Volumne 1, Issue 3

October 2008
Fall is Here!
Fall is here with cooler
weather and exciting things
happening. October is
Physical Therapy Month,
Down Syndrome Aware-
ness Month, and National
Sensory Awareness Month.
Included in this newsletter:
information about the
above mentioned organiza-
tions; how to participate in
the Buddy Walk to support
Down Syndrome; informa-
tion on physical therapy
month; and information
about sensory processing
disorder.
Several CNS therapists
CHILDREN'S NEUROTHERAPY SERVICES
OTR/L, began work on her Several therapists from
Doctorate of Occupational CNS participated in the
Therapy degree. She is Buddy Walk in Charlotte,
attending Nova Southeast- NC on October 4, 2008.
ern University in Florida as
well as continuing to work.
Her anticipated graduation Below is Judah with a mas-
date is May 2010. Lindsey cot, worn out from a long
is a 2007 graduate of Le- day!!
noir-Rhyne College with a
Master’s Degree in Occu-
pational
Therapy.

attended the Beckman Oral

Motor Conference in Sep-
tember. See what they
learned and how they
might be able to help your
child.
We are proud to announce
that Lindsey Robins, MS,

Therapists Attend Conference

Several therapists had the Robins, MS, OTR/L, and well as intervention strate-
CNS News

opportunity to attend the
Beckman Oral Motor
course in September at the
North Carolina School for
the Deaf in Morganton,
NC. Kim Barlow, MA,
CCC-SLP, Jennifer Car-
penter, OTR/L, Lindsey
Sheri Toner, MS, OTR/L
are now able to complete
an oral motor assessment
and provide intervention
using the Beckman proto-
col. They learned hands-on
techniques for tonic bite,
tongue thrust, and gag as
gies for improving facial
muscle function for eating
and speech. Other areas
that were discussed were
diet texture progression,
tube to oral issues, and oral
function for individuals
with trachs.

Inside this issue:

