Week 14: Prompt 1

My final webtext will fit in the Webzine under the “Health” category. I believe that my Webtext because it is applicable to everybody because we all come into people with varying abilities, capabilities, and disabilities on a daily basis. After exploring the various aspects of my webtext, the audience should be more accepting of the various limitations that each one of us possesses.

By learning more about various disabilities and the impacts that they have on daily functioning, I hope that each reader becomes a well-rounded individual. After learning about Sensory Processing Disorder, they may examine their own lives and realize that a close friend or relative may suffer from a subtype of SPD or any other debilitating disorder that impacts their daily functioning. Either way, I hope that the audience leaves my webtext with an open mind to the individuals that make up our society. 

Week 11: Prompt 1

Abols, I. 2010. “Vestibular (Balance) System”. Photo. Audiphone: Company of Akron. http://audiphoneakron.com/vestibular-balance-and-vertigo.html Accessed on November 8, 2010.

Content Analysis

The image is a diagram of the inner ear and all the different microscopic parts that work together to create our sense of hearing.

The image is about the various structures of the inner ear and how it collects information from the outside environment and sends it to the brain to be interpreted.

There are no people in the image. The ear is presented as a colorful diagram to accentuate each individual component of the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

The picture really cannot be looked at in different ways. It is presented as a clear diagram of the ear and it is meant to be interpreted and looked at as an illustration of the ear.

Unfortunately, without much explanation, the image is not very effective at sending a visual message. It needs an explanation so viewers know what they are looking at and why it applies to the topic. Both the description/narrative and picture work together very well to reveal more insight into the topic.

Visual analysis

The image is composed as a colorful illustration. The background is plane (so as not to distract the viewer from the main subject) and the foreground includes labels of each individual component.
The most important visual element in the image is color. Color is used to separate the various elements of the ear. Instead of viewing the image and seeing one ear, the different parts of the ear are clearly marked and labeled, bringing one’s attention to each individual component.

Color is used to separate the different parts of the ear so they don’t all blend together as one. Because each part is a different color, it causes viewers to look at each component as an individual.

I don’t think that the image could be looked at different ways. The color makes it clear that each individual component has specific functions that eventually come together to result in our sense of hearing.

By using a colorful design choice, the picture is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It stimulates excitement for the viewer because it gives them a whole new perspective on what really goes on inside the ear. Instead of using an actual image of a human ear, the illustration was created to help viewers better differentiate the various elements.

Contextual Information

There are labels that accompany the image that aid in an explanation of what individuals are viewing.

The text makes me see the image is a bit more credible because the labels aren’t placed carelessly across the image. Rather, each label has a clear location and is specifically pointing to one element in the image. Also, the font helps to create a more credible source because it’s a professional-looking font without appearing dull.

The textual information is intended to be factual and inform. Most individuals are not aware of the various components of the inner ear, much less their names and locations. Therefore, the source has provided viewers with labels to provide facts and relay information.

The context provides viewers with facts, like the specific names of each individual element that makes up the ear as a whole. The context does not specifically provide very much information. The viewer right away knows that it is an image of an ear (if not because of the image, the labels contain “ear” in them). As far as answering how, the picture does not provide viewers with specific information on how the ear works but they can imply from the picture that sounds come in through the ear canal, work their way through both the middle and inner ear, and eventually the information is sent to the brain. The question “why” is not specifically answered by the image itself. The narration will provide viewers with why this picture was used and how it helps them better understand the topic. The picture doesn’t directly answer for whom it was made but judging from the labels and colorful components, it was made for the general population. One doesn’t need to be a doctor to understand what the image is a picture of. Yet, it also works to educate individuals who may not know anything about the ear.

Image Source

I received the image from Audiphone Company of Akron. It is the longest running business dedicated solely for the purpose of hearing healthcare in the Akron, Ohio area and surrounding communities.

In regards to the origins of the image, the source provides no information. There is no link to a source where the image came from, no description, and there are no links in the text surrounding the image.

Based on the above mentioned information, the source may not be the most reliable and trustworthy option out there, but based on the information that I found regarding the source itself, the company seems to be a reliable business focused on furthering the knowledge of ailments that affect the ear specifically.

