Showing posts with label CVI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CVI. Show all posts

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Therapies for brain injuries/developmental delays

Kayli sustained trauma to her brain, at 4 months old, when she passed away for 32 minutes, in a PICU room, 8 hours after open heart surgery.  She lost all abilities and reflexes, with the exception of breathing.  Kayli spent the first few years of her life, in 9 therapies to overcome her delays caused by the hypoxia.  She did well in the therapies, and learned to move her muscles well enough to push adaptive buttons! Kayli was in the following therapies: 

Early Intervention;

PT (physical therapy)
OT (occupational therapy)
DT (developmental therapy)
DTV (developmental vision therapy)
DTH (developmental hearing therapy)
ST (speech therapy)

Outpatient:
PT
OT
ST

A couple of years ago, Kayli trialed, and proved she could handle, a Passi Muir (speaking) valve.  Although we were told a person cannot get reflexes back once lost, and that if there is absolutely no therapy to help with complete loss of muscle tone in the trachea and/or larnyx, we found that Kayli started controlling her secretions and started swallowing on her own when she wore the Passi Muir valve!!! This was a HUGE accomplishment for Kayli!!!  

Even with her success, Kayli has faced many more traumatic medical inflictions.  She has gone on to survive 6 more traumatic and life medical altering incidents.  She has been granted a total of 8 miracles of life, for which we are grateful, but unfortunately, she also sustained more brain damage.  Kayli keeps fighting to stay with us, and thrives with therapies, so it is our every intention to stay one step ahead of her in hope's of paving a smoother path for her.  

Currently, Kayli gets 



  • PT
  • OT 
  • DT
  • ST 
  • DTV - iPad, Smart board, eyeglasses
  • CVI therapy (eye training for eye gaze programs)
  • DTH  - FM system and hearing aided
 at school, but those therapies are limited, as they only apply to academic goals.  

Current/evolving outpatient therapies include



  • ST - Vital Stim, Passi Muir valve
  • PT - Aquatic therapy
  • OT - Reflex Integration Therapy
  • CVI - iPad apps


Last year, we put Kayli in Aquatic therapy, and she did VERY well!  She was able to kick her legs, and splash the water with her hands!  Kayli has always loved her baths, and well, any time she can spend in the water!  
 Kayli was in aquatic therapy 6 hours a week, and loved it!  Unfortunately, the therapeutic pool she was using, closed for renovations, and Kayli was dropped from Aquatic therapy. :-( 


We recently found another therapeutic pool in our area, that was just built, so she will be going back into Aquatic therapy soon! :D  Kayli's current outpatient therapies include PT and Svetlana Masgutova Reflex Integration therapy (through OT).  The reflex therapy is unique in that primary reflexes, that somehow were lost or not further developed, are re-taught. Kayli is doing well with this therapy!  We even saw a great improvement in her bladder reflexes, during the evaluation session! lol  

In the last month, we had Kayli evaluated for Hippotherapy (Equine), but she was not eligible because her spinal rods were a contraindication.  We were told she would be eligible for Horse driving (where she would sit in a wagon led by a horse), but the therapy is limited in the areas it is practiced.  We may revisit this method at a later date.  


Kayli will also starting Vital Stim therapy soon.  Vital Stim is a ST, that will help Kayli strengthen her trachea (airway) muscles, and her Larynx (vocal chord) muscles.  It is another aggressive therapy, where she will be attending therapy sessions 3 times a week, for 8-12 weeks.  We can't wait for her to start! :D 

We recently contacted a University in the USA, that practices stem cell therapy, but alas Kayli was not a candidate for the clinical trial, because she does not have her own cord blood (we were denied saving it at birth, because of her Trisomy 18 diagnosis).  


We are always looking for more avenues to help Kayli in her recovery, and are considering these additional therapies for Kayli, to aid her in recovering brain function:


Cuevas Medek Exercises

G-therapy
Advanced Biomechanical Rehabilitation
Hyperbaric treatments
Neuro suit therapy
Anat Baniel Method
Biomedical Protocol 
Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential 


If you can suggest or give your opinion of any other therapeutic methods, please feel free to leave a comment or message us! 


Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Special Needs iPad apps

Kayli has several impairments, including (DD) developmental delays, (CVI) Cortical Visual Impairment, Hearing impaired, as well as some motor delays.  Kayli was granted an iPad through IL's Project Reach, and donated to Kayli from Save R Sight.  We have found many apps that have helped guide Kayli in her healing and learning.  In order to pass the wealth of information along, we are sharing with you, the following list of iPad apps that we have found helpful/useful.  Please feel free to share with us, your favorites, and/or share Kayli's compiled list with others!