Employee of the Quarter 2

New Employees 2

Importance of Tummy Time 2

Physical Therapy Month 3

Motor Development 3

Sensory Awareness Month & Down Syndrome Month 4

Update on Sensory Processing Disorder 5

Employee of the Quarter
The Employee of the Quarter is deter-
mined by all the employees at CNS
Clinic. Everyone votes for the co-
worker whom they feel is the best team
player for that quarter. The
chosen employee receives a
gift card and a certificate con-
taining comments their co-
workers wrote.
Heather Hager was chosen
from the Hickory office as Em-
ployee of the Quarter. Her co-
workers stated that she is al-
ways helpful, objective, profes-
sional and straight forward;
works hard training others and
answering questions when
needed; is showing increased
New Employees
We are excited to welcome the following
employees to our team.
Lisa Baker is the Office Assistant at the
Lenoir office. She graduated from Cald-
well Community College and Technical
Institute in 2008 with an Associates De-
gree in Medical Office Administration.
She and her husband Roger have two
children and one granddaughter. She also
has a four-legged child named Chi Chi.
She loves her job at CNS and is eager to
learn more about the different services
Importance of Tummy Time
It is important for your baby to get
enough tummy time throughout the day,
while he or she is awake and supervised.
These activities include handling, carry-
ing, diapering, positioning, feeding, and
playing with your baby. Increasing the
amount of time your baby lies on his
tummy promotes muscle development in
the neck and shoulders, helps prevent
tight neck muscles and the development
of flat areas on the back of the baby’s
head, and helps build the muscles your
baby needs to roll, sit, and crawl.
Page 2
willingness to work together to reach
team objectives; encouraging and help-
ful to others; and is always willing to
answer questions and help others when
the need
arises.
Heather
has been
with CNS
for five
years.
Annabeth
Covert was
chosen as
the Em-
ployee of
the Quarter
for the
provided by the clinic and the children
that are served.
Donna Buchanan is the new Referral
Specialist at the Hickory office. She
graduated from Western Piedmont Com-
munity College in 2007 with an Associ-
ates Degree in Applied Science– Medical
Office Administration. She lives in Mor-
ganton with her husband Clate. They will
celebrate their 9th wedding anniversary
in January. Donna enjoys singing kara-
oke and spending time with her husband,
Babies need tummy time because they are
spending more time on their backs. In the
early 90s, the American Academy of Pedi-
atrics’ Back to Sleep program successfully
decreased the incidence of
sudden infant death syn-
drome (SIDS) in the United
States by 40 percent by en-
couraging parents to place
their babies on their backs to
sleep. Around the same
time, a number of infant
carriers doubled as car seats
and carriers became
Lenoir office. Her co-workers reported
that Annabeth always has a great atti-
tude; always willing to go out of her
way to assist others; great at communi-
cating information to make co-
treatments more effective; always has a
pleasant thing to say to everyone; a
breath of fresh air every time you talk
to her; always has a positive attitude
and is willing to help even without be-
ing asked; and stays positive with all
that’s going on and is excellent with the
children. Annabeth has been with CNS
for five months.
family, friends, and especially her two
nephews, Chase Andrew and Trent
Logan.
Katie Spencer is working as a clinical
assistant. She completed her OT field-
work with CNS this summer and is now
assisting Angie Stone, OTR/L, Clinical
Director. Katie will graduate from Le-
noir-Rhyne University in May 2009.
widely used. This combination of back
sleeping at night and daytime pressure on
the infant’s head can create a flattening of
the skull.
It is important to a baby’s devel-
opment that they get supervised
tummy time and constant repo-
sitioning throughout the day.
Information obtained from
www.apta.org. Written by Col-
leen Coulter-O’Berry, PT, MS,
P.C.S, and Dulcey Limo, C.O.,
OTR/L.
C N S NE W S
Physical Therapy Month
What is Pediatric Physical Therapy?
Pediatric physical therapy promotes inde-
pendence, increases participation, facili-
tates motor development and function,
improves strength, enhances learning
opportunities, and eases care giving.
Pediatric physical therapists work to help
children reach their maximum potential
for functional independence through ex-
amination, evaluation, promotion of
health and wellness, and implementa-
tion of a wide variety of interventions
and supports. Pediatric physical
therapists support children from in-
fancy through adolescence and col-
laborate with their families and other
medical, educational, developmental,
and rehabilitation specialties. They Caption describing picture or graphic.
promote the participation of children
in daily activities and routines in the
home, school, and community.
The Section on Pediatrics is one of the
specialty sections of the American Physi-
cal Therapy Association. The mission of
the Section on Pediatrics is to promote
Motor Development: Top 10 Red Flags
Toddlers acquire motor skills in a pre-
dictable sequence: First they walk, then
run, and climb, then jump with both feet.
But while the sequence may be consis-
tent, the rate at which children develop
can vary greatly. And when a toddler
seems to be late on a particular mile-
stone such as walking or talking, it can
be difficult to tell whether the problem is
just an individual quirk or a true devel-
opmental problem.
“It helps to think of motor disorders in
two categories— qualitative and quanti-
tative,” says Andrew Adesman, chief of
Developmental and Behavioral Pediat-
rics at Schneider Children’s Hospital in
New York.
A qualitative disorder, Adesman says, is
something that’s not normal in and of
itself; for example, severe stiffness of
one or both legs would signal a problem
in any age range — baby, toddler, or
grade-schooler.
VOLUMNE 1, ISSUE 3
the highest quality of life for all children,
people with developmental disabilities,
and their families. The Section repre-
sents pediatric physical therapy and pro-
motes its members as preferred providers.
The Section also serves as a collective
voice to further the role of pediatric
physical therapists and physical therapist
assistants.
CNS has two physical therapists and one
physical therapist assistant. Glen Neal,
MPT, is a 2000 graduate of East Carolina
University with a Master’s Degree in
Physical Therapy. He has been Infant,
A quantitative disorder, on the other hand,
is when your child’s behavior is normal
but the timing is off. For example, crawl-
ing is a normal developmental stage — but