The image was not found in a database. Rather it was being used to help readers visualize how the vestibular system works to maintain balance and control dizziness as well as reveal to them where this system is located in the body.

Technical quality

I find that the image is large enough to show my viewers where the vestibular system is located in the body. It’s not too large so that it appears to be overwhelming, and it’s not so small that viewers have to squint to note the details and labels.

The color, light, and balance are not true to an actual image of a human ear but for educational purposes, the various colors work to distinguish one element from the next. Each element may not be to scale as it would be in an actual human ear, but once again, this is for educational purposes to help viewers better visualize the location of the system.

The image is an illustration so I really do not notice any pixilation or distortion. The image is actually very clear and crisp; each color is very precise.

The image is in a file format that I can use for my slideshow. It has been saved as an image to my “105 extras” folder that reveals just the image and I also have the URL saved to view the source itself.

As far as I can tell, there are no copyright or other restrictions that may affect my use of this image. I have searched the sources website and have not found anything but that could also be attributed to the fact there is no information about the origins of the image.

In conclusion, I think that this picture could provide a lot of information that is easy to understand and aid in their visualization of the vestibular system. However, the source is not the most reliable because they don’t provide any outside links or information regarding the image and the source doesn’t mention any copyright laws involved with using their information. Therefore, I will proceed with caution as I continue to search for reliable and credible images.

Week 11

Fields, H. L. 2007. “Pain Perception- The Dana Guide”. Photo. The Dana Foundation. http://www.dana.org/news/brainhealth/detail.aspx?id=10072 Accessed November 8, 2010.

I am providing my listeners with this picture so they can see how our bodies translate pain perception and perception of various stimuli from the environment. The picture shows how receptors in the skin detect the stimuli and in turn, send a message to the spinal cord, which sends a message to the brain, who interprets the stimuli. By better understanding this, they can imagine what it would be like to have a distorted interpretation of outside stimuli.

Abols, I. 2010. “Vestibular (Balance) System”. Photo. Audiphone: Company of Akron. http://audiphoneakron.com/vestibular-balance-and-vertigo.html Accessed on November 8, 2010

This picture provides the listener with an in-depth view of the vestibular system. By showing listeners this picture, I hope that they will be able to better understand how the vestibular system works and how our inner ears relay messages to the brain regarding our balance.

Abdel-Hamid, H. Z. (2008). “Neurological Disorders”. Photo. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. http://www.chp.edu/CHP/P02607 Accessed on November 8, 2010.

Even though this may appear to be a very simple collection of photos, by providing my listeners with this graphic, they will be able to understand that our bodies are constantly receiving information from the outside environment and constantly interpreting that information; whether it be from vision, hearing, smelling, touch, etc.

Clopton, H. (2010). “Sensory Integration”. Photo. Center of Development Pediatric Therapies. http://www.developmentaldelay.net/page.cfm/250 Accessed November 8, 2010.

By showing my listeners the picture of a girl on a platform swing, I can show them how therapy works to strengthen the weak proprioceptive and vestibular systems. I can further explain how treatment with specific equipment works to further develop the weak systems now that they have a better understanding of the systems because of the previous pictures.

Picture Description

 Location interpretation .2009. "Picture of the Brain". Photo. Multiple Sclerosis Glossary http://thjuland.tripod.com/gloss1-s.html Accessed on November 8, 2010.

This picture provides my listeners with a chance to view where the brain interprets different information from the outside environment without trying to explain locations with words.

Image Collection: Human Anatomy. 2009. "Picture of the Skin". Photo. WebMD http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/picture-of-the-skin Accessed on November 8, 2010.

This picture gives my viewers a picture of where the various skin receptors are. By providing them with a picture, they can apply the picture to their own bodies and make the topic more personal.

Week 10; Prompt 2

I plan on providing my reader with appropriate ethos by explaining my background with the subject and my knowledge thus far on the topic. I will show them that I am a credible person to speak on the issue because I have taken anatomy and physiology classes at college and I continue to learn more about the subject because of the classes I’m taking towards my master’s degree in occupational therapy. Because of my major, it is essential that I have a strong background of the human body and how it functions.

