i'm into week 3 now of my month off between the end of fieldwork and the start of my career. next week i hope to sit for the exam. yikes! i've put in a little study time (2 hours) but hope to really crunch it out in the next few days, in between unloading boxes of course. i'm moving tomorrow!
life is really about to change. new year. new place. new career. new body (i'm in the middle of a major detox after the holidays). but same old blog. have no fear, this nonsense is going to continue right through 2008!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Friday, December 14, 2007
the end is near
It doesn't feel real. In 5 minutes I'm packing up my desk and heading out the door. Beyond that door lies my future as an OT candidate (that's what they call us once we finish fieldwork, but before we take & pass the license exam). I leave behind my status as an OT student. Not that the learning stops here. The more I learn the more I realize how much there is to learn.
As with any huge transition comes the strange feelings, intense self analyzation. And I'm sure that's all coming, but right now I'm in the numb overwhelmed stage. Doesn't feel real. Maybe I'll be feeling it a bit more after a few cocktails- which is coming. Dinner, drinks, and karaoke tonight- to celebrate this monumental occasion! Party!
Well, here it is one last time...
Amanda LeBlanc Hamm, OTS
As with any huge transition comes the strange feelings, intense self analyzation. And I'm sure that's all coming, but right now I'm in the numb overwhelmed stage. Doesn't feel real. Maybe I'll be feeling it a bit more after a few cocktails- which is coming. Dinner, drinks, and karaoke tonight- to celebrate this monumental occasion! Party!
Well, here it is one last time...
Amanda LeBlanc Hamm, OTS
Thursday, November 29, 2007
2 Weeks Left!
How did it get to be the end of November with only two weeks remaining of this fieldwork? The old cliche definitely applies, "Time flies while you're having fun." I really have had a good time working in pediatrics. The children make me laugh and smile everyday, as well as the staff. No one takes themselves too seriously and why would we- we get to play all day!?! But of course you can't have all play and no work. We spend time writing daily notes, evaluations, and goals. This past week I spent hours researching spatial awareness for a presentation. Did you know that spatial reasoning occurs in the right superior temporal area of the brain? Well, you know.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
treating the whole person... body and mind
Chris is an 8 year old boy, diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 4. He's been medicated since the day of his diagnosis. Serious psychiatric meds on a developing brain, I'm no doctor... but this sounds a little dangerous. I'm not the only one with doubts; there's quite a bit of controversy surrounding the use of this label and treatment with preadolescent children. Experts now agree that bipolar can occur in children, but disagree about the defining symptoms and at what age they can appear.
The danger became evident last December as a young girl from Hull, MA died from an apparent overdose of Clonidine, a blood pressure med used to sedate hyperactive children. She was also taking Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, and Depakote, an anti-seizure med that helps regulate mood. Chris has been on all the same medications, but over the last year his parents have been exploring other options. Homeopathy has been successful in reducing the dosages required to control Chris's symptoms; they're progressively moving him off his meds.
Hypnotherapy has proved helpful in the past. Since the time he could make his needs known, Chris would only wear camouflage. When he was five someone recommended that he see a hypnotherapist. His mom laughed at the idea, but was willing to try anything... and it worked. During the session he began talking about his past life, being a solider in a war and dying in the battle. His mother couldn't believe it, but when it was done he no longer needed to wear camouflage.
So maybe there's more to treating people than diagnosing and medicating them. Modern medicine has brought many advances, but it's certainly not the end all be all. And with 36% of the US adult population using some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), again, I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
About an hour ago I experienced a form of CAM for myself. CranioSacral Therapy (CST)is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Using her hands, an OT here at my FW, released the "energy cyst" in my abdomen. I felt a deep pulsing there and then waves of heat rushing from my core down my legs. Weird, yes. Do I love it, yes. That's why in December I'll be attending a 4 day workshop on CranioSacral Therapy. More on all this then!
