Messy Face, Empty Plate by Kacie Bartlett, CCC-SLP Kids Place West Speech and Feeding Therapist Parents have been taught that when their child is hungry, they will eat. This may be true for some children but not all. Many children have difficulty consuming adequate nutrition orally, whether it is due to a medical diagnosis, motor…
The 8th Sense by DeNell Dykstra, OTS Kids Place West Student Occupational Therapist Most of us are aware of the five main senses – sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Some of us have also heard of the two ‘hidden’ senses – proprioception and vestibular. Proprioception is the ability to sense joints and muscles. The…
Don’t Let an Ankle Sprain Keep You From Moving by JD Fields, DPT, OCS AZOPT Glendale Clinic Manager One of the more common injuries we encounter at AZOPT is ankle sprains. Most think ankle sprains only can happen during sports or high-level activity, but in truth, these occur more regularly during normal daily and recreational…
Tools to Manage Your Child’s Challenging Behaviors by Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Children misbehaving or testing the limits is a normal part of childhood development. Most challenging behaviors emerge between the ages of 3—6 when the child is developing a sense of autonomy. However, these behaviors can reach a…
Common Types of Dizziness and Vertigo By Tyler Guymon, DPT AZOPT Buckeye Clinic Manager and Doctor of Physical Therapy If you have ever woken up one day experiencing symptoms of dizziness and vertigo without knowing why, you are not alone. While many cases of dizziness and vertigo can be traced to a specific incident, many…
The Risks of Prolonged Use of a Pacifier by Paige Luetkemeyer, MS, CF-SLP Kids Place Central Speech Language Pathologist It’s in your nature to comfort your baby when in distress. Pacifiers are a helpful tool that not only soothes a crying baby but also satisfies her natural sucking instinct. In fact, several studies have shown that…
How Yoga Challenged This Crossfitter with Unrealized Benefits By Brooke Smith, DPT, FAAOMPT, CERT DN, CCI AZOPT Goodyear Clinic Manager As an avid Crossfitter, I enjoy a challenging workout with immediate results. So, I was skeptical when I was invited to participate in my first yoga class. Would it be difficult enough? Would I even…
Kids Place celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month. Check out this video from Morgan and Allie, Speech Therapists at Kids Place West, to learn more about strategies to encourage your late talker to effectively communicate. For more information, please visit: Encouraging Early Developing Social Language Skills Parentese: What Is It and Why You Should Do…
Kids Place celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month. Check out this video from Lindsey and Brandi, Speech Therapists at Kids Place Central, to learn more about the benefits and strategies for teaching your child sign language. For more information, please visit: Should I Teach My Child Sign Language? Jump-Start Your Baby’s Language Learning with…
Rehabilitation Following a Stroke by Mariah Devries, DPT Kids Place West Physical Therapist A stroke is defined as a period in time where the brain does not receive sufficient oxygenation, resulting in death of brain cells. A stroke may produce resulting impairments including changes in strength, weakness on one side of the body, altered sensation,…
