What is Apraxia? Apraxia is a motor speech disorder. Childhood apraxia of speech is a rare, but lifelong disorder that makes it difficult for individuals to move their mouth muscles in order to speak. The important thing to note about Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is that the child knows what they want to say, but may struggle with connecting the brain to the muscles that must accompany speech. Unlike other forms of childhood speech problems, CAS is not a disorder that can be outgrown. Children with CAS must receive treatment in order to make any progress with speech. Signs of CAS in children older than 3 years old include: - not pronouncing words the same way every time - putting the stress on the wrong syllable or word in a sentence or sequence of words - distortions in sounds - ease with shorter words and struggle with longer words Speech therapy for CAS focuses on strengthening the muscle groups required to speak - included facial and oral structures. This part of speech language therapy is referred to as speech motor planning and programming . SLP's will focus on techniques and activities that strengthen the lips, tongue, soft palate, jaw and vocal folds - to help the child learn when to activate and move each at the right time and in the right order, so that words are pronounced and produced accurately. Children with CAS may also struggle with fine motor skills, delayed language, and problems with reading, spelling and writing. If you have questions about CAS and want to learn more about what speech therapy services we can provide at PMC, please reach out today.

Communicating Emotions: Zones of Regulation Most children, especially neurodiverse children, struggle at some point with communicating emotions. Children with speech and language delays, and children who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems (AAC devices), may also struggle with frustration when trying to communicate how they are feeling. One strategy that pediatric therapists can utilize to help children communicate emotions is a technique known as the Zones of Regulation. The Zones of Regulation consists of four colored zones: Blue, Green, Yellow and Red. Each zone provides a visual for different kinds of feelings and energy levels. Organizing emotions into four simple sections can be a helpful visual for children, allowing them to communicate their emotions by simply pointing to one of the color blocks that hold the emotions they are feeling.

Types of Sensory Swings Did you know that swinging can have a major impact on a child's vestibular system? The vestibular system is a sensory system in the inner ear that helps with balance and spatial orientation. Sensory swings, which come in many forms, are a great way to work on the vestibular system. Balancing the vestibular system can have a multitude of benefits beyond the physical - it can be a great way to practice body awareness and regulate the nervous system. Here is a quick guide to different types of sensory swings that may be utilized in pediatric therapy. 1. Bolster Swing

Why Teach Self-Regulation? When a toddler throws a tantrum, their reaction is usually developmentally normal for their age. Most little kids are still learning how to navigate big emotions. Most three year olds have not mastered self-regulation; the ability to control one's emotions and respond rationally to stressful or stimulating situations. But learning self-regulation can be complicated. There are many factors that impact our ability to self-regulate. Neurodevelopment, trauma and sensory differences are just a few factors in an individual's ability to self-regulate. Research shows that learning self-regulation can be life-changing for children and young adults, especially individuals who have experienced trauma. Learning emotional regulation can have a powerful impact on a person's wellbeing, So when do we learn how to navigate difficult thoughts and feelings? And how? When it comes to children and adolescents, research demonstrates that sensory-based occupational therapy may be an effective intervention to increase self-regulation. Occupational therapists are training to help individuals increase body awareness , and cope in a healthy way with stressful or demanding situations or circumstances. Children and individuals who struggle with self-regulation may express the following things: - overreactions to situations - emotional outburts - long-term negative emotions - mood swings and unpredictable moods The key to self-regulation is something called Inhibition. Inhibition is the ability to interrupt, adjust, stop or change thoughts or feelings or actions. For example, if you are sitting in traffic and start to grow frustrated, before you start shouting or getting angry about being stuck in that situation, inhibition would allow you to take a deep breath, and remind yourself that you cannot control the traffic, and that even though it is frustrating, you will be home soon. Being able to regulate emotions in this way has been proven to have a positive effect on a person's wellbeing, and can be integral to the health of children and young adults who are still learning how to deal with difficult emotions. A recent study demonstrated that adolescents who were engaging in self-regulatory behavior, reported greater wellbeing than their peers, including increased general life satisfaction and perceived social support. One way that occupational therapy can assist with learning self-regulation is through sensory input. Sensory input can include play-based activities , such as games or blowing bubbles, that help the individual navigate big emotions. Other activities that may be utilized for self-regulation in occupational therapy included music, stretching, guided imagery, colored lights, breathing exercises or large muscle activities. Occupational therapists are able to assess how certain factors may be impacting an individual on a daily basis, and implement interventions that help the person feel more balanced emotionally as they navigate day to day life.

Fun Thanksgiving Food Crafts Looking for some fun and easy Thanksgiving-themed food crafts this year? These simple crafts are easy to set up and sure to add some joy to your family's celebration! Whether it's arranging the morning waffles to resemble a cute turkey or tucking some fresh veggies into a crescent roll for a festive cornucopia, these fun Thanksgiving crafts are sure to bring some smiles this holiday season.