Our Blog

Benefits of OT Part I

Following directions and attending to a task are two big problems that cause me to request an occupational therapy evaluation. These are the kids that are constantly running around the gym and are having problems focusing to complete a 1 step direction. I also see if they can complete activities of daily living such as putting their socks and shoes on. Kids should be able to independently take off their socks and shoes at the age of 2, and be able to independently put them back on between the ages of 3-4. Vision is another area of a child that I check to see if occupational therapy is appropriate. Vision can throw off how a child perceives depth and with tracking objects. For example, if I throw a ball to the child and they are unable to follow it with their eyes this tells me that there may be a visual problem.

These are just a few things that I look at during my treatment sessions or during my initial evaluation, and a few things that you can assess at home. Lowcountry Therapy Center offers FREE screenings for all of our disciplines (OT, PT, ST). If you are unsure if OT can help your child give us a call at (843)-815-6999 and schedule a free screening.

Here is more information about what occupational therapy is, how it relates to children, and what they can do to help.

www.aota.org/about-occupational-therapy/professionals/cy/articles/early-intervention.aspx

www.childmind.org/article/occupational-therapists-what-do-they-do

www.kidshealth.org/en/parents/occupational-therapy.html

Benefits of OT Part II

As we continue to celebrate Occupational Therapy Month, I want to share some information about how multiple disciplines work together at Lowcountry Therapy Center. Specifically, why do speech therapists sometimes make referrals for occupational therapy?  The human brain is a highly complex system, with many different sub-systems working together to help us function efficiently. For example, our speech and language system also depends on our attention system, our memory system, our visual system, and our auditory system (to name a few!). Weaknesses in one system are likely to impact other systems, much like a domino effect. Therefore, a “team approach” to therapy is often warranted to help children achieve their greatest potential. It is not uncommon for a child that receives speech therapy to be referred for an occupational therapy evaluation. Occupational therapy addresses many aspects of daily life that can, in turn, affect communication.

Occupational therapy can impact speech and language by improving your child’s…

• Attention and regulation, which is a foundation for social engagement and use of language.  In order to learn, your child must be able to focus, attend and engage.
• Postural stability, which is critical for speech production. In order for your child to successfully make various speech sounds, they must have jaw stability. Jaw stability is dependent on head and trunk control, which can be improved with postural stability.
• Sensory integration that impacts your child’s arousal level, oral-motor skills, and aspects of hearing and feeding.
• Motor planning skills, which impact your child’s ability to move the articulators (tongue, lips, soft palate, etc.) into place to form sounds for speech.
• Executive function skills that impact language. As your child communicates, they must be able to plan, organize, and sequence their thoughts and ideas into a logical narrative.
• Hand-writing skills needed for written language.

These are just a few ways in which occupational therapy can impact a child’s speech and language skills. For more information or to find out if your child may benefit from occupational therapy, talk to your pediatrician or current therapist, or give us a call for information about our referral process!

**PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPIST OPENING**

We are GROWING!  Lowcountry Therapy Center is proud to announce a position opening for a full-time pediatric physical therapist.  This position is clinic-based.  Candidate would be working side-by-side with occupational therapists and speech language pathologists. Work environment cannot be beat.

Contact Jessi at jdolnik@lowcountrytherapycenter.com. Pediatric experience is preferred, new grads apply... Mentorship opportunities!  Benefits package and more.

April is Occupational Therapy Month!

April is Occupational Therapy Month, and we are excited to celebrate this awesome field and the wonderful occupational therapists who promote OT on a daily basis!  I’ll start by answering this frequently asked question:

What is occupational therapy?

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), “Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations).” A child’s life is made up of many “occupations,” or daily activities, including playing, learning, and socializing. Occupational therapy practitioners work with children and their families to help them succeed in these activities throughout the day. Here are just a few areas of development that OT can help address:

Autism Awareness Month

April is dedicated as Autism Awareness Month. So what exactly is autism, and what is the difference between autism and autism spectrum disorder? Previously, autism had distinct sub-types such as autistic disorder, Asperger, childhood disintegrative behavior, etc. Recently the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5^th Edition (DSM-5) has put all autism disorders into the umbrella term of autism spectrum disorder or ASD.  According to Autismspeaks.org, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a term for complex disorders of brain development that vary in degree of severity. ASD can cause difficulties with social interaction, communication, repetitive behaviors, motor coordination, and intellectual disabilities. Autism typically emerges between the ages of 2 and 3 years old. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in America 1 in 68 children are on the autism spectrum.

