Transforming Pediatric Care with Galileo KIDS

Posted on January 27, 2025

Revolutionizing Pediatric Therapy: Introducing Galileo KIDS

At Carolina Therapy Connection, we’re dedicated to providing the most innovative tools and techniques to help children reach their full potential. That’s why we’re excited to offer Galileo KIDS, a cutting-edge therapy device designed to support children across multiple developmental and therapeutic goals. Whether your child is working on physical, occupational, or speech therapy, this technology can be a game-changer!

What is Galileo KIDS?

Galileo KIDS is a whole-body vibration therapy platform specifically designed for children. This scientifically developed device uses side-alternating oscillations to mimic natural movement patterns, engaging muscles and stimulating the neuromuscular system. The platform is customizable, allowing therapists to adjust the intensity to meet the specific needs of each child.

Originally developed for medical and therapeutic use, the Galileo system has been backed by extensive research demonstrating its effectiveness in:

Improving muscle strength and tone
Enhancing balance and coordination
Supporting bone density and joint flexibility
Boosting circulation and reducing spasticity

This evidence-based approach makes it an invaluable tool across various therapy disciplines.

How is Galileo KIDS Used in Therapy?

Physical Therapy:
The Galileo KIDS is a powerful tool for building strength and mobility. It activates the stretch reflex, a natural muscle contraction, at a much faster rate than traditional exercise. This can help children:

Develop core strength and stability
Improve balance and gait/walking patterns
Enhance flexibility and range of motion/movement
Manage conditions like cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, or hypotonia

Occupational Therapy:
For children working on fine motor and sensory integration, the Galileo KIDS provides unique opportunities for growth. The gentle vibrations help:

Regulate sensory processing and calm overstimulation
Improve hand-eye coordination through targeted activities
Strengthen hand, wrist, and shoulder muscles critical for daily tasks like writing, dressing, or eating

Speech Therapy:
While vibration therapy might not seem directly tied to speech, it can play an essential role in improving motor control and posture, which are foundational for effective communication. Therapists use Galileo KIDS to:

Enhance core strength for better breath control and vocal projection
Address oral motor coordination through improved posture and alignment
Support neurological pathways critical for speech and language development

Why Choose Galileo KIDS for Your Child?

The benefits of Galileo KIDS go beyond its cutting-edge technology. It’s:

Engaging: Children enjoy the dynamic, interactive nature of the platform.
Time-Efficient: Sessions are short but highly effective, with benefits often noticeable after just a few uses.
Safe: Built with children in mind, Galileo KIDS offers gentle yet impactful therapy tailored to each child’s age and ability.
Versatile: With applications across multiple therapy disciplines, it provides a holistic approach to supporting your child’s development.

Research-Backed Results

Studies have shown that whole-body vibration therapy can improve strength, bone density, and motor function in children with neuromuscular disorders and other developmental challenges. Its proven ability to enhance sensory processing and reduce spasticity makes it a trusted tool in modern pediatric therapy.

Experience Galileo KIDS at Carolina Therapy Connection

We’re proud to bring this innovative therapy device to our clinic. Whether your child is working on gross motor skills, fine motor coordination, or speech development, Galileo KIDS offers a fun, effective way to support their journey. This service is covered under insurance when used as part of a therapeutic treatment program.

Ready to learn how Galileo KIDS can benefit your child? Contact us today to schedule a consultation and see this remarkable tool in action. Together, we’ll help your child grow stronger, more confident, and ready to take on the world!

Promoting Early Language Development (1-3 Years Old): A Guide for Parents

Posted on January 27, 2025

Effective Strategies for Promoting Early Language Development in Toddlers (1-3 Years)

As a parent, one of the most exciting milestones you’ll witness is when your little one starts to babble, form their first words, and eventually begin to combine words into sentences. Children between the ages of 1 and 3 experience a tremendous growth spurt in their language skills, and you, as a caregiver, play a crucial role in nurturing this development. Incorporating simple, everyday activities into your routine can foster your child’s communication abilities while strengthening your bond.

