What Happens If I Think My Child Is Regressing? Therabytes podcast

21:28

F-words: FUTURE. All the F-words lead up to Future - and this week it's a special video-cast look into the Future. And a sneak peak of the Healthy Strides Community Hub! "I am growing up every day, so please find ways for me to participate and be included in my community"

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F-words: Fitness (a parents perspective!) 24:16

13 weeks ago24:16

24:16

This week on TheraBytes! We catch up with Edward's mum Genevieve! It's all about Fitness - a parents perspective! Edward is incredibly funny, loving and very motivated to move! Genevieve joins us on the podcast this week to talk about how fitness works in their family. It's a beautiful and honest reflection of the joys and challenges of keeping our kids active. It is these shared experiences that build our wonderfully supportive community.…

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Fitness (a clinician's perspective) 25:09

14 weeks ago25:09

25:09

A milestone episode with a trio of wonderful clinician's - adding their perspective on the latest F-word: Fitness!

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F-Words: Fitness with Nate! 7:40

15 weeks ago7:40

7:40

This week we catch up with Nate! An incredible eight-year-old boy who talks about his day, including his experiences at school....from recess being too short to playing with friends on the playground , (note, he's too cool for games like chasey! 😉) From being a Telethon 2024 star to all his extra curricular activities, Nate is a busy boy - focused on high performance sports cars , he has a hard time choosing between Bugatti's and Ferrari's, his love for running and running ever faster and his dream of being richer than Elon! Fitness is a big part of Nate's life - right now, he's made his own goal to learn how to trap and kick a ball! The best thing is that Nate just has a lot of fun playing, being active and spending time with his friends, family and loved ones!…

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F-words: Fitness with Taj and Danica! 13:44

16 weeks ago13:44

13:44

We're joined this week by special guest, Taj and his mother, Danica! The conversation focuses on Taj's life, particularly his passion for footy (AFL) and whilst he is a big fan of the Geelong Cats, he is happy to support the West Coast Eagles if they're playing of course! 😉 Taj shares a recent highlight when he got the opportunity to play during halftime at Optus Stadium when the Dockers recently took on Collingwood. Whilst the result wasn't what the home team had hoped for, it was an outstanding game for Taj who kicked two goals! It is just so wonderful to hear from both Taj and Danica about what this moment meant for them. Beyond footy, Taj and Danica talk share their perspective on fitness - what it means to them and why they prioritise it. Between Taj and Danica, they describe benefits that include improved strength, mental health, enjoyment and sleep. This episode is for everyone. For researchers - Taj's insights tell us what is important. For clinicians, this episode is about how we can support children like Taj. For parents, it is the encouragement to find community activities to get involved. For kids, it's about the shared experience and for the wider community, it is a call to action for inclusivity because as Taj puts it, inclusion is the best feeling, the feeling of being part of a team.…

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F-Words: FITNESS! 12:52

17 weeks ago12:52

12:52

This week's F word is Fitness! Mobility is medicine and this week, we talk about what movement means for our bodies. This is relevant to all of us because long, uninterrupted sitting is not great for our health. Our goal is to break up long periods of sitting to move more and be physically active. Movement is great for our lungs, digestive system, bones, muscles with social, emotional and cognitive benefits! It certainly makes us feel better too thanks to the lovely release of endorphins. Join us as we talk about what Fitness means for our kids as well as how Healthy Strides got it's name!…

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F-Words: FAMILY 19:25

18 weeks ago19:25

19:25

This week we continues the discussion on the topic of family , reflecting on our previous conversation with Jen Prior! It's important to emphasise that family isn't limited to blood relatives but includes the people you trust and do life with. It is integral to the "f-words" because it provides the why, how, and when for decisions, including pursuing therapy. Key takeaways from Jen's conversation and our own reflections include the crucial role of parents as experts on their children and the importance of advocacy . A significant part of the discussion focuses on the timing of therapy , suggesting that while intensive therapy is valuable for achieving lasting results, it should be carefully planned around family needs, school, and holidays rather than being continuous. Prioritising family time and choosing evidence-based therapy are real ways to achieve balance , reduce potential feelings of guilt or comparison, and to ensure that therapy aligns with the goal of enabling the child and the family to live their very best life.…

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FAMILY - a parents perspective (Jen Prior)! 47:46

19 weeks ago47:46

47:46

We catch up with Jen Prior - an incredible mother (to the one and only Emily Prior), an advocate and a founding member of the Healthy Strides Foundation! We get to speak with her about all things F-Words and FAMILY in particular!

