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Archive for category: Brain Health

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What Is Auditory Processing Disorder?

Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)

In recognition of Speech and Hearing Month, I wanted to tell the story of my personal experience as a mom of a child diagnosed with auditory processing disorder (APD).

APD is best explained using the example of the game “Operator”.  If the first person is the ears, and the last the brain, everyone in between is the channel by which the message travels.  And remember what happens?  By the time the message reaches the “brain” it has been altered.  So, really APD is just that – when a message or sound changes as it travels from the ears to the brain resulting in the brain getting the wrong message.

Signs of APD can include difficulty with: communicating in noisy environments, following multi-step instructions, and wrongly hearing words, sounds and sentences.  As an overlap exists between the signs of APD and other disorders, and this may coexist with other problems, it can be difficult to diagnose.

Being a clinician, I recognized early that my daughter struggled with “hearing”.  Yet at 18 months her hearing test was “fine”.  When she was three I remember telling her that her “ears and brain were not talking”.  In school she would become easily distracted, would struggle with multi-step instructions, and did much better in classes that were smaller, less chaotic, or when she sat closer to the teacher.  At home the presence of her APD was apparent when my instruction “change your shirt” would be met with the response “I am not wearing shorts”.   Or, when the instructions “brush your hair, grab your lunch and put your coat on” might result in one, maybe two, but rarely three of those instructions being followed.  But my favorite remains when my daughter told her sisters they were “turtle twins” as she had misheard the word “fraternal”.

The diagnosis of APD is made by an audiologist when the child is at least 7 or 8 years old.  However, psycho-educational tests can also be helpful to rule out other or comorbid problems.  In adults, APD also exists, and can be the result of many factors, including acquired brain injury.  Also, some research suggests that men start to struggle with APD after age 35 and women after menopause.

My next blog will focus on ways we managed our daughter’s APD at home, in sports and school, and these same strategies could also be used by others who have, treat, or know someone with APD.

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OT and Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is a condition that is most often caused by brain damage which occurs before or during the birth of an infant, or within the first few years of a child’s life.  Cerebral Palsy can affect motor skills, muscles and movement.  Those with Cerebral Palsy are often able to lead a normal and satisfying life, and Occupational Therapists can often help them to achieve this.  The following article from the Cerebral Palsy Foundation discusses some of the key ways Occupational Therapy can assist those living with Cerebral Palsy.

The Cerebral Palsy Foundation:  The Benefits of Occupational Therapy

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Sensory Sensitivity

In our previous post, Can’t Sit Still?  Could It Be Sensory Seeking? we discussed sensory processing with a focus on the sensory seeking child.

Today we are focusing on another sensory-related concern that leads parents to seek OT treatment for their child – children experiencing sensitivity to sensory input.   On the other end of the spectrum from sensory seeking is the sensory defensive child. Unlike sensory seekers who have high thresholds for sensory input, sensory sensitive children have very low sensory thresholds. Due to these low thresholds, they experience sensory input much more intensely or notice sensory input much more often than their peers. This means that sensory input that may not bother you and I (for example the feel of jeans, brushing our teeth, or the sound of an alarm going off) may be very aversive, distracting, threatening, or even painful for that child.

Take a look at our OT-V video which further discusses sensory sensitivity, how Occupational Therapists can assist children and their families, and tips for families dealing with sensory sensitivity.

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Can’t Sit Still? Could It Be Sensory Seeking?

One common reason that parents seek OT treatment for their child is because their child demonstrates sensory processing concerns.  Sensory processing is complex, however, often there are simple home-based strategies that can be very helpful in meeting a child’s sensory needs.

The following video from our OT-V (Occupational Therapy Video) series discusses one of the most troubling sensory related concerns for parents– when their child is a “sensory seeker,” meaning they seem to be constantly looking for additional sensory input and constantly “on the go” as they are attempting to obtain the sensory input that their bodies crave.

Watch the video to learn how an Occupational Therapist can help sensory seeking children and their families.

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Concussion Blood Test

A concussion is a serious injury that needs treatment in order to allow the brain to heal properly and to prevent further damage.  However, symptoms vary and can be delayed, often making concussions difficult to diagnose.  New research suggests that a simple blood test may be able to detect evidence of a concussion up to one-week post injury.  Learn more about this new discovery in the following from Science Daily.

Science Daily:  Simple blood test can detect evidence of concussions up to a week after injury

To learn more about concussions, brain injuries and prevention check out our Brain Health page.

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New Ontario Autism Program – Did the Government Get it Wrong?

According to Autism Speaks, Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys. The 2012 numbers reflect a 78% increase in reported prevalence in the last 6 years.  This is a growing problem, impacting more and more families each year.

