Complex Cases

"They've made as much progress as they're going to make so we're dismissing them."

"Their disorder is so severe that therapy isn't appropriate."

"Bring them to therapy once they're doing better, until then there's no point in trying treatment."

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If you've ever heard one of these or something similar, chances are you have a child with a complex communication disorder (CCD). Kids with CCDs have a hard road already managing the many medical complications and educational/societal roadblocks that come with their conditions. They don't need therapists putting more in front of them. And yet, that's often what happens. 

 

What's more, even if a therapist does agree to treat a child with a CCD, that child often might not make clear progress in therapy since the goals are frequently not set at levels accessible to them or the therapists don't know how to treat them. If my kids aren't making progress, I don't blame it on their disabilities and dismiss them. I look at what we're doing and ask myself what needs to change. I go to colleagues for advice, get additional trainings, test out different ideas until I find what works.​ I also adapt the frequency, length, and model of our sessions (direct, guided, or coaching only) to fit the child's needs when at all possible.​

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Some of the complex disorders I have experience with, in addition to the more standard language disorders, include:

• Traumatic brain injury / shaken baby syndrome

• Cerebral palsy

• Children with degenerative disorders (variety)

• Rare genetic disorders

• Locked in syndrome

• Rett syndrome

• Seizure disorders (such as Lennox–Gastaut syndrome)

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I also have experience with the various complexities often​ layered on top of those, such as autism, disorders impacting the senses (children who are deaf, blind, deafblind, cerebral visual impairment), and motor disorders, among other things. 

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If one is appropriate, I am also happy to guide you through the process of getting your child an AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) device. Devices like these open up communication for children who have limited speech by allowing them to select buttons (using touch, switches, or eye gaze) which say words or phrases that the child wants to say. Many therapists are unfamiliar with the process of requesting a device, believe one of the many myths about AAC devices and don't trial them with clients, or give up if our kids don't learn to use a device in just a one month trial (many kids need longer than this), and that does our kids a serious disservice. Though I don't accept insurance myself, the device can still be run through insurance.