UPDATE:  Kayli was granted another iPad, this time through I Can Connect.  They also provided her with a head switch, an app that allows her to connect with others via her iPad (kind of like skype, but for the visually/hearing impaired), a magic arm to hold the ipad, as well as an arm to hold the head switch.  I Can Connect is a Nationwide (USA) program, that helps those who are hearing/visually impaired, connect with others.  They will come out to your house to evaluate which communicative device and software best matches your child's needs.  I highly recommend this program!  

  • 3D Shape Shifter 2 HD (by Xanist Software)
  • 100's of Buttons and Sounds (by Toneaphone, LLC)
  • ABA Flash Cards & Games-Emotions (by Innovative Mobile Apps)
  • Alexicom AAC (by Alexicom Tech LLC)
  • Animal Fun (by Brian Pfeil)
  • Animal Sounds - Fun Toddler (by Innovative Mobile Apps)
  • Answers: YesNo (by SimplifiedTouch)
  • Art of Glow (by Natenai Ariyatrakool)
  • Baby Aquarium Colors
  • Baby Charmer and Eye Tracking Simulation (by SABER DESIGN) 
  • Baby finger HD (by DJ International)
  • Baby Look Tickle (by Me and the Giants)
  • Baby's Musical Hands (by Streaming Colour Studios) 
  • Baby Phone- Free Musical...(by Mobileroo Pty Ltd)
  • Baby Rattle Plus (by Kids Place)
  • Baby Rattle Toy Free (by SelenaSoft, Inc.)
  • Baby Screen (by Planet Sloth)
  • Baby Symbolizer: High-Contrast Infant Stimulation (iPod only, by HuggaMind, Inc.)
  • Baby View (by Wayne Smith)
  • Baby-Vision (by Spotty Bear Ltd.)
  • Baby Visual Stimulation (by Ye Wang)
  • Bloom HD (by Opal Limited)
  • Blow Fish! Free Fish Popping (iPod only, by salim sazzad)
  • Boogie Bugs (by Twiny Vine)
  • Bright Start Baby - A Bright Start for Smart Babies (iPod only, by Eieio Software)
  • Bubble Popper (by Mob Touch Inc)
  • Bubbles (by Hog Bay Software)
  • Captain Lazy Eye (by Ideabus)
  • Captain Lazy Eye Full (by Ideabus)
  • Cause and Effect Sensory Light Box (by Cognable)
  • Cause and Effect Sensory Sound Box (by Cognable)
  • Chase the Dot (by Microlemon)
  • ChoiceBoard-Creator (by Techno Chipmunk)
  • Color Dots - Infant Baby (by Ellie's Games, LLC)
  • Color Squares
  • CommunicAide Free: AAC/Speech Therapy (by Object Graph LLC)
  • Chromatic Vision Stimulator (by Kazunori Asada)
  • Disney Fish Hooks (by Disney)
  • Dot Connector:Learn ABC's and 123's with dot to dot (by Ellie's Games)
  • Dot to Dot (Low Vision) by Ebenezer School
  • EDA Play (by Rana pece EDA)
  • Endless Alphabet (by Originator Inc.)
  • Eye Exercises (by Ambroise CHARRON)
  • Eye Exerciser Lite (by Craftsman Apps iOS)
  • Eye Movement Training (Free) by Ebenezer School
  • Find the Same (Free) by Ebenezer School 
  • Fireworks Arcade (by Big Duck Games LLC)
  • Fish Fingers! 3D Interactive Aquarium (by Useless Creations Pty Ltd)
  • Five Sharks Swimming (by Inclusive Technology Ltd)
  • fluidity HD (by nebulus design)
  • Focus Builder (by Cedrick Noel)
  • Forge of Neon 3D (by Volutopia)
  • Fun Sounds (by Ozan)
  • Fun Bubbles (by Lewis Johnson)
  • Fun Shooting Stars (by Lewis Johnson)
  • Glow Coloring (by MobiTech 3000 LLC)
  • Go Away, Big Green Monster! (by Night & Day Studios, Inc)
  • Go Paint Pro (basically an Etch a sketch)
  • GoTalk Now Free (by Attainment Company) 
  • Guided Video (make a video of yourself)
  • I Hear Ewe - Animal Sounds for Toddlers (by Claireware Software)
  • iFluids HD or Free (by Pixelspace Media Ltd)
  • Inclusive Smarty Pants (by Inclusive Technology Ltd)
  • Infant Stimulation Card-HD (by Joyee Jonee)
