Recognizing Early Signs of Dyslexia in Preschoolers

Recognizing Early Signs of Dyslexia in Preschoolers

by | Jan 11, 2024 | Dyslexia & Learning Disorders

Dyslexia is the most common learning disorder in the United States, making up approximately 80% of all diagnosed learning disorders, according to the American Psychiatric Association. When not addressed, dyslexia can lead from simple issues in reading, writing and spelling to behavioral problems and anxiety. Knowing the early signs of dyslexia allows you to look for potential difficulties as early as preschool and find treatments that will help your child succeed.

Hallmarks of dyslexia include:

·       Difficulty identifying speech sounds 

·       Difficulty reading aloud

·       Problems with expressing oneself clearly or comprehending what others are saying

·       Trouble connecting sounds to written letters and words 

A family history of trouble learning to read, including dyslexia, can be an indicator of dyslexia, as well.

Spotting Early Signs of Dyslexia

There are many recognizable signs in young children that they may be at risk for a reading disorder. Noticing these signs during preschool or even earlier allows you to work with a specialist and develop a plan that sets your child up for success when he or she starts kindergarten or elementary school.

Signs of dyslexia in preschoolers can include:

·       Being a late talker 

·       Calling things by an incorrect name

·       Difficulty recognizing letters in their name or other familiar words

·       Difficulty remembering instructions with multiple steps

·       Having the vocabulary or speech patterns of a younger child, for example, mispronouncing words, knowing fewer words than developmentally appropriate or continuing to speak in baby talk

·       Inability to recognize rhyming patterns in words or trouble making up new rhymes on their own

·       Trouble learning or difficulty remembering the letters in the alphabet, days of the week or nursery rhymes

School-age children with dyslexia will experience trouble writing and spelling. They may also have difficulty learning to read. Blending sounds in words and sounding out new words may be hard for them. 

If someone identifies early signs of dyslexia in your child, find a specialist who can screen for the condition before kindergarten. These screenings generally take a few hours and involve a review of your child’s family history and factors including vocabulary, listening comprehension and ability to recognize letters. 

Early Interventions for Dyslexia

Preschoolers who receive early interventions for dyslexia often have better success when learning to read. These support services can include therapy services and special educational tools designed to help your child overcome dyslexia. Early intervention can lead to higher self-esteem and confidence and better performance in school overall. 

Some early interventions may include:

·       Blending sounds in words

·       Learning strategies that use sight, sound and touch 

·       Making the connection between words

·       One-on-one tutoring outside of school

·       Work focused on vocabulary, expressing oneself and comprehension

An education specialist can help you decide which interventions that will most help your child. Just like treating an illness or injury, results are better when specialists tailor them to a child’s individual needs.

When children receive these interventions, they often do so in a sequential manner, starting with basic concepts and working their way up to more complex ones. This level of one-on-one attention also lets specialists use all a child’s senses. Children with dyslexia often see the most success when learning strategies incorporate multiple senses, allowing them to become fully engaged with their work.

If you have concerns about your child’s difficulty learning, speaking with your pediatrician is a great place to start. He or she can guide you through the screening process and point you to the best interventions available to help foster your child’s abilities, 

Request an evaluation for your child at Scottish Rite for Children’s Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders. 

Get to Know our Staff: Hayley Shelton, Physical Therapist

Get to Know our Staff: Hayley Shelton, Physical Therapist

by | Jan 9, 2024 | Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite for Children? 
Physical Therapist

What do you do on a daily basis or what sort of duties do you have at work?
I provide physical therapy services to patients who visit the Ambulatory Care clinics by performing evaluations for home exercise programs, gait training, baseline functional assessments, and pre-operative evaluations. I also perform standardized performance tests and measures to objectively measure patients’ current functional status and to collect data for department research and quality improvement projects. Additionally, I perform screenings to determine if a patient has a need for formal skilled physical therapy services or equipment and bracing needs. Other duties include assisting with coordinating care and facilitating communication between the physical therapists in the Therapy Services department and the Ambulatory Care staff regarding our mutual patients and assisting in evaluations and treatments of patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings.