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FUN - with Emily Prior! 20:33

21 weeks ago20:33

20:33

We're back with a 2nd episode with the incredible Emily Prior! This time we discuss FUN - one of the very best F-words! 🥳

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FUN - a parents perspective (Emma)! 26:03

22 weeks ago26:03

26:03

This week we catch up with Emma! An incredible advocate and parent, she describes herself as a big kid and a perfect example of this week's F-word, F.U.N, in action! Emma's thoughts on the importance of fun really hit home for me. It's so easy to get bogged down in appointments and therapies, especially in the beginning, and forget that the simple act of enjoying time together is crucial. Emma reminded us that happiness isn't a luxury, it's a fundamental need for our kids to thrive and reach their full potential . It made me think about how much pressure we can put on ourselves to constantly "do all the things" and how important it is to prioritise our children's joy and what truly makes them light up. Emma's journey really highlighted the shift from the purely medical model of disability towards a more holistic and social perspective . What I found particularly inspiring were Emma's practical ideas for weaving fun into therapy and everyday life. From creating songs for daily routines to transforming activities into games and incorporating her son's love for loud music, it's clear that tapping into your child's passions is key . Emma emphasised the importance of giving him choices and control, something that is so incredibly beneficial. Her reminder that therapy doesn't have to be traditional clinic-based exercises – whether it's exploring the neighbourhood or playing in a walker – was so freeing. Ultimately, Emma's powerful message resonated deeply: if our children's goals aren't tied to happiness and fun, perhaps they aren't the right goals. It’s about truly listening to our kids, letting their interests guide us, and remembering that play is their way of learning and where so much meaningful progress and joy can blossom .…

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F-Words: FUN! 17:38

23 weeks ago17:38

17:38

Why FUN matters so much in therapy and everyday life! We kick things off by talking about how a lack of enjoyment can make therapy feel like a chore—limiting engagement, motivation, and progress. FUN doesn’t mean easy; it means finding joy in the journey and making therapy something kids want to come back to. We share our own experiences of how the idea of FUN changes as kids grow, and how we have to be intentional in keeping things playful and engaging. For children, play is their work—and when they’re having fun, they’re more likely to learn and try new things. We also chat about the “just right challenge”—meeting kids where they’re at and gradually stretching them in ways that feel good, not overwhelming. Old-school ideas that crying equals progress just don’t hold up. Instead, we focus on creating a safe, happy space where kids can thrive. At the end of the day, FUN isn’t a bonus—it’s a key ingredient in effective therapy and a positive family experience!…

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FRIENDS - with Emily Prior! 22:26

24 weeks ago22:26

22:26

Friends with Emily Prior! Model, Actor, Activist and friend (see what we did there! 😉) of the show - the returning Emily Prior. Emily has appeared on our sister podcast ResearchWorks and is here for a 2 episode stint with Dayna and Kate! An amazing conversation with an amazing young woman!

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FRIENDS - a parents perspective (Rynae)! 22:57

25 weeks ago22:57

22:57

This week we catch up with Rynae to talk about FRIENDS - a parent's perspective! Kate's write-up to come!

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F-Words: Friends 15:36

26 weeks ago15:36

15:36

As a parent, it can be easy to miss the importance of incorporating friendships and social-emotional development into your child's therapy goals much earlier.... In the beginning, there's such a strong focus on early intervention and neuroplasticity that it's easy to put friendships on the back burner. Now I see that mobility and fitness are gateways to meaningful social interaction and overall quality of life .... For example, to start incorporating high-fives into our child's routine to help him communicate with his friends and teachers. It’s so rewarding to see him participate and feel involved. It is important to remember that participation means being involved in life, whether it's simply being present or actively interacting... As parents and health professionals, we need to ensure that the therapies we choose contribute to our children's ability to be involved in meaningful experiences and friendships... We need to be careful not to let therapy take away from opportunities to make friends.…

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FUNction - a(nother) parents perspective (Kellie)! 21:35

