PT Questions

beefsbride

Bennett has been going to PT for the past month (outside of our home)-- he's been 3 times and it has been RXed due to gross motor delay (low muscle tone).  He has screamed through the entire session all three times -- today it was so bad that the PT stopped after 20 minutes.  I don't think it is a pain thing -- it is really just play.  He is in an extreme separation anxiety / stranger danger phase, so I'm assuming that may have a bit to do with it.  We're moving our sessions starting next time to earlier in the day, but I'm a little concerned because I hate to be wasting $$ and everyone's time (and I don't mean that to sound bad -- I just really want this to be effective for him!).  So a couple questions:

1.  If your DC was in PT did you spend the time with them while the PT was working or did you leave the room?  Either I or our nanny has stayed with him so that we could see what she works on with him so we can mirror it at home, but I'm wondering if he would calm down a bit faster if we weren't there.

2.  Did your DC react the same way (i.e. cry through the entire thing), but eventually get used to it?

3.  Any other advice?

Thanks so much!

mhop

Our situation is a little different because our PT has always come to our house.  I would suggest staying both for your DC's comfort, but also to see what they do.  1 hour of PT per week is really not that much when you consider how many hours you could be supporting DC's development.  We spend a lot of our PT time talking with out PT about how we can work with her at home while she's showing us exercises.

Hope this helps some!

TriciaJoy

Ours is also in our home. Fortunately Robbie only gets stranger anxiety every great once in a while and so far it hasn't been any of our therapists. (So far he just hates his pedi and a friend of mine.)

That being said, I do stay in the room. Our OT usually just does her thing and I watch, but the PT sometimes has me actively participate, showing me different moves and such.

But I think it's probably at least worth trying not being in the room. Maybe if your LO would calm down first, you could then come back in the room to watch?

mek10976

Our PT is through the EI program, so they come to our house.  DS started when he was about 2 months, so the whole stranger thing hasn't been an issue for us, but I do work with him and the therapist so I know how to do all the exercises.  Maybe the PT can show you what to do on a doll or tell you, then you can do it on Bennett so that the therapist isn't really the one interacting with him.  I don't know if that would work, but just a suggestion.  Good luck.

AviatorJJ

our therapists came to our home until about 5 months ago. i think that makes a big difference, babies/kids are more comfy in their own homes. is that an option?

NotJustAnAuntie

I don't just stay the whole time; I participate! We've never had any problems with Max being upset or crying or anything... the PT shows me what the movement (or whatever) is, and then I do it with him... it's the only way I'm able to learn what we need to work on at home.

beefsbride

Thanks ladies!  Unfortunately in home is not a option for us right now -- not without a very long wait (due to LONG waitlists . . . we had to wait over 3 months to get into the PT program we are in now as it is), so we've taken this option for support now based on Bennett's age.  And I have participated in the sessions we have attended thus far (as has our nanny since technically she spends more time with my twins than I do).  I guess it is realy just an anxiety / stranger danger thing right now and we'll just need to work through it.  Good news is that he had responded well to our "homework", so I guess we'll just need to suffer through an hour of screaming for a while.   I appreciate the advice and support!

Mommy2Gav

Our PT and OT always came to our house. Ds never had any problems playing with them.?

I am sorry you are going through this. Is there a way to get the PT to come to your house so your ds is more comfortable? ?