1. Model Simple, Repetitive Language

Language development begins with exposure; repetition is key to helping young children understand and start using words. By consistently repeating words, phrases, or sounds, you provide a model for your child to mimic. For example, when your child points to a ball, you could say, “Ball! Throw the ball.” By using the same word or phrase in similar contexts, your child will start to associate words with their meanings.

Tip for Parents: When playing, model simple sentences like, “I see the car. The car is red,” and repeat the words often to help your child start using them on their own.

2. Expand on Your Child’s Vocalizations and Verbalizations

Children naturally start to make sounds and babble, and it’s essential to expand on these early attempts at communication. If your child says “ba-ba” while playing with a ball, you can develop by saying, “Yes, that’s the ball!” or “Throw the ball to me!” This teaches your child to use more complex sentences and promotes vocabulary growth.

Tip for Parents: Note your child’s attempts to communicate, whether it’s a sound, word, or gesture, and repeat it with added detail or context to reinforce language skills.

3. Use Gestures to Support Understanding

Before children develop verbal skills, they often rely on gestures to communicate. By supporting these gestures with corresponding words, you help children make the connection between their physical actions and the words that describe them. For example, if your child raises their arms to be picked up, you can say, “Up! You want to go up!” This helps them link gestures with language.

Tip for Parents: Encourage your child to use gestures such as pointing, waving, or clapping, and always reinforce those gestures with words to help them connect physical actions with language.

4. Joint Attention: Share the Moment

Joint attention refers to the shared focus of two people on an object or activity. It’s an essential part of early language development because it helps children learn how to communicate about things they’re interested in. Whether it’s a toy, a picture, or a family pet, showing your child that you’re both looking at the same thing helps build their understanding of communication and strengthens your connection.

Tip for Parents: Use eye contact, point to objects, and narrate what’s happening in your child’s environment. For example, “Look at the dog! The dog is running!” This reinforces language development and creates meaningful moments of connection.

5. Engage in Interactive Activities

Interactive activities, such as reading, singing, and playing, are vital for boosting language development. Picture books are especially effective for introducing new words and concepts. Singing simple songs with repetition, like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” helps your child learn words through rhythm and melody. Turn-taking games also help develop social communication skills.

Tip for Parents: Incorporate songs, books, and games into your daily routine. For example, during bath time, you can sing a song like “Rub-a-dub-dub, it’s time for a scrub!” to make the experience engaging and language-rich.

6. Narrate Actions and Label Objects

Narrating actions involves describing what you or your child are doing in the moment. This could be anything from “You’re putting the blocks in the box” to “I’m washing your hair.” It helps children understand the connection between words and actions and enhances their vocabulary.

Tip for Parents: Label everyday objects around the house, like “This is a spoon” or “The dog is running.” The more words your child hears, the more likely they will begin using them themselves.

7. Reflect and Support Your Role

Early language development takes time and practice. As a parent, it’s essential to reflect on your child’s progress and feel confident in your role as their primary language facilitator. Incorporating the above strategies into everyday activities will help ensure steady development, but remember that every child develops at their own pace.

Tip for Parents: Keep a journal of your child’s language milestones and celebrate each step along the way. If you have any concerns, discuss them with a speech-language pathologist (SLP) for guidance and support.

How Carolina Therapy Connection Can Help with Early Language Development

At Carolina Therapy Connection, we specialize in early language development and offer programs designed to support parents and caregivers in nurturing their children’s communication skills. Our team of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provides one-on-one coaching sessions and tailored guidance to help you implement effective language strategies in your everyday routines.

Whether through interactive activities, practical tips, or personalized support, we’re here to empower you as your child’s primary language facilitator. If you’re interested in learning more about Early Language Development and how we incorporate different treatment plans into therapy, including intensives, please feel free to contact us to schedule an evaluation. You can also use this link to explore more about our pediatric intensive therapy services.

Baby Bootcamp (Birth-1 Year)

Posted on January 27, 2025January 27, 2025

Baby Bootcamp: Enhancing Early Communication for Infants (Birth-1 Year)

The first year of a baby’s life is filled with remarkable growth and development, and one of the most important aspects of that development is language. Early communication lays the groundwork for future speech and language skills, which are essential for academic success, social interactions, and cognitive development. At Carolina Therapy Connection, we understand the importance of fostering a child’s communication skills from the very start, which is why we offer the Baby Bootcamp program.