  • Infant Visual Stimulation (by Think Design Studio LLP)
  • Infant Visual Stimulation (by IntelleQuest Education Company
  • Infant  Zoo Lite: High Contrast Visual Stimulation for Babies (by treebetty)
  • Injini:Child Development Game Suite (by injini)
  • Kiddy Imagine (by Waclaw Rosicki) 
  • Kids Can Match-Animals, vocal memory game for children HD (by Kids place)
  • Language TherAppy (by Tactus Therapy Solutions Ltd.)
  • Learn with WordFriends (Word World)
  • Magic Fingers (by Sweet Action games) 
  • Music Sparkles-All in One Musical Instruments Collection HD (by Kid Games Club)
  • My Choice Board (iPhone only, by Good Karma Applications, Inc)
  • My First ACC (by injini)
  • My Talk Tools Mobile (2nd Half Enterprises LLC)
  • My Talking Picture Board (by Little Bear Sees)
  • My Talking Tom (by Out Fit 7 Ltd.)
  • Niki Talk (by Alessandro La Rocca)
  • Old McDonald
  • Peekaboo HD 
  • P.O.V.- Spatial Reasoning Game and Left Right Discrimination (by BinaryLabs, Inc)
  • Piano Pals (by BigStack Studios)
  • PBS Kids 
  • Peekaboo:Ladybird Baby Touch (by Penguin Books)
  • Peekaboo Barn (by Night and Day Studios, Inc)
  • Peekaboo HD (by Gotclues, Inc)
  • Piano Pals (by BigStack Studios)
  • Pictello (by AssistiveWare)
  • PlayButton (by Aardustry LLC)
  • Pocket Pond HD (Triggerwave LLC)
  • Pocket Pond 2 (Triggerwave LLC)
  • Pogo Boards-AAC (by Talk to Me Technologies)
  • Proloque2go (AssitiveWare)
  • Put Me in the Story-Personalized Books (by Sourcebooks, Inc.)
  • Rockin Fairy (by Twiny Vine)
  • Sago Mini Sound Box (by Sago Sago)
  • Scan-A-Word (by RJ Cooper & Associates)
  • Scene&Heard (by Therapy Box Limited) 
  • See Me Talk (Kevin Hanasyk)
  • Sensory Speak Up (by Sensory Apps Ltd)
  • Shape Builder- the Preschool Learning Puzzle Game (by Darren Murtha Design)
  • Shapes in Complex Free by Ebenezer School
  • Sight Recover 3D (by koikoi.biz)
  • Sights and Sounds: Fireworks (by Marblesoft)
  • Small Talk Common Phrases (by Lingraphica) 
  • Small Talk Daily Activities (by Lingraphica)
  • Small Talk Pain Scale (by Lingraphica)
  • Smart Tot Rattle-Cause and Effect sensory stimulation (by Moxi Mobile) 
  • Sound Touch (by Sound Touch)
  • Sound Uncovered (by Exploratorium)
  • SoundingBoard (by AbleNet)
  • Spark Art! (Big Duck Games LLC)
  • Plasma Globe (by Infinite Dreams Inc)
  • Sparkabilities Babies 1 HD (by Sparkabilities)
  • Speech Sounds on Cue (by Mulitmedia Speech Pathology)
  • Statlex Shapes Learning for Kids (by Pavel S)
  • Talk Tablet US (by Gus Communications, Inc.)
  • Talk To Me 100 Free (by Sydspeak, Inc)
  • Talk Tommy 
  • Talking Pierre the Parrot (by Out Fit 7 Ltd.)
  • Talking Tom Cat or Talking Tom Cat 2 (by Out Fit 7 Ltd)
  • Tap-N-See Now (by Little Bear Sees)
  • Tap-N-See Zoo (by Little Bear Sees)
  • Tap to Talk (by Assistyx LLC)
  • Tap ATune (by Mindshapes Limited)
  • Tap Speak (by Ted Conley)
  • Tap Speak Button (by Ted Conley)
  • Tap Speak Sequence (by Ted Conley)
  • Thicket (by Interval Studios)
  • Tom Taps Speak (by Seer Technologies, Inc)
  • Touch Switch (by Goatella)
  • Touch the Sound (by Innovative Mobile Apps)
  • Trippin II (by PDJ Apps)
  • urTalker Pro (by Nolan Technology LLC)
  • Verbal Victor (by Apps for the Greater Good, LLC)
  • VisionSim (by Braille Institute)
  • Visual Cue Lite (by Sanghoon Lee)
  • Visual Training for Babies (by Sergio Diaz Marco)
  • Voice4u Text-to-speak (tts) (by Spectrum Visions)
  • VST (Vertical Sleeve Talk) 
  • Wheels on the Bus (by Duck, Duck, Moose, Inc.)
  • Zoo Sounds (by Tantrum Apps)

