something. We should meet up at Sharon Woods sometime, let the kids play at the playground. Glad to have "met" you as well! LOL
You don't see Liz on Wed. around 9:30 do you? If so...that's me with the skinny little girl with glasses that see's her just after your ds.