Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OT here - how is his balance when he reaches over for things? Can he stand on one foot with his eyes closed? Does he complain about falling (awareness)? I have found often times kids with motor planning issues rely heavily on vision since they have underlying body awareness difficulties. This reliance on vision in turn can cause the under developement of vestibular system which lets your head know where it is in space. This could be caused from a neulogic condition as everyone is saying and I would look for other neurologic symptoms (tics, intellectual difficulties, etc) Practice the skill since it is a safety concern but I agree with everyone that you should see a neurologist and OT.
Colleen Doyle
Together in movement

OP here - he has trouble balancing on one leg at a time and is 'behind' on hopping. His original screening back when he was 3 mentioned things about the vestibular issues. He is also the lead scorer in his soccer league & doing really well in some other things - but i know different activities can be strengths/weaknesses with different skills. He's only gotten hurt the one time from it, and it took me a bit to connect it back to a comment that his PT had made before (ie. that he got so hurt from a fall b/c he probably hadn't braced himself & went flat down on his face (I wasn't there for the fall to see it, but then also remembered on time when he just went flat down after getting hit playing dodge ball.)) We'll work on the skill practice - set up to go see the OT/PT over break - but sounds like I should take him to a neurologist maybe to see if there is something beyond ... or if we know he has motor planning than we already know & wouldn't mind much else out?

Sorry I was not clear about what I meant when I mentioned neurological conditions/intellectual difficulties. I meant when a child does not have a reflex such as protective extension there could be several different causes and you want to tease it apart. It could be a neurologic condition that affects the motor portion that initiates the protective response or damage to the portion of the brain where the vestibular input is processed. I asked about intellectual difficulties because they will often be associated with these neurologic conditions (CP, Tourettes, etc).

Let me be clear, I was not saying motor planning and intellectual disabilities go hand and hand. I was saying if you see other concerns such as intellectual difficulties I would see a neurologist.

In your son's case I would get them tested by an OT or PT. The thing about soccer is that your head is in the midline position (upright and running forward). It rarely requires you to bend over or reach off the midline of your body, which is when vestibular input comes in play. I would say that the fact that he has trouble balancing on one foot, hopping and the previous PT mentioned vestibular issues is likely the reason for the underdeveloped protective reaction.

Colleen Doyle
Together in Movement

I recommend Together in Movement, in Riverdale Park, Maryland (approx 15 minutes -30 minutes from D.C. depending on location). They accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare and United. Plus Colleen is the best OT in the city.

Occupational therapy can be very beneficial if you have a strong therapist however I also have found it can be a huge money suck (160 dollars per hour once a week is crazy). I have heard of kids spending years in therapy without assessment on their progress or goals. I have also seen kids make huge progress and the therapy is life changing. I would recommend sitting in on your child's sessions at least in the beginning. A therapist that is comfortable and can explain what they are working on will completely put your mind at ease and reassure you. Also find a clinic that accepts insurance. Together in Movement in Maryland and Exceptional Children's Center are two I would recommend.

Depending on where you are located there are several places that take insurance to cover private OT. Don't think you have to pay 175 dollars an hour!

Together in Movement in Maryland

Execeptional Childrens Center in Virginia