Categories: Types of Therapy

Our Speech Pathologists have extensive training in assessment and therapy as well as hold membership with the International Dyslexia Association https://dyslexiaida.org/

Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that primarily affects a person’s ability to read, write, and spell accurately and fluently. It’s important to understand that dyslexia is not related to intelligence; individuals with dyslexia often have average or above-average intelligence.
The hallmark of dyslexia is difficulties with phonological processing, which involves recognizing and manipulating the sounds of language. This can lead to challenges in decoding words, recognizing sight words, and understanding the relationship between letters and sounds. Dyslexia may also impact reading comprehension, spelling, and written expression.
Dyslexia is a spectrum disorder, meaning it can vary widely in its presentation and severity from person to person. Some individuals may have mild difficulties that are easily managed with appropriate support, while others may struggle more significantly and require more intensive interventions.
Early identification and intervention are crucial in supporting individuals with dyslexia. With appropriate instruction, accommodations, and support, individuals with dyslexia can learn to compensate for their difficulties and succeed academically and in life. It’s also important to foster a supportive and understanding environment that celebrates the strengths and talents of individuals with dyslexia.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs), also known as speech therapists, play a crucial role in supporting individuals with dyslexia. While dyslexia primarily affects reading and writing abilities, it can also impact oral language skills, such as phonological awareness, verbal memory, and language processing speed. Here’s how SLPs work with individuals with dyslexia:
1. Assessment: SLPs conduct comprehensive assessments to evaluate various aspects of language and literacy skills, including phonological awareness, decoding abilities, reading comprehension, spelling, and oral language proficiency. These assessments help identify areas of strength and weakness and inform personalized intervention plans.
2. Phonological Awareness Training: SLPs provide structured activities and exercises to improve phonological awareness skills, such as rhyming, segmenting, blending, and manipulating sounds in words. Developing strong phonological awareness is essential for successful reading and spelling.
3. Phonics Instruction: SLPs teach explicit phonics skills, including letter-sound correspondence, decoding strategies, and word recognition. They use multisensory approaches to help individuals with dyslexia learn and internalize phonics rules and patterns.
4. Language Therapy: SLPs address underlying language difficulties that may contribute to or coexist with dyslexia, such as vocabulary development, grammar, syntax, and comprehension strategies. Strengthening these language skills can support overall literacy development.
5. Assistive Technology: SLPs recommend and facilitate the use of assistive technology tools and resources to support reading and writing, such as text-to-speech software, speech recognition software, audiobooks, and digital note-taking apps. These tools can help individuals with dyslexia access written materials more easily and independently.
6. Collaborative Intervention: SLPs collaborate with other professionals, including educators, psychologists, occupational therapists, and parents, to develop holistic intervention plans that address the unique needs of individuals with dyslexia. This interdisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive support across educational and therapeutic settings.
7. Advocacy and Education: SLPs advocate for individuals with dyslexia by raising awareness, providing education and training to families, educators, and communities, and promoting inclusive practices that support literacy development for all learners.
Overall, speech-language pathologists play a vital role in empowering individuals with dyslexia to develop strong literacy skills, improve academic achievement, and thrive in educational and social settings. Through personalized intervention, support, and advocacy, SLPs help individuals with dyslexia unlock their full potential and achieve success.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way).  CP can lead to other health issues, including vision, hearing and speech problems and learning disabilities.

Causes of cerebral palsy

The exact cause of most cases of cerebral palsy is unknown, but it is usually the result of brain damage that occurs before or during a child’s birth (congenital CP) or during the first three to five years of a child’s life.  About 70% of children who are diagnosed with congenital CP have it before birth.  An additional 20% are diagnosed with congenital CP due to a brain injury during the birthing process.

Brain damage in infancy or early childhood can also lead to CP.  In the United States, about 10% of children who have CP acquire the disorder after birth.  A baby or toddler might suffer brain damage resulting in CP because of lead poisoning, bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, malnutrition, being shaken as an infant (shaken baby syndrome) or being in a car accident while not properly restrained.

