Guest guest Posted April 24, 2005 Report Share Posted April 24, 2005 My son will soon be 11 years old and has made awesome progress since starting a Verbal Behavior Program 2 years ago. He did not have speech and is now beginning to spontaneously label objects and has begun to label actions!! Problem is that he never really played with toys and his current goal is to work 10 minutes independently on non academic theme toys and individual toys. He is a puzzle king and can put together 100pc puzzles indep. but his choice is listening to music, watching videos, or looking at books! His previous school program had cash register & potato head for theme toys with puzzles as individual toys. I have no problem with him playing with " younger toys " but I would really appreciate some input and ideas. It concerns me that the play should be a bigger focus? Is he too old to " play " but how do you expand leisure activites then if his interests are so limited and he does not really understand what a toys function is? He loves to engage but gets aggitated when introducing something new but works through it beautifully and really tries to learn what you are teaching him. I have been trying to teach him how to play UNO, working on Lite Brite,the Perfection game... He is currently being homeschooled until a new placement can be found so I have been working with him for over 6 weeks. He is doing great and we are having a blast. He would still be considered an early learner but not for long....this child verbally insists on doing more picture cards to label when he is in Speech and will continue to blow his whistles past the allotted # just because he is so motivated that he can finally do something. His gigantic smiles after he has successfully executed a target- over fills my heart and actually brought his OT to tears the other day! We are in awe of his refound motivation and determination. Any ideas are welcomed...THANKS! I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 3, 2011 Report Share Posted April 3, 2011 Hi Elaine, Good to see you posting again. I was going to suggest surgery, but since that is not an option, perhaps a new orthotist might be something to pursue and new AFOs of some kind along with custom made shoes with built in cushioning on your feet. Take care of that sore. Gretchen > > Hello this is from Elaine in Michigan. Its been a long time since I > posted. > > I use to wear uprights but after several years they no longer worked. Then I was placed into double uprights. They are no longer working for me either. My feet are under severe stress and pressure points on the outside of the feet. > > I now have an ulcerated sore on the left foot on the outside. Even with the double uprights the feet turn severly to the outside causing me to come down on the outside of both feet. > > I hurt all the time. I can go in for adjustments, come out fine and > within a couple of days the adjustments are no longer working for me. > > Can anyone recommend a device that may work. > > Thanks to all > Elaine in Michigan > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Gretchen, It's to see how this group has grown. I remember when it was a few of us. Do you have any suggestions when it comes to some type of AFO. My orthotist and podiatrist and I have been discussing custom made shoes with the built in cushioning. I am open for any and all suggestions. Keep up the excellent work you do here. Elaine in Michigan > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Hi Elaine, Thanks so much for your kind words about . Yes, it is hard to believe how we've grown - those days of talking to ourselves are over! As for AFOs, I can't recommend any one over another, because AFOs are so personal based on one's special needs. There are so many different kinds now. I encourage you to work with your orthotist and don't be afraid to ask questions or say " this rubs " or " my foot hurts here " , etc. If you have some time, go into our Archives and do a search on AFOs. One of our top topics! There you'll find info from others about what they have found beneficial. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Hello Elaine, I've had extensive experience with molded shoes and plastic AFOs. Molded shoes are made from a cast of your foot and ankle. They do very well as long as your ankles hold up. They can be adjusted for angle and height when they are made. It is important to adjust them until your gait is even and comfortable. They provide an increase in stability. The next best thing is molded inserts in regular shoes which can be made from the same molds used for making molded shoes. When making thermoplastic molded AFOs it is important to use shoes with flat inner surfaces and make the AFO with corresponding flat bottoms. This provides greater stability especially in the lateral ankle rolling sense. I have a set of much taller carbon reinforced AFOs which are considerably stiffer and heavier than the molded sheet plastic ones and have sprung pivots at the ankle for forward and aft flexibility. These produce much more problems with hard points and rubbing, but are more correcting than the lighter more flexible sheet plastic molded ones. I'll wear the lighter ones until I need more correction then work with the carbon ones which sit in the closet for now. 75 EdM from NH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Elaine, If you are gonna get custom made shoes you will need metal braces to get any benefit from the shoes. With the plastic braces and the plastic footplate it won't matter that much what kind of shoe you have one because you will be walking on the plastic footplate. Try the metal braces. I like mine. There is very little difference in the weight of plastic and metal in an afo so don't feel that its gonna be that different. You will probably like how little skin contact there is in an metal brace. It makes it so much cooler to wear in hot weather. Bob > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 7, 2011 Report Share Posted April 7, 2011 Elaine, I have had custom shoes and molded shoes and you do not need metal braces!!! Plastic braces work just fine..I have had both. Believe me, after $3,000 dollars and the metal braces are sitting here,useless,heavy,cumbersome dame things! How I hate them it is a sore spot with me to even suggest anyone to get them. Geri > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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