Holiday Meal Tips for the Child with Feeding Difficulties

The holidays are often a wonderful time for social gatherings and delicious meals. We often enjoy sitting down with family and friends and indulging in some of our favorite home-cooked meals. For the child with feeding difficulties, this may be even harder as the child is expected to eat foods they only see once a year, engage with family members who may be unaware of their feeding challenges, and eat in a new, unfamiliar setting.

One way families can help their child is to limit and minimize changes. It is important to feed your child on their same schedule and not wait for the holiday meal. You can offer them at least one of their preferred foods at the meal so they can be participate in the experience. Families can also prepare their child in advance by talking to them about expectations and what they will experience on that day.

To learn more about helping your child with feeding challenges, the Children’s Therapy Program at Easter Seals Greater Houston offers a variety of feeding therapies including SOS Therapy (Sequential-Oral-Sensory). The SOS approach focuses on not only what you can see happening with your child (not eating, gaining weight, spitting out food, etc.), but also what you cannot see happening within organ systems, muscles, sensory processing, learning, behavior and cognition, development, nutrition, and environment.

To learn more about SOS feeding therapy and/or to refer your child for services at Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Children’s Therapy Program, please call 713-838-9050 ext. 381. The clinic is located at 4888 Loop Central South, Houston, Texas 77081.

Better Hearing and Speech Month

The following was written by Mary Dawson, M.A.CCC-SLP, the Clinic Director for Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Children’s Therapy Program.

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to reconnect with my now 22-month old grandson after a year of only visiting through FaceTime visits. Wow, how he had changed! It was so wonderful to see and hear him communicate with us. He uses a combination of words, phrases and gestures to request, label, protest and comment about all he sees and wants. Even the short time he was with us he learned to say his version of “green truck” a new favorite toy.

As a speech- language pathologist, I am often asked, “when should I be concerned if my child is not communicating like his friend or siblings”. I inform parents to speak with their pediatrician about their concerns and provide communication milestones.

Know the signs of common speech and language disorders in children between birth and 4 years of age, an important stage in early detection of communication disorders.

• Does not smile  (begins 2 months)
• Does not babble (4-7 months)
• Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7-12 months)
• Does not understand what others say (7 months-2 years)
• Says only a few words (12-18 months)
• Words are not easily understood (18 months-2 years)
• Does not put words together to make sentences (1.5-3 years)
• Has trouble playing and talking with other children (2-3 years)
• Has trouble with early reading and writing skills (2.5-3 years)

Ways to Help with Language Disorders

• Listen and respond to your child
• Talk, read, and play with your child
• Talk with your child in the language you are most comfortable using
• Talk about what you are doing and what your child is doing
• Use a lot of different words with your child
• Use longer sentences as your child gets older

Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Children’s Therapy and Early Childhood Intervention Program (ECI) offer early identification and early intervention for children birth through 21 years to assist children in becoming successful communicators. Easter Seals provides a free Ages and Stages Questionnaire to see if your child is on track for their milestones. The American Speech Language Association (ASHA) also provides information to assist families with knowing the signs.

Contact Easter Seals Greater Houston at 713-838-9050 for answers regarding your child’s development or learn more here.

The Triumph of a Family Meal

The following was written by Doris whose son, Edgar, participates in Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Children’s Therapy Program.

“We wanted to have a family meal where everyone was sharing a nice homemade meal. Sounds pretty easy, but it wasn’t. We sought out a food therapy program to help with Edgar’s limited diet, his overeating tendencies, and his textural sensibilities. When Easter Seals Greater Houston started offering food therapy, we quickly signed Edgar up for it because there would be no force feeding involved, a big plus for my sweet sensitive child!

I have noticed that after starting the food therapy program with Alysia, Edgar has gone from eating a handful of foods to at least trying out different foods I never thought would be possible. I never expected results in such a short amount of time. Lettuce, strawberries, and even hamburger meat? Those foods seemed like a long shot…a goal for the long run. Yet here we are, months into the food therapy program and my child is opening up! Suddenly, sharing the same nice homemade meal with the family doesn’t seem as far-fetched as I had imagined last year!