Symptoms of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy affects muscle control and coordination, so even simple movements — or just standing still — can be difficult.  Other vital functions that also involve motor skills and muscles (such as breathing, bladder and bowel control, eating and learning) may also be affected when a child has CP.  Children with CP have varying degrees of physical disability.  Some have only mild impairment, while others are severely affected.  CP may not get worse over time, but the exact symptoms can change over a person’s lifetime.

Treatment and therapy for CP

There is no cure for CP, but treatment, therapy, special equipment and, in some cases, surgery can improve the quality of life for children with CP. In general, the earlier treatment begins, the better the chance the child will have of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge them.

At Nature’s Edge we find that patients with cerebral palsy respond favorably to the support and instruction we provide to the caregivers as well as the patient.  We provide each patient with a home program so that meaningful functional activities can be transitioned from the center to the home with ease.

Cerebral palsy resources

We recommend the following resources for more information on CP:

• www.ucp.org
• www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm
• www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/ddcp.htm
• www.cerebralpalsyguide.com
• www.cerebralpalsyguidance.com

We would be glad to answer any questions you have and discuss therapy options that we offer. Contact Nature’s Edge Therapy Center at no obligation to learn more about cerebral palsy, its symptoms and treatment.

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain.  The severity of such an injury may range from “mild” (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to “severe” (an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury).  Symptoms may appear right away or may not be present for days or weeks after the injury.

TBI is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, especially among children and young adults.  The leading causes of TBI are motor vehicle crashes, falls, and violence.  Blasts are a leading cause of TBI for active duty military personnel in war zones.

Facts about traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Males are about 1.5 times more likely than females to sustain a TBI.  The two age groups at highest risk for TBI are ages 0-4 and 15-19.  The youngest children and oldest adults sustain injuries due to falls more often than young-to-middle-age adults, who are more often injured in motor vehicle crashes.

TBI can result in short- or long-term problems with independent function.  TBI can cause a wide range of functional changes affecting thinking, language, learning, emotions, behavior and/or sensation.  TBI can also cause epilepsy and increase the risk for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders that become more prevalent with age.

Treatment and resources for TBI

The most frequent long-term needs for those who have sustained a TBI are:

•  Improving memory and problem solving
•  Managing stress and emotional upsets
•  Controlling one’s temper
•  Improving one’s job skills
•  Managing the activities of daily living

At Nature’s Edge, we find that treatment strategies using a concrete and outlined plan, short and concise directions, patience and a sense of humor are especially effective for patients with brain injury.

Further reading on traumatic brain injury

For more information, we recommend the following resources:

• Brain Injury Association of America  www.biausa.org
• Traumatic Brain Injury.com  www.TraumaticBrainInjury.com
• National Resource Center for Traumatic Brain Injury  http://www.tbinrc.com/
• Concussions, TBI and Other Head Injuries http://www.medicalbillingandcodingonline.org/resources/concussions-tbi-and-other-head-injuries/

As always, we invite you to contact Nature’s Edge Therapy Center for personalized information and resources for traumatic brain injury.

Autism is a developmental disorder that is usually diagnosed within the first three years of life. The rate of autism diagnoses has climbed significantly in recent years, moving thousands of families to anxiously research its symptoms and treatment. Autism affects boys three to four times more often than girls.

Symptoms of autism

The main signs and symptoms of autism involve communication, social interactions, and repetitive behaviors.  These include:

• Aggression
• Anxiety
• Attention problems
• Delayed language development
• Extreme compulsions
• Heightened or low senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell or taste
• Hyperactivity
• Impulsiveness
• Inability to make friends or play interactive games
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Outbursts
• Repetitive body movements
• Sleep difficulty
• Tantrums

Because people with autism can have very different symptoms, health care providers refer to autism as a “spectrum” disorder.

What causes autism?