if your child’s still crawling at 18 months
with no sign of walking soon, he could
have a developmental problem.
Experts such as Gay Girolami, a physical
therapist and executive director of Path-
ways Center in Illinois, believe that what-
ever kind of issue a toddler has catching
problems as early as possible offers the
best chance of improvement. Here are the
top 10 red flags that may signal an early
motor problem.
• Your child’s limbs seem stiff.
• Your child’s muscles seem floppy and
loose.
• Your child doesn’t walk yet.
• Your child is walking on her toes.
Toddler, and Family Specialist certified
since 2006. He has worked for CNS
Clinic for almost 8 years. He has at-
tended several courses involving Neuro-
Developmental Treatment and treatment
of children with Cerebral Palsy.
Stephanie Ross, DPT, earned her Doctor-
ate of Physical Therapy from the Univer-
sity of St. Augustine for Health Sciences
with high honors, after receiving her
BA in Biology from St. Mary’s Col-
lege of Maryland. She has been In-
fant, Toddler, and Family Specialist
certified since 2006 and a member of
the American Physical Therapy As-
sociation since 2003.
Heather Hager, LPTA, is a licensed
physical therapy assistant who gradu-
ated from Caldwell Community Col-
lege with honors. She has been In-
fant, Toddler and Family Associate certi-
fied since 2006. She has been with CNS
Clinic for 5 years and currently enjoys
working with families as the office man-
ager.
• Your child favors one hand or side
of his body.
• Your child seems very clumsy.
• Your child is constantly moving.
• Your child has trouble grasping and
manipulating objects.
• Your child drools and has difficulty
eating.
• Your child’s motor skills are re-
gressing.
Information obtained from BabyCenter
LLC. Written by Beth Haiken.
Page 3
Sensory Awareness Month
Imagine wearing a piece of sandpa-
per down the back of your shirt…
or trying to eat your lunch next to a
hot garbage can… or trying to walk
across a room during an earthquake.
No-you are not a contestant on the
television show “Fear Factor”,
rather you are experiencing a slice
of life as a child with sensory inte-
gration dysfunction also known as
sensory processing disorder.
For the estimated 1 in 20 children af-
fected by sensory integration dysfunction,
life can be much like what was described
above...and sometimes worse. Inundated
by sensory information all day, most chil-
dren develop motor planning abilities that
enable them to appropriately adapt and
respond to the sights, sounds, smells,
movement and other sensations around
them. Children with sensory integration
dysfunction (DSI/SPD) react differently
to sensory information and are often
overwhelmed by this information, experi-
ence developmental delays, and have
difficulty with daily living skills.
“Unfortunately, some children with sen-
sory integration dysfunction are misdiag-
nosed with other disorders,” explained
Kathleen Morris, pediatric therapist and
publisher of S. I. Focus Magazine. “The
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
The Buddy Walk was established in 1995
by the National Down Syndrome Society
to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness
Month in October and to promote accep-
tance and inclusion of people with Down
Syndrome. Today, the Buddy Walk pro-
gram is supported nationally by NDSS
and organized at the local level by parent
support groups, schools, and other or-
ganizations and individuals.
Over the past thirteen years, the Buddy
Walk program has grown from 17 walks
to more than 275 expected in 2008 across
the country and around the world. Last
year alone, 250,000 people participated in
a Buddy Walk! They raised more than
$9.5 million to benefit national education,
Page 4
1 in 20 children are affected by sensory integration dysfunction.
good news is that many children with
sensory issues are helped immensely with
the right treatment.”
The solution that many have found suc-
cess with is sensory-based occupational
therapy. With this type of therapy, the
child is incrementally exposed to a vari-
ety of sensory experiences to help regu-
late the child’s interpretations of and
responses to sensory input. Because DSI/
SPD is an emerging health concern, there
has not been widespread research con-
ducted on treatments, but studies and
anecdotal evidence strongly suggest that
sensory-based therapy can have signifi-
cant and long-term success.
Parents, educators, and healthcare profes-
sionals who suspect a child is affected by
DSI/SPD should contact an occupational
research, and advocacy initiatives, as well
as local programs. These funds enable
NDSS and local groups to offer services
that support and enhance the equality of
life for individuals with Down Syndrome
and their families.
The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk in
which anyone can participate without
special training. It is a wonderful, heart-
warming event that celebrates the many
abilities and accomplishments of people
with Down Syndrome. Whether you
have Down Syndrome, know someone
who does, or just want to show your sup-
port, come and join a Buddy Walk in
your community!
therapist who specializes in sensory-
based therapy for an evaluation.
Log on to
www.sensoryintegration .com for
resources on finding local occupa-
tional therapists trained in sensory-
based therapies.
S.I. Focus sponsors National Sen-
sory Awareness Month “Come To
Your Senses” each October to raise
awareness of sensory integration
dysfunction/ sensory processing
disorder among parents, educators, and
other professionals who work with chil-
dren. Visit www.sensoryintegration.com
for more information.
Angie Stone, OTR/L and Jennifer Car-
penter, OTR/L are both certified in sen-
sory integration and able to administer
the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test.
All of the OT’s at CNS have received
training in sensory integration and some
have attended additional workshops on
sensory integration.
CNS Clinic and Catawba County Parent-
ing Network sponsors a Sensory Integra-
tion Support Group every month on the
last Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Contact Jenni-
fer Carpenter, at jcarpen-
ter@cnsclinic.com for more information.
The following groups will be walking in
October: Western North Carolina Down
Syndrome Alliance, October 11, 2008,
Asheville, NC; Down Syndrome Associa-
tion of Charlotte, October 4, 2008, Char-
lotte, NC; Down Syndrome Network of
Greater Greensboro,
October 12, 2008,
Greensboro, NC;
Outer Banks Buddy
Walk, October 4,
2008; TDSN Buddy
Walk, October 12,
2008, Raleigh, NC;
and Ben’s Bud-
Please contact
dies, October 25, www.buddywalk.org to sign up
2008, Salisbury. for a walk or for volunteer
information.
NC.
C N S NE W S
 CHILDREN'S NEUROTHERAPY
SERVICES