I can honestly say that the food therapy in combination with other therapies including his occupational therapy with Alysia, Speech Therapy with Miaya, Ingrid with Music, his kindergarten teacher, his school assigned case worker, and even his school principal have all helped propel my son forward. Alysia, I can’t thank you enough! Your creativity and your patience with Edgar has shown in many areas and now with Food therapy, you have given us a gift our family will always cherish.

Food is family and love!”

-Doris, Children’s Therapy Program Parent

Would you like to know more about how Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Children’s Therapy Program? We have incredible resources including speech, occupational and physical therapy. Learn more today.

This summer, take the kids outside!

A few weeks ago, I was at a birthday party with my children.  During the party for kids 5-10 years old, a game of dodge ball was played.  As I watched the children play, I realized so many of these children were not able to throw and catch an average size ball.  When the ball was thrown, it was not near the target, and when the kids tried to catch it, most of the time they missed or were hit in the face.  As I observed this more, I realized these kids didn’t know how to move side to side, fell more than normally, and generally didn’t move well.  One parent told me her 10-year-old couldn’t ride a bike yet.

Talking to the parents at the party, all of the parents were surprised that their typical developing children couldn’t do basic motor skills. Only 2 kids out of 35 could climb a rope, pull up on a gymnastics bar, and walk a balance beam.  And every single parent said “I need to take my child outside more.  We are putting up the screen.”

Now, I am not against screen time…within reason and of course, always for kids who use as communications devices. But, our kids need to move more.  Children – disabled or not – need to be playing outside, climbing trees, throwing balls, kicking balls, and playing with their friends.  This is how they develop strength and coordination.  Rolling down hills, climbing playground equipment, jumping, running, falling and getting back up, swimming, and riding bikes all develop core muscle control which is essential to coordination.  There have been many studies done on core control, coordination, and how children perform in school as well, and improving symptoms of ADHD.

So, this summer, take the kids outside. Ride a bike (wear a helmet), play catch, swim, climb a tree!  And the next time your child plays dodge ball, they might just be on the winning team!

 

Missy Dafler, PT, DPT, C/NDT, CKTP,

Physical Therapist

Easter Seals Children’s Therapy Program

The Unexpected Journey

“When Bellemere was first born, as excited parents welcoming our second child, we never would have imagined the journey we would be faced with upon her arrival. After a month in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, countless specialists and doctors visits, we finally learned we were blessed with a child who has CHARGE syndrome. With time, we found out Bellemere was deaf, her physical strength would be delayed and she is a silent aspirator which means she could take no food or liquid by mouth due to choking risks. Bellemere had a MickeyTube placed so she could get her nutrition through a tube in her stomach.

Our family was introduced to Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program  after one of many hospital stays. Aliza was our case manager and she guided us along the way. With the help of Anita (physical therapist), Britni (Early Intervention Specialist), Elena (Occupational Therapist), and Brenda (Speech Therapist), we were taken through the next steps in Belle’s journey until she turned 3 years old. These therapists came to our house weekly to work with us which was crucial in limiting her exposure to germs. With their help, guidance and patience, Bellemere has mastered crawling, cruising on her feet while holding on to things, and walking with the assistance of a walker. She is also now able to feed herself pureed foods (something we never thought we would see her do), communicate using sign language, use her fingers to grasp small objects and many other skills that are necessary for her daily life. Also after discovering that Belle was deaf, our Easter Seals ECI case manager connected us with AI services, which supplied us with a deaf education teacher who also came to our home to work with us.

Not only was this amazing group of ladies able to help us with Bellemere’s development, they also helped prepare us for transitioning to the school district by her 3rd birthday. We will forever be grateful to ECI and these therapists who came into our home to help our sweet Bellemere succeed. I highly encourage any parent to contact ECI if they feel their child needs any assistance with their development. Thank you ECI of Easter Seals!!”

Krishna Hernandez, mother of Bellemere

Intensive Therapy, Incredible Results

The following was written by the mother of one of our beloved clients that has participated and thrived in Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Children’s Therapy Program.