The danger became evident last December as a young girl from Hull, MA died from an apparent overdose of Clonidine, a blood pressure med used to sedate hyperactive children. She was also taking Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, and Depakote, an anti-seizure med that helps regulate mood. Chris has been on all the same medications, but over the last year his parents have been exploring other options. Homeopathy has been successful in reducing the dosages required to control Chris's symptoms; they're progressively moving him off his meds.
Hypnotherapy has proved helpful in the past. Since the time he could make his needs known, Chris would only wear camouflage. When he was five someone recommended that he see a hypnotherapist. His mom laughed at the idea, but was willing to try anything... and it worked. During the session he began talking about his past life, being a solider in a war and dying in the battle. His mother couldn't believe it, but when it was done he no longer needed to wear camouflage.
So maybe there's more to treating people than diagnosing and medicating them. Modern medicine has brought many advances, but it's certainly not the end all be all. And with 36% of the US adult population using some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), again, I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
About an hour ago I experienced a form of CAM for myself. CranioSacral Therapy (CST)is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. Using her hands, an OT here at my FW, released the "energy cyst" in my abdomen. I felt a deep pulsing there and then waves of heat rushing from my core down my legs. Weird, yes. Do I love it, yes. That's why in December I'll be attending a 4 day workshop on CranioSacral Therapy. More on all this then!
Thursday, October 25, 2007
here i am, but where am i going
Okay, I admit it’s been a while. And there’s a couple reasons..
1. The Red Sox made it to the World Series. And I’ve made it through some late nights watching them.
2. I’m still processing Sensory Integration Therapy. It’s kinda like doing brain surgery without ever cracking the skull. Pretty tricky stuff.
3. I’m deciding my fate as a future OT.
First point, the Red Sox are pretty unbelievable. Talk about a well integrated sensory system. Beckett’s perfected the pitching motor plan well enough to strike out the 1st 5 batters last night. He’s able to tune out the crowd, anticipate the batter’s swing style, and throw a killer fastball. Wonder if he had SI therapy as a child.
Secondly, forgive my ignorance, inexperience, or call it what you may, but I’m still grasping for a full concept of sensory integration therapy. I understand the theory, I think. But it’s so hard for me to see & understand the results of practice. I’d feel much better if there was a study out there that illustrated before treatment/ after tx pictures of the brain/spinal cord. SI treatment looks like play, in fact it should look like play. The more fun it is, the more effective it is. Jean Ayres, the queen of SI, stated herself… “The most effective therapy is often the least convincing to those not intimately involved in the child’s welfare.” A bit bold for my taste, but any other way of saying it might be a watered down truth.
And lastly, my career fate. Nearly halfway through my second fieldwork, it’s time to think about where I’ll be applying for my 1st job as an OTR/L. With two excellent, but very different fieldwork experiences exposing me to two very different pratice areas- long term acute care for adults & a private pediatric clinic… where will I end up? I wanted to avoid making this decision until later, but with an interview this Friday, seems I’ll have to make this decision sooner!
1. The Red Sox made it to the World Series. And I’ve made it through some late nights watching them.
2. I’m still processing Sensory Integration Therapy. It’s kinda like doing brain surgery without ever cracking the skull. Pretty tricky stuff.
3. I’m deciding my fate as a future OT.
First point, the Red Sox are pretty unbelievable. Talk about a well integrated sensory system. Beckett’s perfected the pitching motor plan well enough to strike out the 1st 5 batters last night. He’s able to tune out the crowd, anticipate the batter’s swing style, and throw a killer fastball. Wonder if he had SI therapy as a child.
Secondly, forgive my ignorance, inexperience, or call it what you may, but I’m still grasping for a full concept of sensory integration therapy. I understand the theory, I think. But it’s so hard for me to see & understand the results of practice. I’d feel much better if there was a study out there that illustrated before treatment/ after tx pictures of the brain/spinal cord. SI treatment looks like play, in fact it should look like play. The more fun it is, the more effective it is. Jean Ayres, the queen of SI, stated herself… “The most effective therapy is often the least convincing to those not intimately involved in the child’s welfare.” A bit bold for my taste, but any other way of saying it might be a watered down truth.