To appeal to my reader on the basis of pathos, I plan on sharing some of the experiences that I have had with children who struggle with sensory processing disorder. I know how the body functions and responds when the proprioceptive and vestibular systems are out of sync. By providing personal experience, I hope to bring the topic to life so they can apply it to themselves. Personal experience will also uncover the reality of abnormalities in the system- that people do indeed struggle with daily tasks because of deviations in the systems.

By providing my listener with sources and references from experienced professionals in the field, I hope to establish a strong foundation regarding logos. I plan on gathering information from physicians and specialists in the field, including pediatricians and occupational therapists. By revealing the source and a small background of the source, the reader will have further proof of the points that I am making.

At first glance, I was planning on relying on logos the most. However, upon further discussion with the professor, I am planning on relying on pathos the most. By using pathos, I hope to bring my topic to life and take the dryness out of the facts. I will still provide facts but I hope to scatter them within the real life experience that I am providing to my readers.

I think that I will be able to use emotive language as I begin to arrange and assemble my slideshow. By using emotive language while providing my listener with my pathos, I hope to bring my topic to life and help them comprehend the reality of the situation. I also hope to use description and imagery while providing the listeners with facts and real life scenarios. 

Week 10; Prompt 1

To help my listeners and readers better understand my topic, I plan on designing a slideshow to illustrate what both the proprioceptive and vestibular systems are and how they function. I hope that by providing my reader with a more in-depth background on what these systems are, they will be able to understand how deviations in the system affect daily functioning.

The main point that I will develop in the slideshow is the location of the proprioceptive and vestibular systems in our bodies along with their main functions. This may sound a lot like the first Roman numeral in my Webtext titled “What Systems Are We Talking About?” but I plan on providing the listener/reader with a more descriptive overview of the systems that they wouldn’t otherwise get by just reading the Webtext. I will do this by providing pictures of the different components of both systems and where they are located in the body. Along with their location, I will explain what their functions are in the body by providing pictures of various activities that require us to use these systems.

This topic is well-suited for my Webtext because it will provide my readers with an illustration of these systems to help them better visualize how their bodies perform specific activities. The terms “proprioceptive” and “vestibular” are new to most people and the majority of my readers may not have any background information on these systems. By showing pictures while describing them, I hope that the readers/listeners are able to further comprehend sensory processing disorder and the affects of the disorder when the body fails to function normally.

Week 9

The first major difference that comes to mind between a text of a podcast and a printed essay are the in-text citations. The text used for recording the podcast excludes the parenthetical citations whereas for written essays, the writer includes the parenthetical citation to provide the source with appropriate credit. A similarity between the two regarding in-text citations is that they both provide the reader/listener with the specific name of a source along with a brief description to introduce the reader/listener to the source. The similarity is due to the fact that sources must be provided with the proper credit because they’re not the author’s ideas. The difference regarding the parenthetical citations is due to the fact that it is not practical for the author to read off the sources name as well as the date of the source; it would sound strange to the listener. Also, the listeners of podcasts choose to listen to the text because it’s convenient. They’re not going to look up the source’s name along with the date of the article because they’re not concerned with the exact content of the source. Rather, they want a brief introduction to the source to help further establish their credibility in the author of the text of the podcast.

The text of a podcast also tends to be much shorter in length than a written essay. This is because people who listen to the text of a podcast want to hear the main ideas of a subject. They don’t want to hear about all the little details that make up the topic. They want a very precise summary of a specific idea of a main subject. When people plan on reading written essays, they may want the author to go into great detail and explanation of specific points because they can pick and choose what they read.

Another difference between the two is that written essays include hyperlinks to the specific sources mentioned whereas the text of a podcast excludes hyperlinks. This is due to the same reason that accounted for the previous difference. People who read essays can pick and choose how much they learn from the essay and which parts of the essay they learn more about. If they want to learn more about a specific idea of the subject, they can link to the hyperlinks to gain a better understanding. People listening to podcasts are generally looking for a brief yet concise overview of the main idea.

