Month: July 2017

Parents With Disabilities Deserve Real Support, Not Pity or Praise

    Parenting is hard.  Everyone that has children or works with them knows that this is true.  Parenting when you have a disability is harder by far.  Like parenting… squared.  But instead of real support, many disabled people who become parents or are thinking of becoming parents face a lot of reactions from the non-disabled.…… Continue reading Parents With Disabilities Deserve Real Support, Not Pity or Praise

Lining Up Toys Doesn’t Mean Your Toddler Has Autism

After head-banging (see Why Head Banging Doesn’t Make Your Toddler Autistic), this is the other common behavior that seems to terrify parents of young children.  Seeing a row of vehicles on the carpet makes parents absolutely sprint to search online. Well, I want ALL of you parents to take a deep breath, and then exhale.  The…… Continue reading Lining Up Toys Doesn’t Mean Your Toddler Has Autism

Prevent Skin Injuries In Kids With Connective Tissue Disorders: Simple Moves To Make Today

Children with EDS and other connective tissue disorders such as joint hyper mobility disorder often have sensitive skin.  Knowing the best ways to care for their skin can prevent a lot of discomfort and even injury.  These kids often develop scars more easily, and injured skin is more vulnerable in general to another injury down…… Continue reading Prevent Skin Injuries In Kids With Connective Tissue Disorders: Simple Moves To Make Today

Hypermobile Child? Simple Dental Moves That Make a Real Difference in Your Child’s Health

    As the OTR on a treatment team, I am the ADL (Activities of Daily Living) go-to person.   Why then, do so few parents ask me what ideas I have about ADLs, especially dental care?  Probably because OT as a profession has developed this reputation as the therapist either focused on handwriting or…… Continue reading Hypermobile Child? Simple Dental Moves That Make a Real Difference in Your Child’s Health

Is is Sensory Or Is It Behavior? Before 3, The Answer Is Usually “Yes!”

If I had a dollar for every parent that asked me if head banging when frustrated means their child has a sensory processing disorder…well, I would be writing this post from a suite in Tahiti!  Modulation of arousal is the most common sensory processing concern for the parents that I see as a pediatric occupational…… Continue reading Is is Sensory Or Is It Behavior? Before 3, The Answer Is Usually “Yes!”

Can Hypermobility Cause Speech Problems?

As a pediatric OT, many of my clients have speech and feeding problems that are attributed to low muscle tone.  Very often, that is where assessment ends.  Perhaps it shouldn’t.  Joint hypermobility can also create issues such as dysarthria, disfluency and poor voice/breath control.  It isn’t only about oral muscles and muscle coordination for feeding.…… Continue reading Can Hypermobility Cause Speech Problems?

Problems With Handwriting? You Need The Best Eraser

    A good eraser can make a frustrated child more willing to fix writing errors.  A bad eraser confirms their failure as a writer. Occupational therapists in some schools hand out HWT pencils and a variety of pencil grips like candy, but many forget about how important it is for kids to erase mistakes…… Continue reading Problems With Handwriting? You Need The Best Eraser

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