What was your first job? What path did you take to get here or what led you to Scottish Rite? How long have you worked here?
My first job as a PT was working in the acute care setting at a large hospital in the area where I treated adults with a variety of diagnoses. I really enjoyed the teamwork that comes from collaborating as a multidisciplinary team and learned how much this improves the quality of care a patient receives. My first experience at Scottish Rite occurred when I shadowed in the Therapy Services department prior to attending physical therapy school. The positive and cheerful atmosphere was unlike any healthcare setting I had experienced at the time and it made a lasting impression. I am thankful that I get to continue working in a collaborative setting in my role as a clinic therapist. I am coming up on my two year anniversary at Scottish Rite in May.

What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite?
I enjoy getting to learn from and collaborate with the wonderful people in the Therapy Services department and all the ambulatory care teams. I also love that Scottish Rite prioritizes doing what is best for each patient regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

Tell us something about your job that others might not already know?
Since I work in clinic, the patients I see for PT are not pre-scheduled most of the time, so, each day brings new surprises and opportunities to learn and grow as a therapist.

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
I tend to travel to the same places every year, but my favorite place is Seaside, Florida.

What is your favorite game or sport to watch and play?
I look forward to watching the Summer Olympics every 4 years

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
The 1950s-60s to see Julie Andrews perform live on Broadway

What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?
Sunglasses, water filter, the Bible

What’s one fun fact about yourself?
I danced in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Supporting the Mental Aspects of Recovery after an ACL Reconstruction

Supporting the Mental Aspects of Recovery after an ACL Reconstruction

by | Jan 9, 2024 | Sports Medicine

Anterior cruciate ligament injuries (ACL) continue to be a problem in youth sports such as basketball and soccer. Many athletes and families are very aware of the lengthy physical aspect of returning to sport after an ACL injury and surgery. Some are surprised by the mental challenges and demands that come along with an injury. Patients, like Johanna, are supported by our multi-disciplinary team from the moment they walk into our sports medicine clinic.

Watch Johanna tell her story.

Physical therapist Rushi Patel says, “a lot of times people talk about the physical aspect of an ACL initial injury but you could argue the mental aspect is just as hard.”

Upon arrival, our team begins assessing a new patient from the “inside out.” We ask questions about how the athlete was injured, what level of competition they want to return to and what challenges they are facing physically and mentally in addition to the injury. These help us decide who needs to be involved in the athlete’s care from day one. Here are three tools we implement in our care of young athletes:

  • Certified child life specialists assist children and teens in understanding diagnoses and medical procedures, this helps to keep anticipation and fear under control.
  • Psychologists are available to consult when our clinic team or responses to screening questionnaires suggest an athlete may need more individualized guidance on pain management, coping with the injury and fears related to returning to sports.
  • Many of our patients receive stress management and pain management skill instructions to help them navigate day to day moments and the progression of rehabilitation. Download PDF.

Every team member, from nurse to physical therapist is focused on caring for kids and teens all day, every day. We use age- and developmentally appropriate strategies when we talk to kids, formulate treatment plans and create our educational materials.

Johanna says, “Scottish Rite has been like no other care I’ve gotten at a medical facility I truly feel loved and cared for and not just seen as a number or a patient with an issue to get resolved but they truly care about who I am what my goals are and ultimately what I want to accomplish in life.”

Check out how you can help us learn to prevent ACL injuries.

What to Expect If Your Child Has a Stress Fracture

What to Expect If Your Child Has a Stress Fracture

by | Jan 8, 2024 | Sports Medicine

If you have a young athlete in the family, you probably know that bumps and bruises are part of the game. A more severe injury, like a stress fracture, however, can be worrisome for any parent. Being informed about the nature of stress fractures and how to help your child heal can ease your mind.

What Causes Stress Fractures in Kids?

A stress fracture, sometimes called a hairline fracture, is a tiny crack in a bone caused by physical stress. This type of injury often occurs when a specific muscle or joint is overused or strained, known as an overuse injury.

Stress fractures commonly occur when a child performs the same movements over and over again, for example, running, jumping or throwing a ball.

Telltale Signs of a Stress Fracture 

Stress fractures develop over time, and one of the first signs you may notice is your child frequently complaining of pain after playing or practicing their sport. 

