APD (AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER) TREATMENT

An auditory processing disorder (APD) is an information input problem. A child with an auditory processing problem generally has normal hearing sensitivity but has difficulty with the reception and interpretation of auditory information. Although some symptoms of an APD are similar to a hearing loss and/or an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), an auditory processing disorder is a distinctly different problem. The child with an auditory processing disorder has difficulty making sense out of what he/she hears. Although the sounds are loud enough, the child has difficulty understanding the message, therefore often acting like someone with a hearing loss or attention problem.

SWALLOW RIGHT PROGRAM

Tongue thrust is the common name for a disorder in which a person pushes his tongue against or between his teeth during a swallow. Tongue thrust can affect children, adolescents and adults. Therapy for tongue thrust is divided up into 12 lessons. The first 5 lessons are used to train the different muscles of the swallow to obtain the correct resting pattern and placement. Lessons 6 and 7 teach the child how the correct swallow is performed. The last 4 lessons teach the child how to make the correct swallow a habit.

AUGMENTATIVE COMMUNICATION

Augmentative communication is a term referring to assistive devices used to enhance an individual’s communicative abilities. Therapists (primarily speech and occupational therapists) evaluate children on an individual basis and work with parents, teachers, and providers to determine the optimal equipment to meet that child’s needs.

BECKMAN ORAL MOTOR TREATMENT

The Beckman program applies oral motor treatment strategies that provide assisted movement to activate muscle contraction and movement against resistance to build strength. The focus of this treatment strategy is to increase the functional response to pressure and movement, range, strength, variety, and control of movement for the lips, cheeks, jaw and tongue.

HOME PROGRAMMING

All therapists strive to put an emphasis on home programming for all children and/or families. Home programming consists of a specified curriculum of activities to be performed on a regular and continual basis at home by children and their caregivers. These activities may address a number of components including, but not limited to, balance, strength, endurance, range of motion, positioning, posture, activities of daily living, and oral-motor strategies. Home programming activities are updated on an ongoing basis as appropriate.