Therapy for Spastic Blind Child?

[fhayejones]

Don't let your child see that you can't handle the situation because of his blindness thus be more active in activities with your child to cheer up. I know it is a year so to this thread but I've been touch with your love, care and understanding with your child. The children therapist could give your child assistance towards the acceptance and to have a meaningful life ahead.

[spandanphysio]

hi dmpedneuro as u want sustains of head try some object that child likes to suck as it may be some babyfood than put child in prone and stroke arnd lips she will move head up to catch up also maintains head in effort to catch object.give it in mouth for movt. than again remove it.this is from my personal experience.hope it helps u to get head control...

[humera]

Along with toys with sound, tactile stimulation can be added by making the child to touch different textures, shapes, toys with sound or stuffed toys. Toys making sounds with touch e.g piano, recorders can be used to encourage child to use his hands in different directions. Supine on wedge, to catch or touch the toy in midline, would facilitate the child to pull his head and upper trunk off the wedge and to improve head and neck control. This position would help children with extensor tone where prone position could make adverse effect. Standing in standing frame to start with the session would help to get arousal and effect of approximation/ compression to improve tone in case where child is less motivated and low tone. Blind child may not have good body awareness, massage may be helpful to improve that and thus improving the function of parts of body. Make the child to touch your face during speech time while child is facing you sitting in a lap. These children could also get benefit with different vestibular stimulation e.g prone on ball, hammock, tilting boards, or tilting them in different directions on towel to improve head and neck and trunk control.

[PamVersfeld]

I think you will find Lily Nielsen's ideas on working with blind chidlren very helpful.

If you google "lilyworks" you will find more information on the active learning approach she has developed. She creates stable and accessibel environemtns that make it possible for a child to interact with the environment in a meaningful way - and once the child gets the idea that they can actually influence what happens around them they motivate themselves.

Her ideas fit in very well with task based physiotherapy approaches to intervention. I think it is important to understand that no amount of passive sensory stimulation will get a child to actively exert itself - only intention and the desire to achieve something does that. So active learning is the only way to go.

Pam