| Description |
This course is designed for physical, occupational therapists and speech pathologists who treat children with severe physical disabilities. The course includes lecture, labs where participants treat each other, problem solving and goal setting using videotapes, and treatment demonstrations by the instructor. This course reviews the concepts for evaluation and treatment of children with severe disabilities and follows their changing impairments and functional needs into adulthood. Focus is on proper utilization of services and techniques for respiratory, posture and movement for treatment results. Emphasis of evaluation and assessment focuses on basic life support skills, such as respirations, cognitive/language abilities and impairments, and arousal/ attention states. Therapists learn examples of common functional outcomes desired in people with severe impairments and are provided with written treatment ideas augmented by line drawings. There are many examples of treatment ideas for respirations, including ribcage and thoracic spine mobility, facilitation of postural/ respiratory musculature for efficient respirations, and treatment ideas for head/ neck trunk alignment for oral control and swallowing.
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