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Concerned About Your Child's Development?
Are you worried that your child’s development is not at the level of other children you know? Have people told you to be patient and wait, but you have the feeling that maybe you should be doing something to help your child? Trust your instincts.
Every year, 16-18% of children are identified as having developmental delays, which can put them at risk for reaching their full potential. Research shows that early identification and treatment of developmental delays have positive results which can set the stage for future success.
Your child may not be reaching normal milestones if…
• At two months has difficulty moving head from side to side while lying on belly
• By six months is not able to bring hands together or roll
• By eight months is not sitting
• By 12-15 months not talking
• By 18 months not walking
Raising the Bar at Weisman
When he came to Weisman in November, Jordan had speech issues and a dislike for certain textures. He was also a little shy, very hesitant to try new things and seemed somewhat delayed in his motor skills.
Weisman’s team met with the family to assess Jordan’s skills and to get a sense of the family’s concerns and goals. Then a therapy program, including speech, occupational and physical therapy as well as sensory integration, was specifically developed for Jordan. With the help of his therapists, Jordan has safely pushed his limits to become more comfortable in every day life activities. He’s also been working to speak politely, more clearly and in sentences more typical for his age. He’s even trying new foods at home. Jordan’s mom also sits in on sessions to learn how to use each therapy at home and she continually encourages him during therapy to help maximize his results.
Jordan’s Mom Says…
“At Weisman, Jordan’s needs are met on a one-on-one basis. I would encourage parents who have concerns about their child’s development to contact Weisman. I would tell them that hope and quality help for their child does exist. It’s a great resource and the earlier they get their child involved, the more it can help. Weisman also helped me not to feel alone in my day to day struggles.”
Do You Have an Angelina Ballerina Living in Your House?
By Christiana Kennedy, PT, MPT
Pediatric Physical Therapist at Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Centers
One of the best sights in the world is to watch young children running, jumping and playing together with no cares in the world. They seem to bound through the air and float on their toes as they dance around like tiny ballerinas. Children love to walk around on their tiptoes, but how do you know when their desire to play on their tiptoes is not quite normal?
At Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Center, our physical therapists encounter many children who have been diagnosed as “Toe Walkers.”
There are two reasons Toe Walking occurs. Most commonly, Toe Walking is a result of tightness of the muscles in the calf. It can also occur if your child is looking for additional feeling on the bottom of his or her feet. Treatment for Toe Walking consists of stretching these muscles both at home and in the clinic, activities to promote use of the ankle muscles such as heel walking or bringing the toes to the nose. Sometimes it is necessary to use special equipment (braces for the feet) during the day or at night for better stretching of these muscles. Treatment for Toe Walking can be very effective, especially when a diagnosis is made at an early age, so don’t hesitate to call Weisman for an evaluation at 856-489-4520.
Weisman Can Help Children Improve Strength, Balance, & Coordination
“At Weisman, Garrett is challenged to move to the next level in his development,” said Karen Maneri, Garrett’s Mom.
When developmental delays come into play, strength, balance, coordination and body awareness are often in need of improvement. Strength training and focus on proper body mechanics are safe and effective, even with young children, as long as the proper technique with the proper resistance is used. Weisman’s physical therapy programs, which are specifically developed to match each child’s individual needs, work toward improving strength, balance and coordination all at the same time or in certain combinations. We also help children learn how to gain and build on strengths until they can accomplish more complicated tasks. Meeting and building on certain goals also helps these children build self esteem and function at a more age appropriate level.
If you have concerns about your child’s development, we can evaluated and customize a program for your child. Call Weisman at 856-489-4520.
Does Your Child Have a Feeding Disorder?
By Caroline Ahmon, MS, CCC/SLP
Senior Speech-Language Pathologist at Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Centers
Feeding difficulties, also known as dysphagia, can be seen in a variety of forms. Here are some common symptoms of feeding difficulties:
- Difficulty with chewing or moving food around in their mouth
- Difficulty with drinking from age-appropriate bottles, sippy cups, or open cups
- Dislike for a variety of textures or foods for an extended period
- Preference for only one texture or type of food
- Frequent behaviors that disrupt your family mealtimes
- Frequent choking, coughing or throat clearing when eating solids or drinking liquids
- Signs of food or liquid not staying down in the stomach
- Difficulty with reasonable weight gain, maintaining the same weight for an extended period, or losing weight
If your child shows any of the above symptoms, he or she may benefit from dysphagia therapy. To schedule an evaluation, please call 856-489-4520 extension 249 and request a feeding evaluation.