My daughter, Aubrey, is six years old and has a very rare and recently diagnosed neurological disease (DNM1 Gene Mutation). She has been enrolled in Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Children’s Therapy Program for two years. We were introduced to Easter Seals Greater Houston through the Intensive Physical Therapy program. Before we started attending therapy, Aubrey could not sit unattended for more than a minute and she could not bear weight on her legs. After working with her physical therapist, Melissa Dafler, multiple days a week for multiple hours a day Aubrey made phenomenal progress. Melissa worked with Aubrey using the Therasuit technique. Aubrey can now maintain weight on her legs and she can take steps with assistance. She can also sit on her own for as long as an hour. We have continued weekly physical therapy and added occupational and speech therapy to Aubrey’s schedule.

The Easter Seals Greater Houston staff has helped Aubrey grow and develop in ways that we may have thought impossible five years ago. Aubrey’s doctors and teachers have been amazed with Aubrey’s progress and we attribute her success to the skilled and professional staff at Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Children’s Therapy services. We look forward to all the growth she will continue to experience with the care and expertise of Easter Seals’ physical, occupational and speech therapists.

Angela, Children’s Therapy Program client parent, Easter Seals Greater Houston

Easter Seals’ Children’s Therapy Program is designed to help children live, learn, work and play through our physical, occupational and speech therapy services. Each of it’s dedicated therapists has specialized training and experience in working with children to promote growth and development. The goal of the program is to allow the child to be as independent as possible and participate in family, school, and community activities. Children’s Therapy Program believes in and practices family inclusion in therapy so that our parents can translate more therapy into their daily living when they are not with us. We help children PLAY! To refer a child, or for further information, please email us at therapy@eastersealshouston.org or call 713-838-9050 ext. 381.

Celebrating Better Hearing and Speech Month

Celebrate May as Better Hearing and Speech Month. Concerned? Wondering if your baby is meeting her milestones?

Our Children’s Therapy Program is here to help.  You can also check out our Ages & Stages Questionnaire on a regular basis!

 

 

Children’s Therapy Program There for Every Step

The following post was written by a clients mother:

My daughter is 5 years old and diagnosed with a rare disease that causes vision impairment, epilepsy, low muscle tone and developmental delays. Her name is Aubrey and she is diagnosed with a mutation of the DNM1 gene. Her condition was undiagnosed for the first three years of her life. We initially received state sponsored physical, occupational and speech therapy. We also sought private therapy through a local hospital. Aubrey made extremely slow but steady progress. She could not sit unassisted or maintain weight on her legs. I spent time researching therapy and staying connected with families that have children with similar conditions. I was told about TheraSuit therapy by a family in Australia. Their children benefited from this intensive therapy. I then asked Aubrey’s health providers about the specialized physical therapy. I was put in contact with a local family that had a great experience with Easter Seals Greater Houston.

I contacted Easter Seals Greater Houston and the staff member was extremely helpful in determining that Aubrey was eligible for services. I applied for financial help from a local charity organization and Aubrey was gifted a six week session of intensive physical therapy with Easter Seals Greater Houston‘s Children’s Therapy Program. Her progress was amazing. After the intensive therapy sessions ended we continued her treatment at Easter Seals. She is currently enrolled in Physical, Occupational and speech/feeding therapies with NDT certified therapists. She has made phenomenal progress. Easter Seals therapists have assisted us in finding equipment and adaptive toys through their ToyTech resource to help her. We are excited to see what the future holds for Aubrey and thank the special people that work with her weekly at Easter Seals Greater Houston.

Angela, Children’s Therapy Program parent, Easter Seals Greater Houston

“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” – E.M. Forster

To refer a child or for further information regarding the Children’s Therapy Program please call 713-838-9050 ext 381

Mama Bear Advocates for Her Baby Cub

Joshua, lovingly known as “Bear”, has made rapid progress since he began receiving services through Early Childhood Intervention from Easter Seals Greater Houston.  Delighted by his newly acquired skills, his mom, Stephani, wanted to share his success story:

Born full term and healthy, with no apparent issues, Bear’s mom began to notice he was taking longer to reach his developmental milestones.  During checkups with the pediatricians, she voiced her concerns.  After moving to this area, Stephani followed up with new doctors.  At his two-year old well check-up, his mom reported Bear was not saying any words.  When told about the possible language delay, his doctor recommended ECI (Early Childhood Intervention) from Easter Seals Greater Houston.

