Neurodevelopmental Evaluation
Yesterday, we went for an evaluation to start a new neurodevelopmental therapy program with Aidan. I describe this type of therapy briefly on Aidan's web site: aidansanswer.org.
We first tried this approach over a year ago, choosing to have him evaluated through Hope and a Future, which is run by Linda Kane. Rather than having one location, she and her trained band of parents, perform evaluations and set up home therapy programs for parents to follow. I learned through another source, that Linda used to work at the institutes for the achievement of human potential (IAHP), before setting out on her own. I originally chose H&F because it is far less intense than the IAHP program, and because at the time of Aidan's original evaluation, Linda was seeing clients in Baton Rouge, LA, which is a little over an hour away.
For about 6 weeks, Brian and I tried to work the program, but then things fell apart when we got busy. I honestly do not know how parents ever really fully implement these programs, especially to the degree required by the people at where all of this started. Unless you are wealthy and can afford multiple, full-time helpers, have a large, dedicated family who will work for free or are tied into a huge pool of volunteers, it seems almost impossible. We have the added issue of Aidan absolutely hating the therapy. It is really a very passive therapy, and it does not hurt him, but he hates it nonetheless and cries the entire time.
Nevertheless, we are going to try again. We have some help in the form of Aidan's former babysitter, who has now moved in downstairs. She is living in our downstairs apartment rent-free and is supposed to be helping us, but between her full time job, school and boyfriend, I fear that she will not be able to devote the time to the program that we expect and require.
The reason that we are going to try again is Jasmin.While Aidan and Brian we at Miracle Mountain this past summer, they met Jasmin and her mother. I'm not sure of Jasmin's current age, but I would guess she is six or seven. From what Brian related to me, she was born with cerebral palsy, and at age two, had the function of the infant. When she was two, her parents took her to IAHP and started their program. They have been very dedicated to it for several years, and are convinced that the improvement they have seen is directly related to the IAHP program. I saw Jasmin while I was at MM, and she now walks fairly normally, but doesn't say much. Brian says they have achieved all of their motor function goals and are now working on getting her more verbal. Jasmin's mom convinced Brian that Aidan could really benefit from this therapy, so here we go again. Wish us luck.
[UPDATE: about a week after we had the evaluation, Aidan's babysitter decided that we expected too much of her time to work with Aidan (this was despite the fact that we had not really started the real program yet) and she moved out. As a result, we haven't started the program and are still trying to figure out how to fit it into our schedule]
We first tried this approach over a year ago, choosing to have him evaluated through Hope and a Future, which is run by Linda Kane. Rather than having one location, she and her trained band of parents, perform evaluations and set up home therapy programs for parents to follow. I learned through another source, that Linda used to work at the institutes for the achievement of human potential (IAHP), before setting out on her own. I originally chose H&F because it is far less intense than the IAHP program, and because at the time of Aidan's original evaluation, Linda was seeing clients in Baton Rouge, LA, which is a little over an hour away.
For about 6 weeks, Brian and I tried to work the program, but then things fell apart when we got busy. I honestly do not know how parents ever really fully implement these programs, especially to the degree required by the people at where all of this started. Unless you are wealthy and can afford multiple, full-time helpers, have a large, dedicated family who will work for free or are tied into a huge pool of volunteers, it seems almost impossible. We have the added issue of Aidan absolutely hating the therapy. It is really a very passive therapy, and it does not hurt him, but he hates it nonetheless and cries the entire time.
Nevertheless, we are going to try again. We have some help in the form of Aidan's former babysitter, who has now moved in downstairs. She is living in our downstairs apartment rent-free and is supposed to be helping us, but between her full time job, school and boyfriend, I fear that she will not be able to devote the time to the program that we expect and require.
The reason that we are going to try again is Jasmin.While Aidan and Brian we at Miracle Mountain this past summer, they met Jasmin and her mother. I'm not sure of Jasmin's current age, but I would guess she is six or seven. From what Brian related to me, she was born with cerebral palsy, and at age two, had the function of the infant. When she was two, her parents took her to IAHP and started their program. They have been very dedicated to it for several years, and are convinced that the improvement they have seen is directly related to the IAHP program. I saw Jasmin while I was at MM, and she now walks fairly normally, but doesn't say much. Brian says they have achieved all of their motor function goals and are now working on getting her more verbal. Jasmin's mom convinced Brian that Aidan could really benefit from this therapy, so here we go again. Wish us luck.
[UPDATE: about a week after we had the evaluation, Aidan's babysitter decided that we expected too much of her time to work with Aidan (this was despite the fact that we had not really started the real program yet) and she moved out. As a result, we haven't started the program and are still trying to figure out how to fit it into our schedule]
Hello,
we are parents to Gabriela (4yo) and have been to see Ian Hunter. We live in Darwin, Australia and were "desperate" for a program to do at home to further help gabby to recuperate from a severe brain injury in Dec 2009 aged 3.5 yo. We have just been to see a Melbourne based therapist offering this type of treatment. I read the book and knew that any kind of therapy for gabby would be intense. However, the reality of it all is starting to sink in. we have the endeavor to organise a session of 11 things to do which take 1/2 an hour six times a day and 2 of those require up to 5 people. Mnnnn
But living in Darwin for us means that services a limited and almost non existent. Gabby has been getting a therapist for 2 hrs a week lst term 8 sessions. this term she can only get 4 sessions. Nowhere near enough or consistent. And if not this what else is there available for children like her?
Is she destined to just sit there ans stare into space? it is all very confronting and as a parent i feel that i owe her to at least try and if i fall start again. Something is better than nothing. it's got to be.
throughout it all i have seen the glory of God working in my daughter, and she will receive the therapy that God thinks is best for her and for me.
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