Children's Neurotherapy Services

1087 13th St. SE
Hickory , NC 28601
Phone: 828-267-1688
Fax: 828-267-1690

Lenoir Clinic
144 Tremont Park Drive
Lenoir, NC 28645
Phone: 828-754-5550
Fax: 828-754-5558

E-mail: help4kids@cnsclinic.com

Update on Sensory Processing Disorder

The SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) DSM committee’s questions and that are continue to be elusive and insurance cod-
Foundation is working hard to get SPD feasible for them to conduct in less than ing for diagnostic and treatment services
included in the 2012 revision of the Diag- two years if they work non-stop. will probably not exist.
nostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V).
Without DSM recognition, swift and If you would like to know more about the
The SPD Foundation heard from the
accurate diagnosis of SPD and the sen- DSM initiative, you can view the DSM
American Psychiatric Association com-
sory challenges of other disorders will applications by clicking on “DSM” in
mittee, who is considering their
Our Library at
application to include SPD in the
www.spdfounctaion.net/
manual. The letter they received
library.html. You can find out more
indicated that they are seriously
information about sensory process-
considering their application but
ing disorder on the SPD website at
more science is needed before they
will include new disorders in the www.spdfoundation.net.
next DSM. They want to see stud-
ies showing that SPD is distinct
from all other disorders in the DSM. Information provided by the SPD
Since it is impossible to distinguish Foundation and Lucy Jane Miller,
the disorder from all the disorders in Ph.D, OTR.
the DSM, they have narrowed the
list to three disorders: Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,
Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and
Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
With these in mind, they have de-
veloped five studies to address the