Alex’s Story… Something to Chew On
Two-and-a-half-year-old Alex has had very serious trouble keeping food down since birth, so he doesn’t like to eat or swallow. When he came to Weisman, he would cram food into his mouth and spit it out before chewing. With Weisman’s help though, he is starting to chew, swallow and consume more. At Weisman, the therapy is friendly and easy going, so there is no additional stress for Alex. Weisman therapists use kid-friendly activities so that therapy seems a lot like playing and Alex is rewarded for good behavior. Prior to coming to Weisman, part of his drink would spill when drinking from a straw or an open cup. Now he is able to get more liquid into his mouth and swallow more. He also didn’t like any food that he considered “mushy” such as ground beef. Now he’s eating yogurt and beginning to try bits of hamburger. Alex’s mom is very involved in his therapy sessions. Weisman therapists also work with her so that she can help carry over what Alex learns in therapy into his home life.
Alex’s mom, Shannon Labree, says she is very pleased with Alex’s therapy at Weisman, “Alex has progressed a lot since he’s been at Weisman and he looks forward to his therapy. In addition to his Pediasure diet, Alex used to eat very little solid food each week, but now he’s swallowing at least a little bit of food every day. He’s even trying foods he would never try before.”
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Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders a Medical, Motor, Behavioral Approach
Presented by: Kristen Brackett, MS, SLP/CCC
This is a two-day course focusing on how to approach pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, how to diagnose and prioritize treatment options, and ensure successful outcomes for you and your patients. For more information please access the following link #306 - Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders or contact khall-olsen@weismanchildrens.com.
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 VINELAND -- Christina Colon wanted to send her daughter to a medical day care like Weisman Children's Rehabilitation Hospital, but the ride was far too long.
With the closest location in Marlton, Colon kept her 4-year-old epileptic daughter at home, unable to make the hour-long trip.
But with a new Weisman Children's Medical Day Care Center on West Sherman Avenue, the Vineland resident sees a positive opportunity for her daughter, Zyasia Guzman, and children like her.
"We feel by sending her here, she'll be able to start to grow more and develop more," Colon said. "I'll be comfortable enough to know she's OK."
The medical day care center for children -- decorated with Dr. Seuss characters painted on the hallway walls -- is the first of its kind in Vineland, said Richard Shepherd, Weisman Children's Rehabilitation Hospital administrator. It is the fifth Weisman facility in the state.
With a location here, at least 14 children won't have to travel from the city to Marlton for the medical care they seek, said Shepherd.
"For those kids, it's going to be a much better situation," he said. "We expect to be open in about a week and we expect to be full."
About 23 children (including the 14 who travel to the Marlton location from Vineland) are already enrolled in the new Vineland location, which can accommodate 27 children, said Brenda Kirkland, administrator of the Marlton center.
The centers help children who require the services of a nurse during the day for a reason that usually keeps them from attending other day care programs, Kirkland said.
Children receive nursing care and are also exposed to supportive services such as speech, feeding, physical and occupational therapies, Kirkland said.
The centers also accommodate educational needs and provide transportation to and from the child's home, Shepherd said.
The Weisman medical day care programs have one staff member for every three children. Vineland's currently has 16 staff members, from skilled nurses to therapists, she said.
Article courtesy of The Daily Journal.com
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Weisman Children's Rehabilitation Hospital in Marlton is the only pediatric hospital in South Jersey. That facility has a 30-bed in-patient rehabilitation hospiatal, a day hospital program for children who can go home at night, and a medical day care program. The hospital also has other outpatient centers in Marlton, Pennsauken and Atlantic City.
The 70,000 square foot Washington Township outpatient center will treat children with sports injuries, autism and sensory disorders, dysphasia, cerebral palsy and spina bifida, among others. The outpatient facility will offer physical, occupational and speech therapy.
"Our ultimate goal," said Jackie Grimenstein, director of outpatient services, "is to get the child to function in society, get them out of therapy, and functioning in school and in their families."
The center is located at 405 Hurffville -Cross Keys Rd., Sewell ( Washington Twp.) New Jersey. The phone number of the new center is 856 218 3280.
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The latest technological advance is now available at Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital!
 We are very excited to introduce the use of the WalkAide. The WalkAide is a new electrical stimulation device that uses wireless technology to stimulate the muscle needed to lift your foot when you take a step to walk. We are proud at Weisman to offer this as part of individualized physical therapy for individuals who have had an injury to their brain through an accident, illness or cerebral palsy.
When you lift your foot up to take a step, a muscle on your shin contracts that allows you to lift your toes up to take a step. Someone who has had some kind of brain injury might have weakened that muscle and the WalkAide compensates for that lost strength. Over time, the WalkAide will strengthen that muscle and ultimately, the child or teenager will be able to lift up his/her foot to walk without this machine some day.
In addition to strengthening the muscle, the WalkAide assists with coordinating the timing of the muscle contraction. When someone experiences a brain injury, the timing of when various muscles fire is sometimes impeded. So they don’t fire at the time when you need them to. The WalkAide also assists that, firing off at the precise moment you need to flex your foot. Maybe the greatest thing about this machine is it is small, user friendly and wireless, so it’s not cumbersome and once your muscle strength is increased, really easy to use all day!
Weisman is one of only 3 pediatric hospitals in the United States offering this latest development for gait rehabilitation!
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