How can therapy help my child with autism? Children with ASD can benefit greatly from physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Physical therapy works on strengthening the muscles in the body and can help with motor planning and coordination with difficult taks. Occupational therapy can work on a variety of skills such as activities of daily living, sensory integration, fine motor tasks, and social interaction. Speech therapy can help you and your child communicate more effectively with one another. These are just some of the basic skills that physical, occupational, and speech therapy can work on to help your child with ASD.

For more information and resources on autism you can go to Autism Speaks. Also during the whole month of April, Wiley is opening up their Autism Awareness Research collection to the public for free! This link will provide you with over 100 different research articles pertaining to autism. Click Here.

There are also a few local resources in the area. Lowcountry Autism Foundation is located on Hilton Head Island and helps to provide resources to families and individuals with ASD. There is also Palmetto Autsim Connections which is located in Bluffton and helps to connect children with autism and their families with information, support, therapeutic tools, and community involvement.

Welcome to our Blog Part 1!

Hello! Thank you for checking out our new blog! Lowcountry Therapy Center strives to have a strong community presence, and one way we are achieving that is with this blog. We are so excited to share this with the community, so be sure to check here weekly for updated blog posts! Some topics you can expect to see soon include celebrating April as OT Month and Autism Awareness Month, and preparing for Screen-Free Week. Head over to our Facebook and ‘like’ us to see posts about projects, community events, and other updates!

First, I will introduce myself. I am Krista Flack, one of the occupational therapists at Lowcountry Therapy Center in Port Royal. I am a Michigan-native, but relocated to Beaufort 2 years ago to join the Lowcountry Therapy Center team. Prior to that, I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Grand Valley State University, and my Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University. I have a one-year-old son who has given me a whole new perspective on childhood development. Being an occupational therapist has greatly impacted how I raise my child, and being a new parent has definitely impacted my work as an occupational therapist!

I am very excited to share about a variety of topics that I am passionate about, like sensory integration, feeding, and turning every-day tasks into therapeutic activities! I’d also like to know what YOU would like to read about. Interested in finding more sensory-friendly attractions in the area? Wondering how your child can have fun at one of the festivals coming up? Looking for more ideas for games and activities to reinforce what your child is working on in therapy? Tell us what topics you would like to see discussed in upcoming blog entries!

Welcome to Our Blog Part 2!

Hello everyone and welcome to the new Lowcountry Therapy Center blog page!

 Lowcountry Therapy Center has started this new blog page as a way to give back to the community. There will be a new post every week with all sorts of information. We will be posting new research, home exercise ideas, upcoming events, and so much more. Some upcoming events that we will be posting about this month are Autism Awareness Month, Occupational Therapy Month, and Screen-Free Week (May 2^nd – 8^th). In this first post I would like to introduce myself.

My name is Matthew D’Antonio and I am one of the physical therapists at the Bluffton clinic. I am originally from Pittsburgh PA and I am a die-hard Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins fan. I completed my undergraduate degree at Slipper Rock University in Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. I then attended Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, WV where I obtained my doctorate in physical therapy. I moved down to Bluffton in January of 2015. I enjoy going to the beach, playing golf, and just being outside. Make sure to come back next week and check out my post about Autism Awareness Month. Also I have posted the link to our Facebook page below. Be sure to follow us on Facebook to get more information on different things happening throughout the clinic.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST / COTA OPENING!

Lowcountry Therapy Center, Bluffton Clinic, is interviewing for an occupational therapist position OR COTA position. Our clinic offers a multidiscipline (OT, PT, ST, ABA, Mental Health) environment with a collaborative team approach. Strong mentorship/supervisor program. GREAT working environment, benefits package. Growing company, opportunity to advance your career. Opportunities to work in multiple service environments, including school and home-based (early intervention) as well! Email resume to humanresources@lowcountrytherapycenter.com.  

NOW HIRING... 2 SLP POSITIONS OPEN

We are interviewing for 2 pediatric SLP positions.position offers a multidiscipline (ST, OT, PT, ABA, Mental Health) environment with a collaborative team approach. Connections-based position offers daycare/preschool and some home-based settings - and an overall more flexible schedule. CFYs welcome (and encouraged!) to apply, strong mentorship program provided.There is opportunity to advance and a benefits package offered. Please send resume directly to humanresources@lowcountrytherapycenter.com.

POSITION OPEN for SLPs & SLPAs!

Come be a part of a highly-trained group of therapists that work in a collaborate atmosphere! We have recently expanded into a larger facility with state-of-the-art equipment. Lowcountry Therapy Center offers a competitive benefit package! New graduates and CFs are welcome! We offer a strong, well-supportive mentorship program! 

Please contact Jessi at jdolnik@lowcountrytherapycenter.com.