Autism has been linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain.  Although it is believed that a combination of factors leads to autism, the exact causes remain unknown.  Genetic factors seem to be important.

Autism lasts throughout a person’s lifetime.  There is no cure, but treatment can help.  An early, intensive, appropriate treatment program will greatly improve the outlook for most young children with autism.

Best therapy or treatment options for autism

Treatments for autism can include behavior and communication therapies and medicines to control symptoms.  At Nature’s Edge, we find that patients with autism generally respond very well to our nonclinical setting.  Real-life activities and situations provide a natural context for experiencing self-expression, self-confidence, personal gratification and a sense of achievement.

Information resources for autism

We recommend these resources for more information on autism:

• Autism Speaks  www.autismspeaks.org
• Autism Society  www.autism-society.org
• Autism Resources  www.autism-resources.com

Of course, this is a very complex subject that affects each family differently, so we welcome you to contact Nature’s Edge Therapy Center with your questions about autism, its symptoms and treatment.

Nature’s Edge Therapy Center includes our Speech Pathologists trained in the advancement of Dynamic Temporal Tactile Cueing by Dr. Edythe Strand as well as PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) and are listed on www.apraxia-kids.org

Speech therapy for childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) typically involves a multifaceted approach tailored to the individual needs of the child. Here’s an overview of how speech therapy typically works for CAS:

Assessment and Diagnosis: Before starting therapy, the speech-language pathologist (SLP) will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to assess the child’s speech and language abilities. This evaluation helps to determine the severity of CAS and identify specific areas of difficulty.

1. Individualized Treatment Plan: Based on the assessment findings, the SLP will develop an individualized treatment plan. This plan will outline specific goals and objectives tailored to address the child’s unique needs and challenges.

            Targeted Therapy Techniques: Speech therapy for CAS often includes a variety of targeted techniques aimed at improving speech production, coordination, and motor planning. Some common techniques used in therapy may include:

               Prompts and Cues: The SLP may use visual, auditory, or tactile cues to help the child produce specific speech sounds or sequences of sounds.

1. • Motor Planning Activities: Therapy may include activities designed to improve motor planning skills, such as repetitive practice of speech movements or oral motor exercises.
   • Articulation Therapy: Techniques focused on improving the clarity and accuracy of speech sounds may be employed, including sound drills and phonetic placement exercises.
   • Multisensory Approaches: Some therapists use multisensory approaches that engage multiple senses (e.g., visual, auditory, tactile) to facilitate speech production and improve motor planning.
   • Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): In some cases, children with severe CAS may benefit from AAC systems, such as picture communication boards or speech-generating devices, to supplement or support their spoken communication.
2. Repetition and Practice: Consistent practice is essential for improving speech production skills in children with CAS. Therapy sessions typically involve repetitive practice of target sounds, words, and phrases in various contexts to reinforce learning and promote generalization of skills.
3. Parent/Caregiver Involvement: Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in supporting the child’s progress outside of therapy sessions. The SLP may provide guidance and training to help parents implement therapy techniques at home and integrate strategies into daily routines.
4. Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustments: As the child progresses in therapy, the SLP will continuously monitor their speech and language development and make adjustments to the treatment plan as needed. Therapy goals may be modified based on the child’s response to intervention and any changes in their communication abilities over time.

Overall, speech therapy for childhood apraxia of speech is typically intensive, individualized, and focused on improving the child’s speech production skills, motor planning abilities, and overall communication effectiveness. Consistency, practice, and ongoing support are key elements in helping children with CAS make meaningful progress in their communication skills.

Follow the 4 steps below to initiate speech, occupational and/or physical therapy outpatient treatment at Nature’s Edge for your loved one with disabilities:

First, download and print the New Patient Intake Forms and fill them out as completely as possible.

Second, obtain a prescription from your doctor that includes the following information:

•  The patient’s name and date of birth
•  A statement that reads  “(Speech/Occupational/Physical) Therapy to Evaluate and Treat as indicated”
•  The current diagnosis(es) of the patient
•  Contact information for the physician including address, phone and fax number
•  Physician’s signature and date

Third, gather all the forms, the prescription and an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or other care plan and prior therapy reports or physician reports, if available, and mail (or fax) the information to Nature’s Edge.