And lastly, my career fate. Nearly halfway through my second fieldwork, it’s time to think about where I’ll be applying for my 1st job as an OTR/L. With two excellent, but very different fieldwork experiences exposing me to two very different pratice areas- long term acute care for adults & a private pediatric clinic… where will I end up? I wanted to avoid making this decision until later, but with an interview this Friday, seems I’ll have to make this decision sooner!
Friday, October 5, 2007
Sensory 202: Let's Integrate!
Okay so we have 10 senses, so what? The so what is that our nervous systems have to constantly process this information- selecting, ignoring, and choosing an response. While it's something most of us do effectively, some people's nervous systems have differences that make even simple activities of daily life difficult, even impossible. As the nervous system develops it becomes more and more efficient. Children with developmental delays often have an immature nervous system. This makes their world look, feel, and sound a lot different. The resulting behaviors are often curious and misunderstood, but analysis through the lens of sensory integration theory may begin to unfold the mystery.
The magic of therapy based on sensory integration theory is providing the child with the type, amount, and intensity of sensory input so that their nervous systems begin to process and integrate this information more effectively, making learning possible.
One of my struggles with this theory is the social judgement which determines the appropriateness of certain behaviors in children today. Perhaps with today's standards, my mother would have determined me a candidate for this therapy. I couldn't stand any labels on my clothes, drank out of a bottle till I was five, and could only sleep after my dad tucked in my sheets so tight and put all my stuffed animals around me. Strange behaviors, sure. Sensory Processing Dysfunction, not quite because it didn't interupt my learning or everyday function. Or did it? What would I be doing different today if I had receiving treatment? What's normal anymore? And who's to judge?
The magic of therapy based on sensory integration theory is providing the child with the type, amount, and intensity of sensory input so that their nervous systems begin to process and integrate this information more effectively, making learning possible.
One of my struggles with this theory is the social judgement which determines the appropriateness of certain behaviors in children today. Perhaps with today's standards, my mother would have determined me a candidate for this therapy. I couldn't stand any labels on my clothes, drank out of a bottle till I was five, and could only sleep after my dad tucked in my sheets so tight and put all my stuffed animals around me. Strange behaviors, sure. Sensory Processing Dysfunction, not quite because it didn't interupt my learning or everyday function. Or did it? What would I be doing different today if I had receiving treatment? What's normal anymore? And who's to judge?
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Sensory 101: The Hidden Senses (for non-OT folk)
Pop Quiz... How many senses do humans have? 5 right, wrong. You probably grew up hearing a lot about vision, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. But there are actually 5 more senses...6) Pain, 7) Temperature, 8) Visceral, 9) Proprioception, 10) Vestibular. I wonder if you've ever even heard of the last two (don't think I did before OT school.) But these two hidden senses are essential to our bodies functioning, movement, and learning.
Proprioception tells us where our bodies are in space, based on information detected in the muscles & joints. (Try to touch your finger to your nose with your eyes closed. Is your proprioceptive sense working?)
Your vestibular system provides the dominant input about our movement and orientation in space, based on receptors located in the inner ear. It is responsible for our ability to balance, to climb stairs, to walk easily, to adjust to changing levels, to react promptly, (recover our balance) when we step in a hole.
So be grateful, thank your hidden senses today! Tomorrow's lesson (Sensory 202) will focus on the integration of all these senses.
Proprioception tells us where our bodies are in space, based on information detected in the muscles & joints. (Try to touch your finger to your nose with your eyes closed. Is your proprioceptive sense working?)
Your vestibular system provides the dominant input about our movement and orientation in space, based on receptors located in the inner ear. It is responsible for our ability to balance, to climb stairs, to walk easily, to adjust to changing levels, to react promptly, (recover our balance) when we step in a hole.
So be grateful, thank your hidden senses today! Tomorrow's lesson (Sensory 202) will focus on the integration of all these senses.
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