27 weeks ago21:35

21:35

This week we're joined by Kellie! In this episode of TheraBytes, we get to speak with Kellie, the mother of Nate, a child with cerebral palsy, about function and the F-words. Kellie shares her experiences and insights on what function looked like for Nate in his early years, and what it looks like today. She emphasises the importance of adapting to his needs and making decisions whilst also balancing the needs of her other children. She discusses how she advocates for Nate's independence, academic success, and social-emotional development in school. This involves open communication with the school, making sure that he can engage in the curriculum in ways that work for him, like using voice-to-text for writing tasks. Kellie also emphasises the importance of allowing Nate to rest when he's tired and ensuring he has opportunities to develop friendships without being "helicoptered" by adults. The school has been supportive, making adjustments to the environment and being flexible with testing. Kellie advises parents to look after themselves, explore different schools, and maintain open communication with the school, therapy teams, and doctors. She stresses the importance of adapting and adjusting goals as needed and ensuring everyone is on the same page regarding Nate's needs. Ultimately, Kellie wants Nate to be as functional as possible, make meaningful friendships, and love life.…

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FUNction - a parents perspective (Noraishah)! 18:36

28 weeks ago18:36

18:36

This week we welcome back Noraishah! Noraishah's back to discuss FUNction and its meaning in the context of therapy and child development. In this episode, Noraishah shares her personal experiences and insights as a parent, particularly focusing on her son's journey and the evolution of her understanding of FUNction. Initially, her focus was simply on observing her son's capabilities, but over the past two years, she has been actively thinking about function in relation to his independence and future. This includes his ability to perform daily tasks such as feeding himself, moving around, and personal care. She emphasises the importance of setting realistic goals and providing the right tools and equipment to enable her son's independence. She also highlights the significance of breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable steps. A pivotal moment was when her son independently used the bathroom, exceeding expectations and demonstrating his ability to achieve goals when given the opportunity. It was so great to hear the moment that she realised that her son's accomplishments were driven by his desire to be independent and his inherent motivations. The discussion also explores the challenges of letting go of preconceived notions of how things should be done and accepting a child's unique way of accomplishing tasks. Noraishah acknowledges her initial struggle to reconcile her upbringing with her son's methods but over time, learnt to prioritise his happiness and well-being over perfection. She advises parents to observe their children, understand their capabilities, and foster their potential, while also allowing them to have the space to learn and grow. Ultimately, the key is to provide the tools and support necessary for children to live fulfilling lives, while accepting and loving them for who they are.…

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F-Words: Function! 14:29

29 weeks ago14:29

14:29

We introduce our first F word of the season, FUNCTION . The definition of function is what people do and luckily for children, play is what they do. What we want for our children is for them to be able to play. We discuss that in the “old days” treatment looked different, the idea was to “fix” what was wrong in order for the person to function but it never did that. These days, the focus is on doing something that is meaningful for the participant and doing it in a way that is functional for them. When taking function into account when setting goals it's important to think how this will help with function. We discuss what this looks like for a really young child starting out in therapy not knowing what their future function will look like, how do you set goals? Dayna explains a lot of the goals for this age are to do with play so it's important to think about what your child needs to be able to play, such as pointing to what they want, head control, sitting, climbing and all things that can lead to play. It's important to remember function looks different for everyone and is not always how the majority of people do something. A great example Dayna uses is asking someone that uses glasses to remove their glasses because the majority of people can do things without glasses. That's not functional for everyone. The ultimate aim is to help our children do what it is they want to do, how they can best do it so they can be happy and functional in their own way.…

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Season 3 (We're back!) 17:57

30 weeks ago17:57

17:57

We're back for a new season of TheraBytes! 🥳 We have an incredibly special guest in the studio this week - we catch up with Noraishah, co-host of the 1st season of the pod, joining Dayna and Kate for a brilliant look back at our past 2 seasons! If you're new to the pod, be sure to check out this episode, it's great place to start! 🎙️ As for Season 3 of the pod, we'll be covering even more questions and queries from the families that come to Healthy Strides and to the listeners from across the globe tuning in to TheraBytes! From controversial, to informational, to serious and funny - we cover all the topics in between! 😁 Join us for another episode and be sure to pop by the website for a full run down of each episode, the TheraBytes blog (there's one per episode) and a handy selection of useful links!…

