Happy Holidays!

We, at Personal Touch Therapy, would like to begin by wishing everyone a warm and happy holiday season, and hope this past year has brought you everything you hoped it would and more!  

As we close in on the end of 2013 and look back at not only this past year, but the past 5 years, we're deeply grateful to every single person that has, in one way or another, been a part of our accomplishments thus far. Our team is a family made up of exceptional individuals that have made reaching this humbling achievement of 5 years a reality. Each of them play a key role in supporting our mission to provide leading healthcare to all of our unique patients. For that, we appreciate them all. Thank you, team PTT!

To all of our community partners and providers, we send out a heart felt "Thank you!" for always valuing our relationships and demonstrating your conviction in our abilities to make a positive change in your patient's lives. We view each of you as allies in the backing and advocacy of our mutual patients and their well-being. We look forward to next year with enthusiasm!

There aren't enough words for us to express our gratitude, but hope that this post finds all of you well, and successfully conveys our thoughts and feelings towards each of you. 

We hope for best wishes of well-being, prosperity, and peace of mind for you and your loved ones in 2014! Happy Holidays!

Warmest Regards,

Personal Touch Therapy, LLC

  

Red Ribbon Week 2013 | October 23rd - 31st

Posted by: Carmen N.

{Source: www.redribbon.org}

 ABOUT THE RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN

The National Family Partnership organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign. NFP provides drug awareness by sponsoring the annual National Red Ribbon Celebration. Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America.

Enrique (Kiki) Camarena was a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was tortured and killed in Mexico in 1985. When he decided to join the US Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out of it. "I'm only one person", he told her, "but I want to make a difference."

On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found. He had been tortured to death.

In honor of Camarena's memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. Parents, sick of the destruction of alcohol and other drugs, had begun forming coalitions. Some of these new coalitions took Camarena as their model and embraced his belief that one person can make a difference. These coalitions also adopted the symbol of Camarena's memory, the red ribbon.

In 1988, NFP sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. Since that time, the campaign has reached millions of U.S. children and families. The National Family Partnership (NFP) and its network of individuals and organizations continue to deliver his message of hope to millions of people every year, through the National Red Ribbon Campaign.

Primitive Reflexes

Posted by: Carmen N.
{Source: www.kendrapedpt.com}

The following primitive reflexes are frequently tested by physicians, nurses, and physical & occupational therapists as part of a newborn neurological exam:

• Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (also known as the "fencing reflex) - When baby's head is turned to the side, he assumes a "fencing" posture by extending one arm in front of his face and bending the other arm behind his head.
• Rooting/sucking - When the skin next to baby's skin is stroked, she turns her head to find the stimulus and attempts to "latch" on and suck.
• Palmar and plantar grasp - Pressing into the pal of the hand or ball of the foot causes baby to grasp with his fingers/toes.
• Primary standing and stepping - When held in a supported standing position, the newborn "stands" and even takes some steps.
• Galant relfex - Stroking along the side of the baby's spine causes the spine to curve toward that side.
• Moro reflex - When the baby's head is dropped backward, it elicits a "startle" (he quickly extends both arms), recovery (arms back to midline), and a cry.

For more information or to see primitive reflexes in action, check out the video below:

5 Tips to Stop Your Toddler's Drooling

Posted by: Carmen N.
{Source: www.speechtherapycentres.com}

As parents there are certain behaviours that are acceptable and even expected when our children are young infants, but that are cause for concern if they continue as our children become toddlers and preschoolers. Drooling is one such behaviour. A drooling infant is very common and is something we expect our children to grow out of. BUT, what if s/he doesn't stop drooling? When does drooling become a problem? Are there ways to reduce drooling in our children?

Most professional agree that drooling is acceptable up to 2 years of age or when teething is coming to an end. After this age, we do not expect to see children drool excessively or uncontrollably as saliva production slows down. Saliva is necessary for various functions, including speech and eating; however, excessive saliva production and drooling can have negative effects in a variety of areas.

Parents can work with their child at home to reduce the amount of drooling. The following tips may be beneficial (depending on the cause of the drooling):

• Take away the pacifier or limit pacifier use to nap time and bed time
• Encourage your child to use a sippy cup or drink from a straw instead of using a bottle
• Teach your child about the difference between a "wet" face and a "dry" face
• Use a mirror to help him/her understand what you are talking about
• If drooling is excessive have your child wear a sweat band on his/her wrist so that s/he can be in control of cleaning up the drool
• Provide positive feedback to your child when s/he is controlling drooling

Written by: Carolyn Davidson, speech-language pathologist, The Speech Therapy Centres of Canada Ltd.