Speech Therapy Session 1

Andrea started her first speech therapy session last Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. We brought some things needed for her assessment like rice and viand, banana, a cracker, chiffon cake, water and the utensils she usually use.

And here's the result:

For FEEDING SKILLS, this is to assess integrity of oral structures during feeding.
Activity used: Feeding of banana, chiffon cake and rice and tuna.
Andrea's Rate: Can do better.
Remarks: She still used primitive biting pattern, usually sucks and suckles, movement of tongue noted given input and prompts.


For ORAL STIMULATION , this is to provide sensory input to address mobility/strength of lips, cheeks, jaw and tongue.
Activity Used: Feeding session, passive exercise, and face massage.
Andrea's Rate: Can do better.
Remarks: Lip lateralization are spontaneous, given input to do tongue elevation and lateralization.


For PRECURSIVE LANGUAGE SKILLS,
   a) reach for help
   b) regulate/ask
   c) identification/show recognition
Activity Used: infortalk, sound-producing toys, shape sorter
Andrea's Rate: Can do better.
Remarks: Generally guided most of the time. Can identify mommy, daddy by reaching.

Speech and OT Therapy Program

Two weeks ago, I had a chance to call The Able Center in Makati and inquire about the availabiliy of a Speech therapy. We were scheduled Friday that week at 9:00am. On that day, we were late but luckily they were still able to accomodate us. Teacher Jeremy was the therapist assigned to Andrea. As per his assessment, her case will be very challenging for them and maybe for us. Since she had a multiple disablity, the mode of input will be limited to auditory and touch. We know it will be quite of a challenge but we are most willing to take the chance to improve her current ability. We believe this is the right time for her to learn new things outside her comfort zone. And we believe in her.

I am also embracing my time since my working hours now is after 4pm. So I have the whole morning taking care of her .

Teacher Jeremy also advised us to have an occupational therapist. Here, she will be taught of things on how she will communicate with us like ask for help, sit on her own and maybe eat on her own. But before that we still have to go to a Rehab doctor and ask for a program for Speech and OT. He also recommends us to visit a development pedia [which we haven't done yet]. This is also to make sure no activity will trigger anything that will cause discomfort for her.

So, we went to a Rebab doctor in Makati Medical Center, with Dr. Melissa Mercado. After her assessment, she gave us this program"

Speech Therapy:
1. OPM Testing
2. Ariculation Testing
3. Language Stimulation - follow commands, Identifying object (tactile stimulation)
4. Expressive skills
5. Articulation therapy - syllable / word

Occupational therapy:
1. Bilateral hand activities
2. Auditory stimulation / tactile stimulation ( as blind )
3. NDT's to facilitate pelvis control
4. Gentle strtching hips
5. Ankle positioning

Now we're ready for the theraphy session. :)