By Natan Gendelman, D.O.M.P | http://www.enabledkids.ca | http://www.healthinmotionrehab.com
Whether a child has Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, acquired brain
injury or stroke, every child is unique and has his own individual
strengths and needs. While his symptoms may be similar to those
generally associated with his disorder, his condition
will always be different because of his individual personality and
character. These two factors greatly influence how a child’s treatment
should be approached, making it important to ensure that treatment is
tailored to his specific needs, abilities, age, and stage of
development. To progress, it is crucial for each therapy to follow in
the footsteps of the one before it, so that treatment remains continuous
and is reinforced at each step along the way.
In this regard, our goal in treatment is not to work on a child’s
speech or motor function as if they were separate from the rest of his
condition. Instead, we need to teach the brain how to perform different
tasks, as a child’s function is based on commands which come from the
brain. Everything else, such as a child’s symptoms or the tone in his
body (hypertone or hypotone), happens as a result of the brain’s
function. Being unable to perform a certain task can lead a child to
adopting compensation patterns which, in turn, causes other compensation
patterns to develop as well. In the end, a child may have to perform
several compensatory movements just to do a simple task, and this is
something we will need to address during his treatment.
The importance of integrated treatment
To solve this issue, our first goal is to consider a child’s
treatment as a whole and ensure that each treatment is connected to one
another. The overall focus should be on the function of his entire body,
rather than on a single area such as his head or limbs. With every part
of the body working together as one unit, it is important to develop a
child’s control of his trunk or torso which also stimulates blood
circulation and the transport of nutrients to the brain. When the
trunk’s function is developed and a child can support the weight of his
head and limbs, he will then be able to improve his condition and better
respond to what he is being taught in each of his treatments.
These improvements will definitely make a difference in every aspect
of your child’s life as he continues to progress in each of his
therapies. Of course, we need to realize that speech language should not
simply be about trying to get a child to communicate, and occupational
therapy isn’t only for getting a child to learn fine motor skills.
Everything is considered as a part of a whole–and for these reasons,
each individual session will be able to gradually build on each of his
achievements. Furthermore, by continuing a child’s treatment at home and
incorporating it into his daily activities, your child will be able to
reinforce the skills he learns and achieve more as a part of his
everyday function.
Teaching normal function: The 3 W’s
Of course, for us to build on this improvement, we need to remember
that a child’s development is an ongoing process. As mentioned above,
ultimately our goal is not specifically to teach motor or sensorial
function–it is to teach a child to function independently, and encourage
him to touch, interact, communicate and discover the world around him.
The body is a tool which facilitates this interaction, and this process
is something which goes on for every second of his life. As a parent,
caregiver, family member or therapist, our work continues as long as he
continues to learn.
To help you with this process, I recommend that you use 3 W’s: watch,
wait, and win. By watch, I mean that you should observe what and how
your child is doing, such as what he likes and doesn’t like. By wait, I
mean that you should be patient, explain something, show the child how
it is done, describe the process, and proceed with the movement or task.
The last step is win: as he progresses, the task is accomplished, and
soon a child can perform the task independently.
By understanding and following these steps, you will be surprised at
just how much your child can accomplish. As he learns, you will learn a
lot about your child as well, and be able to see just how successful he
can be.
If you have any questions or comments, leave me a comment down below. Thank you!
