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Title: Special Needs: Therapies

What Type of Therapy is Needed?

When a child has special needs, parents may find that various types of treatments or therapies are recommended to help the child. For most people, the sheer amount of treatment possibilities can be overwhelming and often confusing. There are new vocabulary words to learn, and different types of therapy to be investigated.
When people think of speech therapy, the most common impression is of a speech therapist teaching a child how to pronounce various sounds (articulation) to improve speech intelligibility. While this is true, there is much more to speech therapy than working on speech sounds. A speech therapist can work on receptive language, which includes the ability to listen and understand spoken language and follow oral directions. Speech therapists also work on expressive language, or the ability to communicate effectively through words and gestures to convey ideas to others. Some speech therapists help with feeding and swallowing issues and other oral motor difficulties involving the coordination of the muscles of the mouth. Speech therapists also help with fluency or stuttering and voice problems.
Occupational therapists help enhance the development of children in a number of areas. They work on fine motor skills, primarily those that require the use of hands and arms. These skills are needed for cutting, coloring, using utensils for eating, picking up small objects efficiently, and other daily tasks. Occupational therapists sometimes address gross motor skills such as those used when running, climbing, and jumping. Another area for occupational therapy is sensory development and integration. Therapy helps the child to integrate all the various sensations he experiences (auditory, visual, vestibular, tactile, etc.) in ways that meet the child�s internal needs and promote calmness and attention. Occupational therapists may also work on feeding and oral motor issues.
When a child has difficulties with the large muscle groups or gross motor skills, a physical therapist may be consulted. Physical therapists help with posture or proper positioning to facilitate the acquisition of gross motor skills. Treatment is based on an assessment of the child�s reflex development, skeletal structure, and ability to move various muscle groups. Physical therapists can help determine how to achieve good joint and postural alignment to optimize the child�s ability to function. They help with special equipment if the child needs orthotics (such as splints, braces, and shoe inserts), adapted seating, or wheelchairs. Physical therapists can also consult about the benefits of recreational and sports activities to contribute to a child�s motor development.
When looking for a therapist, try to find someone who will train you in how to do the various techniques with your child so you can practice throughout the day. Ideally, a therapist will consult with you to develop therapy ideas and techniques that can be easily implemented into your daily routine. Your child will benefit by having therapy occur throughout daily activities within the context of your family life.

I invite you to use any articles in your publication or website. All I ask is that you notify me of its use and include the following byline with the article ...

Melinda L. Boring is a speech therapist, author, workshop presenter, speaker, wife, mother, homeschooler, and president of Heads Up! (www.HeadsUpNow.com); Her goal is to present concepts, ideas, techniques and materials to help parents and teachers who work with special needs children, especially those who struggle with ADD/ADHD.

To request an article on a specific topic or submit a question for the Q & A section, you may contact Melinda by email: info@headsupnow.com. Unless otherwise specified, all questions may be answered and posted on this website.

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