Physical therapy for DS infants?

[goodgoats]

I have a 4 week old DS son. I have been reading lots of info on the internet. How important is physical therapy for a DS infant or child. Has anyone read the book Gross Motor Skills in Children With Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (Topics in Down Syndrome) by Patricia C. Winders? Just wondering if it is worth getting?

[Chris]

In my opinion, it is essential.

Chris

[marisa]

Laura has had OT (occupational therapy) since she was 4 weeks old. In the beginning it was twice a month and now we are up to twice a week. We receive these services (she also gets Speech therapy once a month) free of charge from EI (early intervention). I think they have helped Laura and our family immensely. I agree with Chris's opinion ... it is essential!

[shellk]

Kourtney has been in Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy since 5 months ols, Once she recovered from VSD/ASD repairs they EI wanted her in Therapies ASAP. And she started a school enviroment at 6 months old..I HIGHLY recommend Therapies as soon as possible.

Good luck
Michele

[Emilysmom]

The Gross Motor Skills book by Pat Winders is very good reading!! It's great because you can follow the guidelines in the book and get great results for your baby even before he has any actual PT sessions.
I also highly recommend the book from Woodbine House by Libby Kumin on speech in babies with Down syndrome.

Susan

[christie]

WELCOME TO UNO ;D

And

CONGRATULATIONS

I personally have never read that book BUT I have heard from others its a good book.

As for the need for PT, just my opinion BUT I say it is very much needed right away. Chris started all his therapies at one month old. Although I do not believe therapies are the end all, I do believe that are a great benefit to the child. One of the first things I remember with the PT when Chris was just a month old is she started working on the mussels for sitting up and turning over and such BUT my favorite actally was her working on protection falling. I know that may sound odd but she would work on the big ball with Chis. She would hold him sitting up and push him, gently of course and get him to put his hands out for protection as if he was falling. Hmmm not sure I explained that well BUT for us was very cool. I remember when my son was born my sister's g/f had a son with DS and when he was tiny he Never Ever would put his hands out when he fell, he would just fall face first OUCH. I know you would think this would be a natural instint for everyone to do BUT its not always.

Chris now even at 12 gets 30 min a week PT at school and although this is the area he shines in, as long as they will give it to him I will take it ;D

I am a true believer that therapies don't make it happen any faster then the child would have anyway BUT the quality is the big BENEFIT

K, rambled long enough but I say GO FOR IT

CC from New Jersey ~

[alisonzmom]

Hi Kim,

Congratulations on your new son! And welcome to UnoMas!

When Alison was smaller, I checked the Gross Motor Skills book out of our local library. After having for 3 weeks, I finally returned it to the library and headed over to Barnes & Noble to pick up a copy for myself! I would definitely say it is worth the investment. Alison's PT has borrowed it to look for some new and different approaches to working with her. I would also recommend you take a look at Fine Motor Skills & Early Communication Skill in Children with DS. Both are published by Woodbine House. Can't tell you how often I'll go looking through each of these books, hunting down a new idea or way to work with Alison. Of course it would be great if you can look them over first by checking them out from your local library or if your DS support group has a lending library, but I really don't think you'd be dissappointed purchasing them sight unseen - but that's just my opinion!

As for the importance of PT in our little ones, here's a link to an article by a PT from Dr Leshin's site:

www.ds-health.com/physther.htm


Like CC said, PT won't neccessarily make a child do something any earlier, but it will help them to learn to do it better!

Barb

[matthew'smom]

Congrats on your new baby!
I recommend both the book and early intervention.
It is so important to start as soon as possible with your infant even though it may seem overwhelming. I am a teacher and I often look at some of the older students at my school who have DS and I wonder what may have been different if they had early intervention.

[Chester]

One of my favorite therapist said to think of PT as proactive. It is much easier to get a young infant to start good habits, body mechanics than try to change old habits.

[tornadoxs2]

My son started PT at three months it was every other week and i had it increased to every week. I would say that if it wasnt for PT my son Benajmin would not be doing so well today my Physical therapist is wonderful and has got him doing so much he is still a few months behind but he is doing good at his own pace. he has just started Speech therapy and that along with PT is great for him.