A Pediatric Perspective : sensory processing disorders

AOTA Conference Recap Part 2

Cecilia Cruse — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:23:00 GMT

I sat in on a great short course for Children and Youth last week at the AOTA conference. Entitled Finding Our Niche in RtI , instructors Joyce Salis, OTD, OTR/L and Janet Bucey, OTR/L did a super job of explaining OT’s role in the RtI process at each...(read more)

Eye Gaze Aversion and Autism

Cecilia Cruse — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:22:00 GMT

As the good sensory trained therapists that we are, we have long known anecdotally that children with autism often avert eye gaze especially when there is simultaneous input, such as when the child is being given auditory directions and/or is attempting...(read more)

Kids are the Best Teachers!

Cecilia Cruse — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 19:02:00 GMT

As a peds OT for over 25 years, I’ve said for a long time now that it’s not what we teach our kids in therapy it’s what they teach us! Here are a few great examples of our ambassadors for special needs: Grace McClelland: Born with a ULD (Upper Limb Difference)...(read more)

In Memoriam

Cecilia Cruse — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 20:31:00 GMT

I was saddened to learn recently of the death of an icon in the world of OT. Jane Koomar, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA passed away peacefully at her home on February 24 th after a long illness. I did not have the privilege of knowing her personally, but she certainly...(read more)

SPD Foundation Comments on Adam Lanza’s SPD Diagnosis

Cecilia Cruse — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:56:00 GMT

I just received this update from the SPD Foundation regarding the Newtown, CT murders and the young man identified as the shooter Adam Lanza. (See my December blog: Autism Speaks Out About Newtown Tragedy ). PBS's Frontline has released a riveting documentary...(read more)

Sensory Strategies for At Risk Youth

Cecilia Cruse — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:50:00 GMT

I recently had a conversation with a special education coordinator who oversees a large district. Part of her job duties include working with at risk students that have been removed from their home school and placed in a disciplinary education center....(read more)

More Updates on DSM-5

Cecilia Cruse — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:33:00 GMT

In addition to the exclusion of the SPD diagnosis which I blogged about last week , there are more changes to the upcoming DSM-5 which recently received final revision and approval. Most notable are the sweeping changes to the autism diagnosis. To summarize...(read more)

SPD Excluded from DSM- 5

Cecilia Cruse — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:31:00 GMT

I received an email earlier this week from Dr. Lucy Miller and her work at the SPD Foundation. Sadly, the final revisions for the DSM-5 have been made and the SPD diagnosis will not be included in this edition. I can hear the collective sighs from therapists...(read more)

Hurricane Sandy

Cecilia Cruse — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:12:00 GMT

I hope this finds all of our East Coast readers safe and sound after Hurricane Sandy. On this Halloween, seems the "Frankenstorm" was a brutal trick and not at all a treat. My thoughts and prayers go out to all those that were impacted by the storm. My...(read more)

An Interesting Study on Toe Walking

Cecilia Cruse — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 14:30:00 GMT

As OTs (and certainly our pediatric PT colleagues) we have all seen our share of kids that are toe walking with no history of any apparent medical disorder that would account for the problem such as CP or sequelae from a TBI. Termed Idiopathic Toe Walking...(read more)

What Autism Feels Like

Cecilia Cruse — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 20:21:00 GMT

A colleague recently sent this YouTube link and I felt compelled to share it. Although titled What Autism Feels Like , it is actually a brief clip on what a day probably sounds like in the life of a child with ASD. As peds therapists, it often becomes...(read more)

Making a Difference One Child at a Time

Cecilia Cruse — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 17:03:00 GMT

Last evening at a party, I was reminded once again how thankful I am to be a pediatric OT. At a party you ask? Let me explain! Several months ago one of my neighbors shared with me that her son had been recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. He...(read more)

More Thoughts on ASD

Cecilia Cruse — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 21:26:00 GMT

I know I have been blogging frequently on the topic of autism, but given the media attention it seems to be getting these days, along with the proposed definition changes in the upcoming DSM-5, it just seems fitting to keep current in this ever expanding...(read more)

Stepping Up and Speaking Out

Cecilia Cruse — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:36:00 GMT

In last month's blog, I reviewed the discussion from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) regarding the news tagline that " Sensory Integration Therapies Lack Evidence ". Basically the AAP put up a caution flag about research on SI therapy being "limited...(read more)