Week 8 Podcast Idea

I have decided to post 200 words on this topic because a lot of the comments on my text from peers regarded the age at which SPD is generally diagnosed. After editing my webtext, I discovered for myself that I had never indicated an age at which SPD is diagnosed. Therefore, I chose this topic for my audio as an answer to the questions I had received from peers. I hope that once they have a better idea of when it is diagnosed, the audience is able to visualize and imagine for themselves what a child’s life is like with this deviation. This podcast will not simply repeat information that my audience will read in the webtext. Rather, it will help them better understand an individual’s life with sensory processing disorder. Maybe it will cause them to recall their days as a young child. This may in turn reveal to them how difficult it would have been to function without their proprioceptive and vestibular systems functioning properly.

The prevalence of sensory processing disorder in children is at about 5% of the general population. However, for people with diagnosed developmental disabilities, the rate of sensory processing disorder is estimated to be from 40% to 80% (Hubbard, 2010). There is not an average age of onset, or diagnosis, but research has shown that sensory processing disorder is most commonly diagnosed in the early stages of childhood development; anywhere from 3 months old to 5 years old; though parents can generally sense when something is “off” about their child after only a couple months. Symptoms and behaviors may become more severe and noticeable as a child enters a school setting. As a result, a diagnosis is made once the condition is severe enough that it significantly impacts the child’s daily life.

Although it is most commonly diagnosed in young children, more cases are coming up where older children or even young adults were misdiagnosed earlier in life with other disorders, like ADD for example, and doctors are just now re-diagnosing them with sensory processing disorder. The down-side of being misdiagnosed early in life is that the form of sensory processing disorder will only continue to worsen as the child ages because it was left untreated for so long (Morris, 2010).

Early diagnosis is best because it leads to early intervention. Early diagnosis also increases the chances of a successful intervention. Younger children’s brains are still developing which allows them to change more easily while older children may benefit from therapy but the results may take longer to achieve. Children who receive treatment at younger ages also benefit because they acquire the skills they will need to succeed in school. Another benefit of being diagnosed during the earlier stages of life is that it can prevent secondary problems from developing like acting-out behaviors, temper tantrums, or low self-esteem. Early diagnosis also prevents teachers and parents from stereotyping these children as “aggressive” or “weird” (Miller, 2006).

·         Hubbard, S. (2010). Diagnosing Sensory Processing Disorder. Retrieved from      http://www.kidsdr.com/daily-dose/diagnosing-sensory-processing-disorders

·         Miller, L. J., Fuller, D. A. (2006). Chapter 3: Assessment and Diagnosis. In Kranowitz, C. S. (Ed.),   Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (pp. 43- 57). New York, NY: Penguin Group.

·         Morris, M. (2010). Age of Onset of SPD. Retrieved from http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/age-of-onset-of-spd.html

Week 6, Summary 2

This article tells the story of Karen. She had surgery right after birth to repair birth defects and then was went home immediately with the message that she would be like any other little girl. However, as Karen’s neurological disorders and sensory integration problems began to surface, the mother, Liz, was sent into emotional turmoil. Unlike her twin, Karen was a screamer and lacked the ability to regulate herself and her moods. Nothing would comfort the poor child. Liz did some online research and discovered The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder. As she read the book, Karen’s behaviors began to make sense and she realized that a key component of treatment involved an occupational therapist. Liz quickly found an OT to provide Karen with sensory integration therapy to increase her regulation of sensation. However, there was only so much the OT could do. The rest of the family quickly began to fall apart and Liz sought therapy and was prescribed with antidepressants. The family worked hard to establish a routine, divide child care responsibilities, and spend time together as a family. Liz and her family decided it best to remodel their house to accommodate their children’s needs for larger play area. In the meanwhile, the occupational therapist continued to treat Karen in hopes of improving her condition, and, as a result, strengthening the family unit. Today, Karen is a fun-loving girl who still responds differently to environmental stimuli but the family now sees it as her way of adjusting to her body and the environment around it.  

Reference:

Wittman, P., