On Saturday July 20th, the Washington University NF Center hosted its 2nd Annual NF Family Day for our patients and their families. Held at Grants Farm in St. Louis, MO, participants had the opportunity to learn about IEPs, transition to adulthood, and educational apps from a licensed Occupational Therapist. As an added bonus, they also […]
At every age of childhood, there are a certain set of milestones that medical professionals look for to see if your child is developing in a typical pattern. (You can visit our last blog about development here). It is fairly common for children with NF1 to demonstrate signs of developmental delay. But have no fear! […]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – right? Or does it feel like the most chaotic couple of months out of your year? As the holiday season approaches, it’s easy for routines to take a backseat to festivities. While it’s important to celebrate and enjoy this special time of year, maintaining a structured […]
Through our amazing community partnerships, we were able to launch Camp NF this summer. Camp NF is a therapy-focused summer camp for children in kindergarten through 8th grade with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Hosted at an outpatient therapy clinic under the guidance of physical, occupational, and music therapists, children with NF1 had the opportunity to […]
Tantrums and sensory meltdowns may sound similar, but they are vastly different. Knowing the difference between the two can help you decide how to intervene when your child is having an emotional behavior/outburst.
Motor coordination is the ability of a person to move multiple parts of their body or their entire body together through their environment.
One of the most common tactile challenges for children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), is known as tactile defensiveness.
10 fun activities to do with your children while at home over winter break.
For many people, Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together, focus on what they are thankful for, and eat some amazing food. However, for children with food aversions, Thanksgiving dinner can be challenging.
The vestibular system has an important role in the development of postural control, muscle tone, bilateral coordination, and stabilizing an object in your visual field while you are moving. Additionally, when this sense is not regulated, difficulties with attention, behavior, and communication can occur.
Sensory processing is our ability to organize and interpret sensory information we receive from the environment. Most people are aware of the five sensory systems – gustatory (taste), auditory (hearing), visual (sight), tactile (touch), and olfactory (smell). However, there are three additional systems that are equally important. These three include proprioception (body position in space), vestibular (balance), and interoception (perception of sensations from within the body).
What if there was a way to help your children overcome those academic difficulties? Actually, THERE IS! The Federal government has mandated public school systems have a program in place to assist children with academic challenges. This program, known as the Individualized Education Program (IEP), stems from the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).
Mealtimes in any household with children can be challenging. Trying to get the right food on the table, at the right time, while balancing tired and hungry kiddos can turn into total chaos very quickly. Factor in a child who is picky about what or how they eat and all bets are off. Get whatever […]
Feet are incredibly important – they are literally the foundation for everything we do. And of course, no one is perfect, so many of our feet require a little help to be the foundations we need in order for us to function at our best.
If we can identify our children’s sensory needs, we may be able to help them have better days, better sleep, and even better behavior.