Having PT and then not

[mamaturtle]

I have known some of you for awhile.

There was a time I thought PT was useless and the other therapies were more important PT. I can't remember who mentioned how vital it was. I have kept DS in it as long as possible. At this point, DS is at 30 minutes for his IEP and I have only kept it so that way DS gets some exercise. His school only provides P.E. twice a week and I think that is not enough.

Yesterday, I took DS to be evaluated for private PT over the summer to keep up with skills. The PT evaluated that DS does not need PT but does need to stay active. The PT consulted with the OT and the PT said we will keep on eye if DS lacks the skills or regresses and we can always get it again.

I am kind of bittersweet about it. It is one less thing we have to run to this summer for summer therapies but I am all kinds of worried that DS will regress. What am I suppose to think?

[macchiatto]

FWIW (since I'm not as familiar with your back story as others may be but I'll share our story), Leo has had a couple rounds of PT (he's now 8). He has hypotonia that caused a gross motor delay, among other things. His first PT had told us at discharge that he may need it again in the future, as he got older and expectations got higher. PT has always been his least favorite therapy and motivating him to practice those skills has always been tough. He actually just had another PT eval yesterday and is re-starting after a two-year "break."

I felt bittersweet about it, too. I wasn't totally comfortable when he was discharged 2 years ago and I feel relieved he's back in it again. I need to work more this time on helping him keep up his strength after this round of PT. It sounds like you have a good plan in place though, of keeping an eye on it.

[mamaturtle]

macchiatto,

was there anything you did with your DS in that two year gap to keep him active?

[macchiatto]

In retrospect, not enough. He does have PE 2x/wk at school, for what that's worth, and we encourage outdoor play as much as we can when the weather cooperates. We have a trampoline and a playset outside to which DH added a cargo net, an extra ladder, it has a climbing wall and monkey bars that are lower for their height. 

We've done swim lessons as well, which is the one "sport" he likes, and when I presented him with more options, he also chose to go to a kids' Zumba class at the Y. Schedule-wise we didn't make it there very consistently but got a kids' Zumba Wii game. Sometimes he'll also do You Are Your Own Gym with me.