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Can the program be less intensive and just be 1-2 hours per day after-school?
Clinical research evidence has shown that effective treatment programs require a fresh mind and intensity of treatment; after-school treatment does not yield optimal results because the child is tired after a full day of academics. Studies have shown that these programs require carefully designed daily repetitive therapy. Therefore, it is not recommended to decrease the level of intensity or try to do the treatment during the after-school hours.
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What about the impact of a 9-week absence from school?
Parents routinely report their children are more confident and capable upon returning to school because of the success they experienced in the program. Upon completion of the intensive phase of the program, the child is smoothly phased back into the school setting. A member of our team will act as a liaison with the teachers. Follow-up support provided after school is an essential component of the treatment until the child becomes secure and comfortable using the newly-acquired skills on his or her own.
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What does "interdisciplinary treatment" mean, exactly?
Interdisciplinary treatment refers to the blending or integration of treatments which are typically given separately. For example, a speech/language pathologist is trained to treat language difficulties, an occupational therapist is trained to work on the integration of sensory and motor systems involved with fine motor control and attention/arousal systems, and a psychologist is trained to help develop appropriate coping mechanisms and behavioral control. If each professional works independently, the approach is labeled as multidisciplinary. When these professionals work together to achieve the common goals, the treatment strategies are blended or integrated into an interdisciplinary approach. This means that the patient's brain is receiving consistent information on a frequent basis, which is an essential step in the process of achieving results in a relatively short period of time.
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Why is on-going support necessary?
It is easy to fall back on old habits and old strategies when stressed. We all do it. In order to avoid this pitfall, our educational liaison coordinates with the school to help the teacher know what accommodations will be helpful for your child. Calling upon new skills is effortful and time consuming and the child will need more support, initially. This support is provided by our educational liaison while the child does his or her schoolwork. Typically, a child will require 9-10 weeks of 2-4 hours per week of support from our Transitional Unit staff to solidify the newly-acquired skills.
Information for Parents
Parent Education