Fourth, check with your insurance company to determine whether our services will be covered.

Once all your paperwork is received, the prescribed therapist(s) will review the information.  Within two weeks, our office manager will contact you to set up an appointment for an evaluation for each type of therapy prescribed.  Each evaluation will take approximately two hours.

It is helpful to come to the evaluation with a typical daily or weekly schedule for the patient, as well as a list of “likes” and “dislikes” pertaining to foods, sensitivities, etc. One-hour sessions per therapy will be scheduled 1-3 times per week, according to the treatment plan that is established from the evaluation.

Wisconsin specialists in intensive, innovative therapies

We would love to have the chance to answer your questions with no obligation! Please contact Nature’s Edge Therapy Center for details on starting treatment for autism, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy or other disorders.

Group Programs at Nature’s Edge
“Summer Learning Out-of-Doors!”

Engage the benefits of summer to focus on healthy development and learning! Let your child unplug from technology this summer and plug into out-of-doors learning at Nature’s Edge!

Social and Specialty Groups offered at Nature’s Edge during the summer months include the following:

Learning Social Skills on the Ranch

• Two Groups – Ages 7-12 and 13-18
• Social and communication skills are explored and practiced with the help of nature and the horses

Staying Active in Nature/Sibling Fun

• Ages 6-18
• Summer energy is channeled into running, jumping, hiking, climbing, digging and interacting with animals on Nature’s Edge 65-acre ranch to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Sibling interactions are encouraged.

Preschool Outdoor Play

• Ages 3-5
• Fun, outdoor activities that include animals and nature focus on language development, play skills and peer-to-peer interactions.

While each group program targets unique goals, all social and specialty groups promote the benefits of a healthy and active, out-of-doors lifestyle, the development of character and confidence through successful engagement, and the opportunity to form meaningful relationships.

Click here for Summer Groups brochure and Pre-Registration form with full descriptions and dates and time of each group.

Feel free to contact us if you have questions. Phone: 715-859-6670. Complete registration forms are available here.

Horticultural therapy (HT) is the engagement of a patient in gardening-related activities, facilitated by a trained therapist, to attain specific treatment goals.  While simple and low-tech, HT is an effective and beneficial treatment for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

HT has proven positive outcomes.  It is non-threatening, encourages social activity, stimulates memory, provides sensory stimulation and exercise, reduces stress and tension, diminishes anger and rewards nurturing behavior.

As a cognitive therapy, horticulture therapy helps patients regain lost skills or learn new ones.  When used in physical rehabilitation, HT retrains muscles and improves coordination, balance and strength.

Gardening therapy, surrounded by nature

At Nature’s Edge Therapy Center, we not only maintain a vegetable garden, flowerbeds and a butterfly garden for the purpose of horticulture therapy but also beautiful nature trails, a trout stream, duck pond, farmland and woods to provide patients with many opportunities to spend time in natural habitats.

We would love to have the chance to answer your questions, so please contact us at Nature’s Edge for more details about horticulture therapy!

More than simply spending time with an animal, Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a therapist-guided experience designed to improve a patient’s mental, physical, social and emotional functioning through interactions with an animal. At Nature’s Edge, our therapy animals include dogs, cats, a donkey, and a llama, pot-bellied pigs, a parrot and a sheep, each chosen for their characteristics and contributions in relation to the patient’s specific goals.

For example, a patient with difficulty in the areas of concentration, communication, and fine motor control will be encouraged to pay attention to a story.  The patient is then introduced to a parrot and will take turns with the parrot, repeating specific words and turning pages, as directed by the therapist.