Your child may experience other symptoms, including:

●      Pain during exercise that doesn’t always go away with rest

●      Redness

●      Swelling

●      Tenderness

Swelling or bruising may develop around the bone in the early stages of the injury when it’s considered a “bone stress reaction.” As the injury worsens, it develops into a stress fracture, causing a crack or tiny break in the bone.

Stress Fractures Commonly Seen in Kids

Stress fractures are most common in the weight-bearing bones in the legs and feet, including the tibia bone (shinbone). However, young athletes can experience stress fractures in many other parts of the body. 

Gymnasts, for example, can develop stress fractures in the wrist, while softball and baseball pitchers may experience stress fractures in the arms or shoulders. Stress fractures affecting the lower extremities are common in nearly all sports since most activities place stress on the legs and feet. Rarely, stress fractures can develop in the spine or ribs.

How Are Stress Fractures in Kids Diagnosed and Treated?

If your child has symptoms of a stress fracture, check in with a medical provider. A sports medicine specialist can help determine the cause of your child’s discomfort and provide a treatment plan.

To diagnose an injury, the provider will first gather your child’s medical history and then conduct a physical examination, focusing on the area of discomfort. If the provider suspects a stress fracture, he or she may order imaging tests, such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI, to confirm a diagnosis.

The primary treatment for a stress fracture is rest. Because the injury is most often the result of overuse of a bone and the surrounding muscles, taking the stress and strain off that part of the body is essential. Your child should take a break from activity, and if the injury is in the lower body, your child may also need to wear a boot or use crutches to take weight off the injured bone.

In rare cases, bones that don’t heal after a long period may require surgery to heal correctly.

Prevention 101

To reduce the risk of a stress fracture, have your child avoid repetitive movements as much as possible. Also, encourage cross-training. Having your young athlete do activities that require different muscles and movements not only limits stress on a single joint, but it can also strengthen other muscles and improve their performance in their primary sport.

You can also help your child prevent stress fractures by having them prioritize rest between games and practices, using proper sport-specific equipment and eating a balanced diet rich in vitamin D and calcium. Finally, teach your child never to play through pain.

Think your child may have a stress fracture? Call 469-515-7100 to schedule an appointment with one of Scottish Rite for Children’s sports medicine specialists.

Sports Medicine Year in Review

Sports Medicine Year in Review

by | Jan 8, 2024 | Sports Medicine

Scottish Rite for Children Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center has had an exciting year! We celebrated our fifth birthday in the beautiful facility where we serve children with a variety of pediatric orthopedic needs requiring all levels of care from observation to complex reconstructive surgery. Our mission is often described having three elements, clinical care, teaching and research. Together, they provide a rich experience for patients and trainees and help to define pediatric orthopedics across the world.

Here are a few updates from the Sports Medicine team.

CLINICAL CARE
In the sports medicine clinic, we see more than 16,000 visits each year, and that number continues to grow. Recognized again for excellence in patient experience, our team focuses on educating the patients and families and providing outstanding care so that patients have the outcome they desire. Our work to integrate screening for psychological and nutritional needs help our patients succeed in their rehabilitation and return to sport efforts.

TEACHING
Pediatric sports medicine is a relatively new subspecialty in pediatric orthopedics. In fact, only a handful of organizations have an ACGME-accredited* fellowship program focused on this area. We are very excited to share that we are currently in the process of selecting our first fellow to join our team in 2024. This year-long training program offers a sports medicine surgeon the opportunity to train alongside our experts in the clinic, on the sidelines and in the operating room. In the past year, we had 13 orthopedic residents rotate through our clinic to learn about care and research in pediatric sports medicine.

RESEARCH
This year, our team published more than 20 articles in prestigious medical journals. Many authored by our medical staff and trainees and others were collaboration with peers in the Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRiSM) Society. Here are findings that are being presented at national and international conferences and have the potential to change sports medicine in the areas of diagnostics, clinical care, return-to-sport decision making and injury prevention.

The Sports Medicine team is presenting results from more than 25 projects at a national meeting for the PRiSM Society in January. This work is made possible by our patients, national grants, generous donors and many student trainees learning about pediatric orthopedics and sports medicine.
Learn how healthy athletes can volunteer for a study or you can donate.
 
* The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is the accrediting body for graduate medical education. They hold programs to standards that prepare physicians in nearly 200 specialties.