With growing numbers of affected children, wait times in Ontario for assessment and treatment have increased to an unacceptable level.  Recently, the Ontario Government made changes to its policy on Autism care in hopes to reduce wait times for those families seeking assistance.  While these changes may be beneficial for children aged 2-4 seeking diagnosis and treatment, those 5 and older will no longer be eligible for government funded Intensive Behavioural Intervention services, even if they have been on a wait list for years.

Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) is the application of the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in an intensive, highly structured format. It is a comprehensive approach that is used to teach a broad range of skills, such as communication, socialization, self-help, pre-academics, and play.   All IBI programs are individualized to the strengths and needs of each child and therapy decisions are based on a comprehensive review of program data. The goal of IBI is to help young children with Autism catch up developmentally to their peers. This means that IBI aims to increase the rate of a child’s learning, to bring their skills closer to those of typically-developing children, to decrease their symptoms, and to prepare them for an appropriate school setting.

The government will be providing a one-time payment of $8000 to families with children 5 and over, however, it is only a drop in the bucket for the amount of money required for this type of vital treatment.

The following from CTV News shows the frustration and abandonment families with Autistic children 5 and over are feeling:

How can you stand up for the rights of the affected families?  Let the Ontario Government know that they have gotten it wrong by signing the petition to Oppose the new Ontario Autism Program’s elimination of IBI eligibility for Children over 5.

To learn more about the changes and how you may be affected please visit the Ontario Autism Program website.

And please, tell us what you think:  did the government get it wrong?

 

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The Benefits of OT For Parkinson’s Disease

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month.  Occupational Therapists help to provide creative and proactive strategies for managing well at home and in the community for a variety of illnesses and disabilities, including Parkinson’s Disease.  The following from The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation discusses some of the many benefits Occupational Therapy provides for those living with Parkinson’s Disease.

The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation:  Occupational Therapy Can Benefit People with Parkinson’s Disease

To learn more about Occupational Thearpy and Parkinson’s Disease check out our blog:  My Grandma Versus Parkinson’s Disease

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Occupational Therapy and Autism

According to Autism Speaks, Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys. The 2012 numbers reflect a 78% increase in reported prevalence in the last 6 years.  This is a growing problem, impacting more and more families each year.

Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that the signs, symptoms and severity can vary, making this difficult to diagnose and sometimes treat.  Yet through therapy, children with Autism can learn to function and communicate as independently as possible at home, school and with their peers.  The following from WebMD discusses the vital role Occupational Therapy plays in helping those with Autism.

This Saturday, April 2nd, is World Autism Day.  Take the pledge to Light it Up Blue for Autism.

WebMD:  Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Autism

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Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness

If you happen to be anywhere near the downtown Toronto area or Niagara Falls on March 26th, you may be seeing the colour purple. That’s because March 26th has been designated Purple Day across the globe in honour of epilepsy awareness. Individuals are encouraged to wear purple clothing, local organizations host events, and this year two of our nation’s biggest landmarks will also be bathed in purple light to increase awareness of the need for research about epilepsy.

One in one hundred Canadians are affected by epilepsy and it is currently estimated that 300,000 Canadians are living with the disorder. The term epilepsy is derived from a Greek term for possession, as the Greeks believed the person affected was being overcome, seized or attacked. It is now understood that epilepsy is a neurological disorder that leads to brief disturbances in the typical electrical functions of the brain. These disturbances are characterized by sudden and brief seizures, which may vary in form or intensity for each person. For example, a seizure may appear as a brief stare, an unusual body movement, altered awareness or a convulsion.

Epilepsy is a chronic medical problem, but for many people it can be successfully treated through medication, a special diet regimen, or surgery. However, treatment is unique for each individual and must be tailored to their needs in order to be effective. Because of the unpredictable nature of epilepsy, it can disrupt a person’s routine and their ability to participate in their desired daily activities. For some, they may experience changes in their thinking, energy levels, coping skills, or feelings of self-esteem and in some cases, postural deformities such as contractures may develop.

Occupational therapists can assist those with epilepsy and their families to improve their independence and enhance their participation in daily tasks. Occupational therapists may provide advice or education in regards to safety such as how to adapt potentially unsafe areas of the home like the kitchen and bathroom or support medication adherence and management. They can also recommend equipment and devices that can be used at home and in the community to enhance safety.  OTs can assist with developing social skills and coping strategies that may be affected as a result of epilepsy and can also help by examining and addressing sensory integration challenges like sensitivity to light or noise. Another common area occupational therapists address involves developing strategies to increase organization and enhance routines to support a person’s performance at home, school or in the community. Using their task analysis skills and their holistic and individualized approach, Occupational Therapists are well suited to help individuals with epilepsy and their families find a variety of options and ways to be able to achieve their goals and fully engage in everyday life.

Resources

www.epilepsyontario.org

www.epilepsy.ca