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Cerebral Palsy - ASD and ADHD 15:13

40 weeks ago15:13

15:13

It can be so hard to figure out exactly what's going on with our kids, especially when they have cerebral palsy. It feels like everything gets put under that one umbrella, even when we know there might be more to the story. It's really important to remember that cerebral palsy doesn't explain every challenge our children face. They might be struggling with things that aren't directly related to cerebral palsy, and those things deserve attention too. Today’s episode highlighted a recent study about just how common it is for children with cerebral palsy to also have other diagnoses, like ADHD and autism. The study found that two-thirds of children with cerebral palsy also had either autism, ADHD, or an intellectual disability. This figure means we need to be proactive about getting our kids screened for these other conditions if we begin to notice impacts on learning and communication…

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What makes a therapy controversial? 22:33

41 weeks ago22:33

22:33

What makes a therapy controversial? (Part 1) On our last podcast episode “how to ask for a second opinion” I mentioned a therapy we tried when our son was younger, saying I wished I had done more research and asked for second opinions from our medical team. This brought about more questions and conversation about all the therapies available and families wanting to know, what does the research say? I ask Dayna, why are there controversial therapies out there available to families and why are they considered to be controversial? We start with covering off Vojta and Bobath (Neurodevelopmental treatment - NDT). Dayna explained how the controversy around these therapies came from the mix of new knowledge and old knowledge and how it all came about with the best intentions. Dayna also discussed Bobath therapy (NDT) and how instrumental the Bobaths were in helping understand cerebral palsy. Dayna was a Bobath practitioner and can look at it herself and acknowledge that she didn't see the outcomes she had hoped for and can understand why it is now below the “worth it line”. All this to say, this is why continuing to research and staying up to date on research outcomes is so important as a duty of care in the role of an allied health professional. Visit the TheraBytes blog at: www.healthystridesfoundation.com/podcasts…

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Asking for a 2nd opinion 21:52

42 weeks ago21:52

21:52

This week's podcast episode focused on a question that I'm sure many parents have asked themselves: how to politely but confidently ask for a second opinion when unsure or unhappy with a medical diagnosis, outcome, or lack of outcome. If you have concerns about the care of your child or loved one, don't hesitate to voice them. You can politely ask for a second opinion by expressing your worries and requesting a referral to another specialist. We also discussed the importance of seeking out evidence-based interventions and not being swayed by anecdotal evidence or personal testimonials. By staying informed, asking the right questions, and trusting our instincts, we can work together with healthcare professionals to ensure our children receive the best possible care.…

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The F-words! #!@*? 19:04

43 weeks ago19:04

19:04

As a parent of a child with a neurodisability, I'm always looking for ways to make therapy more effective and meaningful, and the concept of the "six Fs" really resonated with me. What I loved most was how practical the F-words are. They remind us to consider the bigger picture when setting goals – not just focusing on physical achievements like walking, but also on things like function (what will this skill help my child DO in their daily life?), friends (how will this goal impact their social interactions?), and family (how will this affect our family dynamic and routines?). It's so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day, but the F-words really encourage us to think long-term and make choices that support our child's overall well-being. And can we talk about fun ? It doesn't have to be all giggles and rainbows all the time, but finding ways to make therapy engaging and motivating is crucial. As we pointed out, seeing our kids content and willing to participate is a HUGE win! The F-words really are a fantastic tool for any parent navigating the world of therapy.…

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The pre-term risk of neurodisability 14:38

44 weeks ago14:38

14:38

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The seasonality of therapy 18:01

44 weeks ago18:01

18:01

In this episode, we explore some of the reasons why therapy can be put on hold and the view that therapy can be seasonal. It is simply not possible or healthy to have ongoing therapy. The purpose of therapy is really to bridge the gap between where children are right now and where they want to be. So having periods of time to work on a goal is just as important as having times to let the skills shine outside of therapy.…

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The latest interventions, research and evidence 16:46