Many aspects of speech, occupational and physical therapy can be enhanced through animal assistance. Patients form complete sentences by greeting and conversing with animals; they sequence actions by giving commands to them. They read to them and practice directional concepts. They walk with them, run and jump with them or throw toys for them to retrieve, gaining motor skills. They learn about healthy eating by feeding and treating them and about hygiene by bathing them and even brushing their teeth. They talk about bullying, timidity or trust with animal companions, observing animal interactions as examples. They brush our animals and stroke and hold them, increasing sensory tolerance.

Each animal-assisted therapy session is documented and the patient’s progress is evaluated on an ongoing basis.

What are the benefits of animal-assisted therapy?

Physical

•  Improved fine motor skills
•  Improved wheelchair skills
•  Improved balance
•  Lower blood pressure

Social

•  Increased verbal interaction
•  Increased attention skills
•  Development of leisure skills

Emotional

•  Increased self-esteem
•  Reduced anxiety
•  Reduced loneliness

Cognitive

• Increased vocabulary
• Improved long- and short-term memory
• Improved knowledge of concepts, such as size, color, etc.

Wisconsin specialists in animal-assisted therapy

We encourage you to contact us at Nature’s Edge to learn more about our Wisconsin animal-assisted therapy services!

Hippotherapy and equine-assisted therapy are physical, occupational and speech therapy treatment strategies that may be utilized within a therapeutic environment to improve function. Hippotherapy, taken from the Greek word hippos – meaning horse – literally means “treatment with the help of the horse” and refers to the use of the horse’s movement to engage the patient’s sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems, promoting functional outcomes. Hippotherapy is used at Nature’s Edge as part of an integrated treatment program for many disorders and is especially beneficial for children and young people with autism and/or Asperger’s Syndrome.

When hippotherapy is integrated into a treatment plan, the patient is engaged in activities on the horse that are enjoyable and challenging.  The speech, occupational or physical therapist addresses specific functional goals by utilizing different positions for the patient such as sitting or laying forwards, backward or sideways; standing in the stirrups, or riding without using the hands.  The patient may also be asked to stretch, reach or play games while on the horse.  The therapist continuously analyzes the patient’s response and adjusts the horse’s movement accordingly for optimum treatment benefits.

Safety is of primary importance.  In addition to the speech, occupational or physical therapist with preparation in treatment principles using hippotherapy, a specially-trained handler leads the horse during the therapy session, with sidewalkers on each side of the horse to ensure the patient’s safety.

Equine-assisted therapy, in contrast to hippotherapy, usually takes place off the horse, with the speech, occupational or physical therapist using interactions with the horse and patient to carry out specific activities addressing the patient’s treatment goals. Examples of treatment goals that may be addressed using equine-assisted therapy include personal hygiene, motor strengthening, social skills, nonverbal communication, sequencing, and memory.

The horses used in hippotherapy and equine-assisted therapy are also specially selected and trained.  At Nature’s Edge, we have a variety of horses available, which enables us to match each patient with an appropriate horse in terms of size, pace, gait, and character.

Typical Impairments Addressed by Hippotherapy and Equine-Assisted Therapy

Impairments that may be modified through treatment incorporating hippotherapy and equine-assisted therapy include:

• Abnormal tone
• Impaired balance responses
• Impaired coordination
• Impaired communication
• Impaired cognitive function
• Impaired sensory processing function
• Postural asymmetry
• Poor postural control
• Decreased mobility

Who May Benefit from Hippotherapy and Equine-Assisted Therapy?

Common medical conditions for which treatment that integrates hippotherapy and equine-assisted therapy may be beneficial includes:

• Autism spectrum disorders
• Cerebral palsy
• Stroke
• Developmental delay
• Down syndrome
• Muscular dystrophy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Spinal cord injury
• Traumatic brain injury
• Learning or language disabilities

However, we recognize that incorporating horses or the movement of horses is not for every patient.  Our trained therapists evaluate each potential patient on an individual basis.

Please contact us with any questions or concerns…we’d love to talk to you about how treatment strategies such as hippotherapy and equine-assisted therapy may be beneficial to your loved one!