Tips to Promote Scissor Skills

The components of scissor skills for children translate over to a child's everyday activities: to learn and engage in play as much as possible and to increase independence in ADL's/IADL's. Utilizing scissors is a part of learning, school, and play.

Dandy Walker Syndrome

Dandy Walker Syndrome is a congenital brain malformation involving the cerebellum and the fluid filled spaces around it. This syndrome involves an enlarged fourth ventricle (a channel that allows fluid to flow freely between upper and lower areas of the brain and spinal cord), a partial or complete absence of the cerebellar vermis (the area between the two cerebellar hemispheres), and cyst formation near the internal base of the skull. There can also be an increase in the fluid space sizes surrounding the brain, known as hydrocephalus. (information found at http://dandy-walker.org/). 

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Costello Syndrome

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According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, Costello syndrome is "characterized by delayed development and intellectual disability, loose folds of skin which are most noticeable on hands and feet, flexible joints, and distinctive facial features."

Pencil Grasp Development in Children

A review of pencil grasp development in children is critical as an Occupational Therapist to understand where the child is in pencil grip development and how to best help them to be successful in writing and eventually holding the pencil in the best way they can.

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Infantile Reflexes

In order to better understand children with severe cognitive impairments, I need to understand infancy development. A huge part of development are reflexive movements which are involuntary movements that an individual makes in response to specific stimuli. However, an infant does not have to think about making reflexive movements because they happen automatically and they are important!

October: Rett Syndrome Awareness Month

I had never heard of Rett Syndrome (also known as RTT) before until coming across students with this diagnosis. I received really great advice from a professor during OT school to look at a person's function/what they can do and not at their diagnosis. I still stand by this advice and put it into practice however being a curious student, I wanted to dig further into what Rett Syndrome was so I can better understand some of my students and their families. 

According to the NIH, Rett syndrome is "a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects girls almost exclusively. Based on Rettsyndrome.org, it is rare in males but does occur at a low prevalence. It begins with normal early development and growth but then turns into a slowing of development, loss of purposeful use of the hands, slowed brain and head growth, problems with walking, seizures, and intellectual disability."