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Mom approved, gift ideas for kiddos with special needs

This is an ever expanding list of gift ideas for kiddos with special needs.  If you have any suggestions, please message me or leave a comment so we can add the suggestion to the list.

Vision/Lights

Butterfly in a jar (looks too real to be fake!)

This butterfly has an amazing lifelike affect.  Minutes after taping the lid, the butterfly continues to sporadically flutters around the jar!  

Dancing water speakers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEYw1PjUtp4
These speakers shoot water and light up (LED lighting) to the sound of music.  This is a great item for the hearing impaired, as they "see" the beats to the music! 

Fiber optic color changing burst light
Great item for slow visual processing!  With an on/off switch burst, you can add a battery interceptor and use with a switch! 

Magic jelly fish
https://www.amazon.com/Fascinations-Magic-Jellyfish-LED-Lights/dp/B002L28SU4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1479488670&sr=8-5&keywords=magical+jelly+fish


Mylar Balloon


Pinwheel (with a fan blowing it, and a flashlight shining on it!)

Sound Sensor lighting wire ball http://www.thegadgetexperience.com/sound-sensor-lighting-wire-ball/
The balls light up with different tones of voice or music. Great for the hearing impaired, to actually "see" the sounds!  You can change to auto also, where the balls light up without sound activation. 

VTech Happy Lights Bear


V-tech record and learn photo album

Rope lights
Great visual item, that doesn't get hot, so you can place on/around child or hang around the room! 
Uncle Milton's Fireworks Light Show                                             


Smartnoggin Noggin Stik
The Smartnoggin has cause/effect changing colors, has texture, and is a rattle! It's worth the $20! 


A cause and effect, light up rattle! 

Doodle Dome 


Wheelchair lights, Underglow http://www.wunderglow.com/

Oggz
Oggz is a rechargeable color-morphing egg! 


The Rotoprism.  You can change the light speed, and colors. 

Infinity Mirror                                                                                   


Bright Start Baby Light and Giggle Drum                                         
    
                                     Aurora Master Ocean Light                                        

This lights up the entire room/ceiling, and makes it look like you are in the ocean (if blue).  The projector also changes colors, as you wish. 


Sensory/touch 

Body sock


Finger paints
A great tool for creative exploration, as well as, sensory touch input! 


Fisher Price Giggle Gang
Great cause and effect toy, that giggles like a baby when ever so slightly touched! 

Moon Sand

Great sensory item, that never dries out! Look for Moon dough too! 

Kinetic Sand
Kinetic sand never dries out, doesn't leave residue on hands, and only sticks to itself! 



oball rattle

Easy to grasp rattles! 


Sensory Balls


Seonsory Balls mega shapes

Site of Senses box~ http://siteofsenses.org/index.html
With resonating boards, the feels and hears every little movement they make! Great cause and effect learning box for visually and hearing impaired! 

Tactile touchable squares

Wall of Senses~ http://siteofsenses.org/WoS.htm


Hearing/Music Therapy

Mozart Magic Cube



Chimalong Deluxe

Touch Magic Ocean Music School


Ocean Wave Drum (Remo version)

B Picoolo Carousel Bells

Musical hand pat bells

Mini Rainmaker

Fisher Price Crawl along drum


Playskool Rocktivity drum
Sensitive touch drum 

Recordable books
Record your voice, reading a story to your loved one! 

Ring around bells
Push the yellow button on the base, and the bells go in a circle to make music against the hanging ball.  This is one of Kayli's Favorite toys! 

Tone Chimes
Another of Kayli's favorites!  Tone chimes make the surrounding area vibrate!  Such a calming affect for all to enjoy! 


Wrist bells
Great cause and effect when a child moves their arm! 
Guiro
Hohner kids 8" plastic Guiro makes different tones, depending on where you rub the stick against it! 

Thunder Tube 
You can control the thunder! Produces deep, vibration sounds. 

Low tone play 

The Original Big Joe Bean Bag (sold at Walmart)
This bag is a less expensive option for a crash pad.  Price is around $40.




Caterpillar musical rocker (with or without back support)



Exercise ball (to sit or bounce on, or stand against)
Great for leaning against, standing upright, or for laying on top of and rolling! 


Peanut Ball
Great for straddling, or leaning over in a crawl position 
Zero Gravity Chair 

Hanging Chaise Lounge Chair                                                         


Swing                                                                                 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018QEFRO/ref=wl_mb_recs_3_title      $109 


Indoor Hammock C Stand                                                                         





FINE MOTOR PLAY


Fur Friends
Fur Real friends come in an assortment of animals.  The cat is easy to pet (on back) which activates the cat to meow and walk.  It's like a switch toy without a switch!  It has an on/off button, so you could also attached a battery interceptor and use with a switch! 

Lamaze Garden Chime flowers


V-tech Learn and Dance interactive zoo
                                                  

Penguin Race
Fun to watch, and great cause and effect, repetitive play! AND, you can connect it to a switch to activate! 



Lamaze Totem Pole
                                         


Magnetic, easy to stack totem pole for practicing hand/eye coordination! The individual pieces also have different textures and crackle cause/effect. 

ORAL MOTOR PLAY

Z-vibe
Ark's Z-vibe helps is an oral vibrator that gives awareness and sensations for oral stimulation.