46 weeks ago16:46

16:46

Trustworthy research and the latest news in the world of neurodisability Dayna and the whole Healthy Strides team recently attended the AusACPDM conference on the Gold Coast. I sat down with Dayna to ask the important questions and the key takeaways were: The content of the conference confirmed that Healthy Strides is sitting at the front end when it comes to providing the best interventions available in the world to our children. Large amounts of therapy for example 6hrs a day has not been linked to better outcomes. A balance in therapy and living life is the key to positive outcomes. The therapist’s delivering the best outcomes are collaborative, finding a team linked in with other health professionals, hospitals and universities where the research is being done is Dayna’s recommendation for accessing the best therapies.These teams are being challenged by peers and involved in the latest research, are linked in with doctors and have a line of communication with them. If a therapy you are looking into isn't being endorsed, discussed or carried out at your local hospital it is worth questioning and researching if this therapy has been proven to be safe and effective by researchers at hospitals and universities. A great trusted resource for those parents wanting to do more research is www.mycpguide.org.au.…

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Professional (adaptive) sports and the Paralympics! 14:51

47 weeks ago14:51

14:51

Professional sporting and Paralympics Today we discussed what modified and accessible sports are available to families who might be feeling motivated after watching the Paralympics. If your child has an interest and enjoys or has friends already playing a sport they want to play with, then you can start there. Do they like throwing a ball, bouncing a ball, kicking a ball, swimming? There will be an adapted version of the sport for them or your team can help you make adaptations to suit your child, you can then include building skills for this sport into therapy sessions if your child wishes to.…

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Therapy at daycare and school 14:49

48 weeks ago14:49

14:49

What is the perfect balance of therapy and school? On today's podcast Dayna and I discuss what the ideal balance could look like once your child starts school or daycare. Being told it was time to slow down on therapy and let our child be a child was an important permission I needed to alleviate the parental guilt associated with reducing the therapy schedule, changing the therapist’s role and knowing there was research behind the advice was so important to us. Starting school presented the same challenges as after school therapy sessions just weren't working for us. I share how we needed to take a different approach and how we utilised our incredible therapy team to support our child at school which has worked really well for our situation and our school. We hope you find this informative and helpful, if you have any questions or feedback on this topic or any other topics please let us know, we love hearing from you! info@healthystridesfoundation.com…

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Daycare and Neurodisability 16:44

49 weeks ago16:44

16:44

This was another really important topic we discussed today as it's a question we get a lot in the clinic and that is about sending a child with a neurodisability to daycare. There are many reasons a family will send a child to daycare, so the parents can work or get some respite or it may be to socialise their child. Dayna and I discuss the benefits and importance in some circumstances of sending a child with a neurodisability to daycare and how to find the right daycare for your family. The biggest advantage to children attending daycare is the social connections, learning to play, taking turns, being around children of the same age, play with children of the same age is integral to a child's development. Daycare's are a great facilitator for play and general development on all levels. We discuss how beneficial our family found daycare for my child, what challenges we faced when it came to getting our child into daycare and how we knew it was the right place for our family. -- Kate --…

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When to present to ED (or call an ambulance) 16:34

50 weeks ago16:34

16:34

When to present to ED (or call an ambulance) A lot of the time it can be very clear when you need to call an ambulance or present to ED such as for seizures, breathing issues, and severe illness but there is also a lot of gray area with some of our children and i know a lot of us do our best to avoid the “bugs” in hospital’s and unnecessary medical trauma. Some tips and tricks we share for ED visits or ambulance trips are Always carry a recent hospital discharge or paperwork you have put together with your child's and family's details, medical history and recent medications, this can help the Paramedics and Doctors in an emergency allowing you to attend to your child. If relevant it's important to note any changes in the child's environment such as new support workers, EA’s at school, new bruising, new habits, loss of function etc. Always have an up to date height and weight this can be important for many reasons including if immediate medication is required in the ambulance. Back yourself, be confident in expressing your concerns and remember you know your child best and you are the expert on your child. If you noticed it, it's important! Finally we discuss that the cost of calling an ambulance can be high so if you do have a child with a neurodisability or complex health needs, I do recommend looking into the ambulance cover available to you in your area such as through private health insurance, the ambulance provider, or the government. This is something you can also discuss with a social worker at the hospital. Eliminating the cost stress associated with calling an ambulance can be really important when prioritising your child's health and safety.…

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Troubleshooting with a Non Verbal Child 16:13

