Blog: Talk To An OT

Post a question about OT or our services and we will try our best to answer it.

1/23/2017

22 Comments

Sue

4/26/2013 05:15:21 am

If my child needs individual OT how do you provide that?

Tim Conly

4/26/2013 05:21:24 am

Presently, we are providing home-based OT services. We can perform the evaluation and therapy session at your home.

Melissa

5/6/2013 11:39:45 am

What are some general goals you have for children participating in the Finger Gym group?

Tim

5/6/2013 12:17:02 pm

Goals are established on an individual basis, but they all have a functional purpose. In our Finger Gym program, we address a wide range of fine motor goals such as: improved ability to fasten buttons, snaps, zippers, buckles, or to tie shoes; ability to open snack bags, milk cartons, or to push a straw into a juice box; ability to write basic words or one's name. Some children will do everything they can to avoid writing, coloring, or drawing just because it's to difficult--we brake that barrier. We also address being able to cut and paste or simple manipulation of toys. The reason it works so well is because it is a fun, supportive environment where children are motivated to participate.

Lisa

6/4/2013 11:56:33 am

Can I register my daughter for the finger gym at any time or is there a semester with a start and end date?

Tim Conly

6/4/2013 09:49:06 pm

Hi Lisa, You can register your daughter at any time. There are natural breaks, such as at the end of summer and at the end of the year, but your child can continue with the program when it resumes after each break. We do suggest planning on at least a 10 session commitment in order to achieve goals. I hope this was helpful.
Sincerely,
Tim Conly

John

6/20/2013 03:04:23 am

Are you looking to hire therapists?

Tim Conly

6/21/2013 11:17:24 pm

Hi John,
We are most certainly looking to expand our network of therapists. Basic qualifications include experience in pediatrics (either post grad or a solid pediatric internship), excellent interpersonal skills, and a love for play and fun. Please fill out one of contact forms and we can begin to discuss the possibility of collaborating together. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Tim Conly

Rene

7/21/2013 01:17:52 pm

Hello,
My daughter has very messy writing and will be entering the 2nd grade in September. She has succeeded in school so far, but I am concerned that her messy writing will limit her performance when the demands increase. Can you assist with this?

Tim Conly

7/22/2013 09:40:10 pm

Hi Rene,
We can certainly help your daughter. Sometimes it is as simple as brushing up on some basic skills, other times it may be to implement some simple strategies, while in some cases there may be an underlying impairment which must be addressed. In any case, OTs are your go-to people for handwriting issues. Please give us a call to see what services will work best for your daughter.
Sincerely,
Tim Conly

Marge

2/5/2014 11:20:52 am

My child's teacher informed me that my son is having some difficulty with his fine motor skills, particularly with writing legible words. He is 5 years old, which seems a little early to worry about writing, but I am concerned since it was mentioned by his teacher. I would like to have an independent evaluation completed rather than through his school because I don't want him labeled. Can you complete a confidential evaluation through your business? If he needs services, I will definitely inform his school and pediatrician at that point.

Marge

Tim Conly

2/8/2014 11:47:06 pm

Hi Marge,
We can most definitely perform an evaluation for your son and it will be totally confidential. If you wish to share the results with his school or your pediatrician, we can also follow up with a courtesy phone call to any professionals you are dealing with. We have completed evaluations for families where the child is found to NOT be in need of services, but the evaluation was helpful for the family to feel secure in their child's development and it also serves as a baseline for development to compare to in the future.

Please ask more questions or let me know if you are interested in scheduling an evaluation.

Sincerely
Tim Conly

Sharon

2/18/2014 11:57:03 pm

Do you work with children with torticollis? If so, what is your experience? My child is 3 months old and has been diagnosed as having torticollis and I need to find a therapist.

Tim Conly

2/19/2014 12:24:21 am

Hi Sharon,
I have worked with children with torticollis over the past 14 years. This has ranged from children as young as 2 months old to children 10+ years old. Several of my associates also have experience with this diagnosis as well. The prognosis for a child with torticollis is much better the earlier you start. Mild cases often show significant improvement with therapy alone, while more severe cases may also require some surgical intervention. While surgical intervention can be very effective, our goal is to do everything possible to avoid the need for surgery.

I will gladly speak with you directly if you have more questions, or please continue with this blog.

Sincerely
Tim Conly

Sharon

2/19/2014 12:56:26 am

Do children with torticollis often need surgery? How do you know if a child needs surgery?

Tim Conly

2/19/2014 01:48:01 am

Hi Sharon,
Treatment with a home program is very effective, especially when started early. Having consistent collaboration with a pediatrician and orthopedic doctor is essential. There are several factors to monitor during treatment. One should watch to see if observable changes occur within the first 3 months of treatment. Does the head change position, or is it still turned or tilted to the side? Is there a palpable tightness in the SCM muscle of the neck that persists past a 3-6 month period of treatment? Is the child able to move through a full range of motion for turning the head to the side? If concerns in any of these areas persist, doctor re-visits are recommended. These are very general guidelines to consider. Below are a few informational links which may be helpful.
Sincerely
Tim Conly
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11059539
http://www.hss.edu/conditions_congenital-muscular-torticollis.asp

Jennifer

6/2/2014 11:37:31 am

Do you work with children with ADHD who are easily excited? My daughter is having trouble with attending to lessons at school and becomes easily upset when she is not able to calm herself.
Jennifer

Tim Conly

6/9/2014 02:24:40 pm

Hi Jennifer,
We certainly do work with children with ADHD. Our Tune Your Engine program is designed to help children who's engines "run fast" to learn how to utilize specific strategies to be in control of their own behavior, causing their engines to become "tuned" and run just right. Please take a look at the program and contact me if you think this is something that your daughter can benefit from.
Sincerely,
Tim Conly

Joan

8/6/2014 11:48:10 am

I am interested in an evaluation for my son to learn more about his behaviors. He has been having trouble in school and at camp, often being aggressive with his classmates or getting too close to them. Would an OT evaluation help to assess and explain why he does this? I feel that I need to have an explanation for these behaviors so that they can be addressed and that he no longer gets in trouble.

Tim Conly

8/23/2014 12:19:55 am

Hi Joan,
We can certainly perform an evaluation to help determine if his behaviors have a sensory basis to them. When there is a sensory basis for behavior, a course of treatment with a therapist trained in sensory integrative therapy can be quite beneficial. These type of evaluations are often quite lengthy and detailed and could help provide you with some answers that you are seeking. It is not uncommon for the child with significant sensory needs to be labeled as a behavioral problem, especially in structured settings, such as school. Please contact us to discuss how we may assist you.

Sincerely,
Tim Conly

Kristin

6/15/2015 12:33:33 pm

I previously viewed your webpage. I see now that you have another gym that you work from. Are you equipped to work with a child with ASD?

Tim Conly

6/15/2015 01:08:09 pm

Hi Kristin,
Absolutely. My colleagues and I are well trained in working with children on the spectrum, and our new gym location is an ideal setting to work on sensory processing issues. We can also taylor to your child's needs. During the week there may be other children around which your child could interact with if socialization is the main concern. On Friday afternoons and Saturdays the gym is very calm and quiet, which is ideal if your child has sensitivities to sound or aversion to busy environments. If you care to stop by to take a peek at the gym, that can be arranged.
Sincerely,
Tim Conly

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Post a question about OT or our services and we will try our best to answer it.

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Be Your Best OT & PT Services Westchester, NY Westchester Pediatric

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Be Your Best
OT & PT Services
Westchester, NY Westchester Pediatric