The evaluation with ECI occurred in mid-March.  Bear qualified for ECI due to global delays.  One of the items on the evaluation was the string drop test.  Bear was unable to see the string as it fell, prompting the assessment team to discuss a possible problem with his vision, and encouraged Stephani to have his vision tested.

His mom was quick to follow-though with the team’s suggestion and immediately scheduled an eye exam for the next week.   At the eye appointment, Bear was diagnosed as legally blind, with significant vision loss in both eyes. He was fitted for glasses.  At first, Bear grabbed the glasses off his face.  But then, with the second try, he looked through the lenses, his face lit up, and he gave that “half-smile smirk”, truly seeing people for the first time!  Now, with his glasses, Bear is able to see the world around him, his reach and grasp have improved tremendously, and he loves watching and imitating his big brother.

From the initial evaluation, a PT (Physical Therapy, part of Easter Seals Greater Houston’s Children’s Therapy Program) consult was also written.  When the PT completed her evaluation, she recommended SMOs (Supra Malleolar Orthosis, which are prescribed to help stabilize ankles/feet to improve balance and walking).  Again, his mom followed-through, promptly getting the prescription and an appointment with a orthotics clinic.  Two weeks after being fitted, Bear received his SMOs.  Even though he has only been wearing the orthotics a few days, dramatic improvement has already been shown in his balance.

Not only has Bear improved in his vision and walking skills, his language skills have also increased.  He’s now imitating and using some signs and single words.  Instead of crying as he had done before, he now uses the sign “more” to communicate what he wants.

Much of Bear’s progress was due to his mom’s response, and getting him the help he needed.  When asked about her experience with ECI of Easter Seals Greater Houston, Stephani replied:  “I didn’t know what to do until someone told me what to do.  I saw how much the suggestions helped him, and I was excited to do more.  I didn’t know where to start and they showed me.”  She has certainly embraced the team approach as the family, ECI staff, and medical professionals all work together to encourage Bear’s next new skill.

Stephani Robison, Early Childhood Intervention Program Client, Easter Seals Greater Houston

Better Hearing & Better Speech Month!

May is Better Hearing and Better Speech Month! Easter Seals Greater Houston‘s Children’s Therapy & Infant Program (Early Child hood Intervention) offer early identification and early intervention for children birth through 18 years to assist children in becoming successful communicators. The American Speech Language Association (ASHA) provided a link http://identifythesigns.org/the-signs/# to assist families with knowing the signs.

Know the Signs of common speech and language disorders in children between birth to 4 years of age, an important stage in early detection of communication disorders.

• Does not smile or interact with others (birth and older)
• Does not babble (4-7 months)
• Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7-12 months)
• Does not understand what others say (7 months-2 years)
• Says only a few words (12-18 months)
• Words are not easily understood (18 months-2 years)
• Does not put words together to make sentences (1.5-3 years)
• Has trouble playing and talking with other children (2-3 years)
• Has trouble with early reading and writing skills (2.5-3 years)

Ways to Help with Language Disorders

• Listen and respond to your child
• Talk, read, and play with your child
• Talk with your child in the language you are most comfortable using
• Know it is good to teach your child to speak a second language
• Talk about what you are doing and what your child is doing
• Use a lot of different words with your child
• Use longer sentences as your child gets older
• Have your child play with other children

Contact Easter Seals Greater Houston 713-838-9050 for answers regarding your child’s speech development.

Easter Seals Make The First Five Count website provides a link for an Ages and Stages Questionnaire to see if your child’s developmental progress is on schedule.

Mary Dawson, Program Director, Children’s Therapy Program, ESGH