51 weeks ago16:13

16:13

How to troubleshoot when something is wrong with a non verbal child. It can be so distressing for everyone involved when something is wrong with your child and they can't tell you what, it's really hard to know where to start sometimes, when to take action and who can help. A lot of families have to rely on intuition and sometimes this intuition won't always match a typical clinical presentation for that concern. If your child is very distressed, crying differently and unable to settle it's important to seek medical attention quickly. It's important to know that your intuition in these situations is the evidence so don't be afraid to communicate what you are thinking and feeling could be going on. If you have time, it is important to note some things down to share with the health professionals you are seeing. These include: Diagnosis and classifications that come with that. Recent height and weight - recent growth spurt, lack of growth, fast weight gain or weight loss can all be important indicators to share. Recent eating, drinking and sleeping habits. Have videos of your child on a good day to help show what you are explaining. Any videos you may have taken if it's been a longer decline such as a change in communication, mobility, tone or just generally in your child's personality. Any recent changes in medications. It is important, where possible, to start labeling things in play on dolls or when your child falls, has bumps or is feeling unwell and teach a communication style your child responds to that can help them when things are wrong to communicate to you. It's important to know that therapists and health professionals want you to speak up when you think something may be wrong, no matter how small. They want your parental input, even in therapy sessions where you think the therapist may know your child well. It's important you stop a session if you think something is too much, not working or uncomfortable. I know I have been guilty of leaving it thinking the therapist knows best but Dayna makes it clear they are needing your input. The important final takeout from today's podcast is to remember we do not want to push our children through therapy if they are crying. If a child is distressed and crying they are not taking in anything and there is no advantage to continuing.…

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Screen-time, how much is too much? 17:56

52 weeks ago17:56

17:56

This has been a common question and topic not only within the neurodisability community but also the families and carers of neurotypical children. What is too much screen time and when is screen time a bad thing? The research covered in this article is available here: Mallawaarachchi S, Burley J, Mavilidi M, et al. Early Childhood Screen Use Contexts and Cognitive and Psychosocial Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. Published online August 05, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.2620…

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All about the GMFCS! 16:54

1 year ago16:54

16:54

GMFCS - When to expect a GMFCS score and can this change over time? As parents and carers of children with neurodisabilities we can't help but hyperfocus on the few bits of information we can get when our children are young that give us insight into our children's future. The Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) is one of those tools available that indicates how a person functions everyday and gives an idea of what equipment or mobility aids a child may need in the future such as crutches, a walker or a wheelchair to get around. Due to comorbidities that can come with neurodisabilities, the GMFCS level may appear to fluctuate at times depending on how they are affected by things such as seizures, sensory preferences, respiratory issues and this can change the level of monitoring for things like hip surveillance in our case. Whilst our son’s GMFCS level changed in a report, within the context of hip surveillance, it just meant more monitoring and this was a good thing for us. You should expect a GMFCS rating around 2 years of age and if the rating was to change it would be likely to happen before the age of 5. If you do not agree with the score allocated to your child, you can ask for a therapist to redo it and complete the questions with the clinician completing the assessment.…

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Self Regulation and Behaviour Management 17:23

1 year ago17:23

17:23

This week we discuss all things self-regulation and behaviour management.

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Medication and Medical Teams 16:09

1 year ago16:09

16:09

Therabytes - Taking medication, when should I contact my medical team if things don't look right? A conversation about observations, intuition and lines of communication between the child, the family and the medical team/s.

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Unlock the power of Goal Setting! 17:26

1 year ago17:26

17:26

Unlock the Power of Goal Setting! TheraBytes is back with another stellar question and answer - this week we tackle the concept of SMART goals. Why do you set goals? There is huge power in setting goals - it helps you and everyone in your world to prioritise what is important. SMART goals: 🟠 Specific - be as specific as possible 🟡 Measurable - make sure it's objectively measurable 🟢 Achievable - it needs to be realistic and achievable 🔵 Relevant - it always needs to be relevant and personal to the child 🟣 Time-Bound - it needs to be time sensitive and allocated to a time and date…

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What happens if I think my child is regressing? 15:50

1 year ago15:50

15:50

What to do if you feel like your child is not making the right amount of gains in their skills or you believe you are seeing some skills being lost. It can be very complicated and knowing what to record, observe and report can be so valuable.