What is Baby Bootcamp?

Baby Bootcamp is an intensive, parent-focused therapy program designed to support optimal language development during the first year of life, especially for babies with medical conditions that may impact their speech and language skills as they grow. This program equips parents with the knowledge and strategies they need to actively foster their child’s communication abilities, ensuring they build a strong foundation for future language growth.

The program is tailored to each baby’s unique developmental needs and provides parents with education, hands-on strategies, and daily coaching to help stimulate early communication. Led by skilled speech-language pathologists (SLPs), Baby Bootcamp focuses on creating a language-rich environment that encourages your baby’s natural communication development.

Key Strategies for Encouraging Early Communication

Verbal Modeling: One of the core elements of Baby Bootcamp is frequent verbal modeling. This strategy involves regularly speaking to your baby, using simple words, phrases, and sentences. Parents are encouraged to narrate their day, describing what they are doing or what the baby is experiencing. This helps babies connect sounds with meaning and fosters language comprehension.
Encouraging Babbling: Babbling is an important step in language development. During the program, SLPs guide parents on how to encourage their baby’s vocalizations through playful back-and-forth vocal exchanges. Engaging with your baby in this way helps promote the early stages of conversational turn-taking and strengthens your baby’s understanding of communication.
Using Visual Supports & Gestures: Babies start to understand gestures and visual cues well before they can speak. Baby Bootcamp teaches parents to incorporate gestures and visual supports, such as pointing, waving, and showing pictures or objects, to enhance their baby’s understanding of language.
Daily Routines as Learning Opportunities: Everyday activities such as diaper changes, feeding, and playtime provide excellent opportunities to build language skills. The program teaches parents how to integrate language-building activities into these daily routines, reinforcing joint attention (focusing on the same thing together) and encouraging early social interactions.

Milestone Tracking & Personalized Feedback

Baby Bootcamp includes milestone tracking, which allows parents to monitor their child’s progress and identify any areas that may need additional support. Through regular assessments and personalized feedback from SLPs, parents can better understand their baby’s unique needs and feel empowered to provide targeted language interventions.

Why Early Language Development Matters

The first year of life is a critical period for language development, and the foundation laid during this time can significantly impact future language and communication skills. Children who experience delays in communication during this stage may face challenges in speech, reading, and social interactions later in life. By focusing on early intervention and active participation, Baby Bootcamp ensures that parents are equipped to help their children reach their language milestones.

How Carolina Therapy Connection Can Help

At Carolina Therapy Connection, our team of experienced speech-language pathologists is dedicated to providing individualized therapy programs like Baby Bootcamp. Our therapists work closely with parents to provide education, personalized strategies, and ongoing support to ensure that each child’s language development is on track. If you have concerns about your baby’s communication skills, our Baby Bootcamp can provide the guidance you need.

If you’re interested in learning more about Baby Bootcamp and how we incorporate this approach into therapy, including intensives, please feel free to reach out to us to schedule an evaluation. You can also use this link to explore more about our pediatric intensive therapy services.

What is Toe Walking?

Posted on February 15, 2024January 31, 2024

Toe walking means that a child is walking and standing on tiptoes, and their heels do not make contact with the ground. Walking up on their toes can be a normal occurrence in children aged three and under as they continue to develop their ability to walk. Beyond that age, without any definitive medical reason, it is considered idiopathic toe walking (walking on toes without a known cause).

Toe Walking Causes

To understand, what’s not so simple about toe walking is the why behind it. There are many possible reasons that children might develop this pattern:

Developmental phase: A child occasionally walking on the balls of their feet can be part of normal development. When children first begin walking, usually between 12-15 months of age, they often try different foot positions including walking up on their toes. However, it is expected that typically developing children will only walk on their toes occasionally.

Neurological concern:

Sensory processing concerns: Children with sensory issues, including those on the Autism Spectrum related to the vestibular system, have a different awareness of their body position and feel stabilized during toe walking. The tactile system includes our sense of touch, pain, and temperature. Some studies conclude that children with differences in vestibular processing can also have tactile senses that exacerbate their toe walking. They may not like the feeling of the floor touching their feet, and toe walking minimizes this contact. Children seeking proprioceptive input toe walk because the gait prolongs stimulation of joint receptors and causes their muscles to tighten. The movement provides a calming input sensation for the child. (Williams 2010)
Cerebral Palsy: The most common cause of toe walking in those with cerebral palsy is spasticity, which can cause stiffness and involuntary muscle contractions in calf muscles, keeping their heels from touching the ground. Over time, without proper stretching and bracing, these muscles can become shortened, making it challenging to achieve heel contact.

Idiopathic toe walking: Toe walking can occur because of an underlying anatomic or neuromuscular condition, but in most cases, toe walking is idiopathic without a discernible underlying cause. Idiopathic toe walking occurs in children between 3 and 7 years old and is more commonly seen in males than females. Idiopathic toe walking is not related to any specific diagnosis and can presenty of reasons, due to a variet including decreased stability and sensory involvement. For some families, toe walking may be a cosmetic concern, whereas it can cause pain or functional issues in other cases. (Ruzbarsky, Scher, & Dodwell, 2016)

Treatment

You may wonder how to stop toe-walking with your child. Therapeutic treatment depends on the cause, how strong of a habit it is, how tight the calf muscles have become, and what other changes have occurred in the child’s foot and ankle due to walking this way.

Treatment can include:

Stretching: To improve muscle length, increase ankle mobility, and promote heel contact
Orthoses: Ankle-foot orthotic worn to keep the foot at a 90-degree angle and promote heel contact
*Turtle bracing: New bracing technique utilizing a removable, re-moldable, lightweight brace to achieve optimal ankle positioning, obtain and maintain ankle mobility, and promote heel contact
Serial Castings: Hard cast used to obtain and maintain a 90-degree angle at the ankle joint for extended periods (1-2 weeks at a time)
Night splints: Braces worn at night to keep the foot in a 90-degree angle and achieve prolonged stretch
Botox injections are most commonly used with those dealing with spasticity; they weaken their calf muscles and make them easier to stretch and cast.

A careful history, clinical exam, and selective diagnostic testing can be used to differentiate between different types of toe walking and determine the most appropriate treatment for each child.

How Can Carolina Therapy Connection Help with Toe Walking?

Being evaluated by a Physical or Occupational Therapist can further help determine which treatment routes are appropriate for your child. Call us today at 252-341-9944 for a free screening!

By: Taylor Saunders

What are primitive reflexes?

Posted on November 15, 2023November 7, 2023

A reflex is an automatic and instantaneous response to a sensory stimulus. Remember when you were a child at the doctor’s office and they tapped your knee with a small mallet to check if your leg kicked upwards? You didn’t decide to kick your leg, it just kicked. From infancy, reflexes are vitally important for proper development of the brain, nervous system, body and sensory systems. Some reflexes are meant to stay with us our whole lives. Others are designed to be dormant after their function is fulfilled – also called integration. Check out this awesome resource from Tools to Grow to learn more about specific reflexes and how they impact a child’s function during their daily life. Primitive reflexes are adaptive responses that develop before birth and typically integrate as the brain matures. Primitive reflexes are important for survival and development early in life; however, it is also important that they become integrated as the child grows. Retained reflexes can cause sensory issues, postural disorders, decreased motor skills, and attention/behavioral issues.

What causes retention of primitive reflexes?

Some potential causes of retention of primitive reflexes include c-sections, trauma during birth, exposure to toxins, decreased tummy time during infancy, decreased time crawling, chronic ear infections, or head injuries during infancy among many other unknown causes.

Five Commonly Retained Primitive Reflexes and their Impact on Occupations

1. Moro Reflex

The Moro Reflex is known as the “startle” reflex. This reflects is a fight or flight reaction. It is present at birth and should be integrated by four months. Common effects of retention include emotional outburst, motion sickness, and difficulties with vision, reading, and writing.

2. Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)

The Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) is known as the “Fencer’s pose”. It assists in the birthing process. It appears at birth and should be integrated by nine months. Common effects of retention include decreased eye-hand coordination, poor handwriting, poor balance, difficulty with reading and math, and difficulty focusing.

3. Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)

The Symmetric Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) is an essential foundation for crawling. It appears at six to eight months and should be integrated by nine to eleven months. Common effects of retention include poor posture, W sitting position, poor eye-hand coordination, messy eater, and low muscle tone.

4. Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)

The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) is commonly seen in children with ADHD diagnoses. It appears before birth and should be integrated by three and a half years of age. Common effects of retention include decreased balance, poor spatial awareness, toe walking, weak muscles, poor posture, and difficulty with climbing.

5. Spinal Galant

The Spinal Galant Reflex also assists in the birthing process. It appears at birth and should be integrated by three to nine months. Common effects of retention include bed wetting after potty training, hyperactivity, postural issues including scoliosis, attention issues, and decreased endurance.

What are integrated reflexes?

Integrated reflexes are important for developing motor control. A child needs motor control to maintain proper posture at a desk in school, ride a bike, read a book, cross midline, write, and get dressed. A child with integrated reflexes has normal movement patterns to complete these functional tasks at home and at school. A child with unintegrated reflexes could benefit from skilled reflex integration therapy which will essentially train a child’s brain by establishing an efficient movement pattern that supports higher level motor skills or cognitive tasks.

How do you know whether or not your child has integrated these reflexes?

There are many common areas of difficulty that may suggest a retained reflex including the following:

“Bouncing” Child: Constantly moving, can’t sit still on a chair, hyperactive
“Noodle” Child: Leans on everything, rests head on table
“Shirt Chewers”: Constantly chewing on shirts or pencils, and touches everything
“Emotional Child”: Challenges with regulating emotions, easily frustrated or upset, difficulty with utilizing age appropriate coping strategies to calm body
School Performance Challenges: difficulty with reading, handwriting, language/speech, poor sitting balance and immature grasp on writing utensils
Coordination Challenges: Chronic body aches, poor endurance, fatigue, muscle weakness, poor concentration, fidgeting, disorganization

How do I know If My Child Has Retained Primitive Reflexes and What Can I Do?

Once your Occupational Therapist suspects a retained reflex, he/she will educate the caregiver on the importance of carryover for treatment recommendations. Caregivers play an important role in seeing progression in their child’s everyday activities. It is typically recommended that the child completes a set of tailored exercises to meet your child’s needs, 5-10 minutes per day, for 30 consecutive days in order to see any progress. Your therapist may recommended a reward or sticker chart in order to keep your child motivated towards an end goal. Progress can be noted short term and over 9-12 months. In addition to exercises, your Occupational Therapist will make recommendations for modifications in the school and home environments which may include changing positioning during school work, movement breaks, sensory techniques, relaxation techniques, decreasing auditory and visual stimulation, and organizational skills, just to name a few!

In order to determine whether your child would benefit from direct treatment for Reflex Integration, it is recommended that your child be evaluated or screened by an Occupational Therapist at Carolina Therapy Connection. Give us a call at 252-341-9944 today to schedule your FREE occupational therapy screening with one of our experienced and knowledgable OT’s.

The Vestibular System in Pediatrics

Posted on October 3, 2022October 4, 2023

What is the Vestibular System?

Vesti-what?!? The vestibular system is made up of the inner ear, vestibulocochlear nerve that communicates between the inner ear and brain, parts of the brainstem, and cortical areas in the brain. The vestibular system responds to head movements like when you nod your head “yes”, shake your head “no”, or tip your head to shake the water out of your ears. It also responds to movements like when you move forward or backwards when you’re sledding, move up and down like when you’re jumping, or when you spin around in circles. Overall the vestibular system helps you figure out where you are in space as you move around your environment so that you can…

Maintain your gaze on a target while moving your head (vestibulo-ocular reflex)
Maintain postural control or balance
Orient yourself to your environment
React appropriately to your surroundings
Avoid falls

Check out this helpful resource from Integrated Learning Strategies, who breaks down the vestibular system as an internal GPS system for the body!

What is vestibular dysfunction?

Vestibular dysfunction may be attributed to deficits or impairments of the inner ear, vestibulocochlear nerve, brain, or brainstem. As adults we may notice difficulties with our vestibular system due to symptoms like dizziness, vertigo, trouble keeping objects in focus while moving our head, or changes in our balance. Children who have vestibular concerns may not realize that they are dizzy or that movement of letters when reading is atypical if they have always experienced these symptoms. This can make diagnosing vestibular concerns hard and can often times be mistaken for other issues (learning disabilities, behavior problems etc.) due to a child’s inability to explain the symptoms they are experiencing.

Migraines, Benign Paroxysmal Vertigo of Childhood (BPVC), and Traumatic Brain Injuries are the most common causes of childhood vertigo. Ocular disorders, inner ear malformations, labyrinthitis (inflammation of the inner ear), and neuritis (inflammation of the vestibulocochlear nerve) are also common causes.

As a parent, here are a few signs and symptoms to watch for regarding vestibular dysfunction:

Head tilted to the side
Easily stressed, anxious, or upset with quick changes in movement or being on unstable, uneven, or taller surfaces
Nausea and vomiting
Imbalance or frequent falls
Vertigo or dizziness
Reduced cognitive performance
Decreased consciousness or arousal
Poor spatial awareness, navigation, or orientation
Ringing in ears
Spontaneous and involuntary eye movements
Motion/car sickness
Constant need for movement or taking unsafe risks for various positional changes or movement patterns

What should you do if your child is experiencing vestibular dysfuntion?

First and foremost, consult your child’s pediatrician to discuss your concerns. You may be referred to a neurologist for further evaluation and recommendations. If your child’s pediatrician or neurologist determines that your child would benefit from Physical or Occupational Therapy treatment, your child may be referred for an initial OT and/or PT evaluation.

How can a pediatric occupational therapist or physical therapist help with vestibular concerns?

During the initial evaluation your therapist may…
- Assess how your child’s eye move in a variety of situations
- Screen for abnormal eye movements
- Assess your child’s visual acuity
- Test your child’s balance while static or standing still, as well as their dynamic balance while on a variety of surfaces, while they are moving, or while they are performing a task
- Assess how your child responds to various positional changes and movement patterns
- Assess for seeking or avoidance behaviors of various positional changes or movements
During treatment your therapist may…
- Use balance beams, obstacle courses, balance boards, single leg stance activities, etc. to challenge and improve your child’s balance.
- Use stair training, climbing a rockwall or ladder, standing on a platform swing, etc. to address gravitational sensitivities and challenge balance at various heights.
- Use swinging, spinning, rolling in a foam cylinder, sliding down slide, riding on a scooter board, etc. to help strengthen your child’s vestibular system. These activities will also potentially help delay the onset or reduce the severity of your child’s dizziness.
- Use specific activities involving movement of their eyes and head to strengthen their vestibular system.

If you have concerns about your child’s vestibular function, motor development, sensory difficulties or anything else, call Carolina Therapy Connection at 252-341-9944 or email us at in**@ca***********************.com to get started today! We accept all major insurances and would love to help your family and kiddo maximize their independence and potential to grow healthy and strong!

Blog Written By: Joann Flaherty, PT, DPT and Jessica Reynalds OTD, OTR/L

References:

Casselbrant ML, Villardo RJ, Mandel EM. Balance and otitis media with effusion. Int J Audiol. 2008;47(9):584-589.
Christy, J., Beam, M., Mueller, G., & Rine, R. (2019). Just Screen It!! (Part 2): Developmental Disability, Vestibular Deficit, or Both?. Presentation, APTA Combined Sections Meeting.
Christy, J., & Rine, R. (2019). Just Screen It!! (Part 1): Developmental Disability, Vestibular Deficit, or Both?. Presentation, APTA Combined Sections Meeting.
Lin, C. (2019). Vestibular Rehabilitation Intervention. Presentation, East Carolina University.
Salami, A., Dellepiane, M., Mora, R., Taborelli, G., & Jankowska, B. (2006). Electronystagmography finding in children with peripheral and central vestibular disorders.International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 70(1), 13-18. doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2005.05.001
Wiener-Vacher, S. R. (2008). Vestibular disorders in children. International Journal of Audiology, 47(9), 578-583. doi:10.1080/14992020802334358