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Using equipment to encourage movement 16:15

1 year ago16:15

16:15

All about using equipment to encourage movement!

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The science of Early Walking (Mobility as a Human Right) 16:27

1 year ago16:27

16:27

On this week's TheraBytes episode, we delve into the science of early walking, uncovering its benefits and significance. It's all about mobility as a human right!

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All about Muscle Strengthening! 16:54

1 year ago16:54

16:54

💪

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Trunk control and Hypotonia 15:38

1 year ago15:38

15:38

All about trunk control and hypotonia!

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All about Dysphagia 15:24

1 year ago15:24

15:24

All about Dysphagia! Dysphagia means that an individual may have impaired swallowing. It is an impairment that can be observed in people with cerebral palsy or neuromuscular diseases. It occurs when the individual isn't able to safely swallow due to changes in muscle tone or altered coordination. It is so important to identify dysphagia because it can have some serious consequences on lung health and nutrition. Identifying dysphagia is often within the realms of speech pathologists but it usually also involves large teams such as ENT, nutritionists and respiratory medicine. These teams will work together to make a plan to ensure that the individual receives nutrition and hydration safely. It may mean recommending particular textures of food or thickness of liquids so that it is easier for the individual to prepare the food to swallow safely. However, at times, this can be very challenging and meal times can become very lengthy and frustrating with children failing to put on enough weight. When this happens, it may be necessary to consider a PEG which provides a safe way for nutrition and hydration to enter the body without the concerns of choking or aspirating. Aspirations are when food "goes down the wrong pipe" and ends up in the lungs causing infection. This can be very serious especially if it occurs frequently and this is why it is so important for dysphagia to be treated. In this episode we also talk about some practical strategies and tips which include reducing distractions when eating and not walking or moving around when eating. Whilst aspirations are more common in children that rely on more equipment and physical assistance, we know that tone and muscle strength can play a role in coordinating safe swallows.…

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All about Dystonia 17:53

1 year ago17:53

17:53

This week on TheraBytes we cover the topic of Dystonia - what it is, the causes, the symptoms and treatments.

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All about Spasticity 17:18

1 year ago17:18

17:18

All about high tone - Spasticity - describes something that happens to our muscles when we have an upper motor neuron injury. A discovery of more than just a simple understanding of the ‘elastic band’ theory, especially within the context of cerebral palsy. Spasticity is another diagnosis that originates from the injured brain either at birth or post birth or even the spinal cord. It is a common reason why we observe disruption of muscle movement patterns in our children and young people. I understand now that spasticity is all about a "velocity dependent" increase in tone - it's not just tightness. These ‘annoying’ movements can seem jerky and feel like muscle tightness and joint stiffness, all of which can be frustrating for our kids. Our children work hard, in and out of therapy to stabilise and balance their body for the simple act of standing, taking steps or reaching out. I have come to realise though that in order to get to that end movement, it can be the cause of a lot of cognitive and physical exhaustion, not to mention pain. As a parent, this chat was an eye opener because I came to realise how spasticity can contribute to daily life - everything that they want to do during the day as well as how they can go to sleep and rest. Dr Dayna highlights how spasticity affects our children from day to day and how we can also embrace "chill time" in amongst all the things we have to do. She also discusses the role of botulinum toxin type A, surgery, therapy and strengthening.…

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All about Hip Surveillance! 17:18

1 year ago17:18

17:18

An episode that highlights how important those hip X- Ray appointments are, as a standard monitoring program for children with CP. It makes us understand why we wander through the hospital corridors every 6 or 12 months and answers what it is the Doctors are looking out for. Family discussions post X- Ray being taken, and the Doctors point to the most obvious bones of the ‘ball and socket’ on either side of the hips. We are updated on where the ball and socket is at, if the ball is slightly out of the socket it's something to monitor and come back in six months, but if it’s as it should be snugly fitting into each other then we’ll see you in twelve. We discover more than what parents discuss at these annual visits and discover how important these visits and findings are in our children's developments and their development journeys. We discover how hip displacements and placements can increase or decrease a child's quality of life and how important the ‘ability of movement’ actually is, no matter how little it may be.…

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No pain No gain - it just isn't true! 15:54

1 year ago15:54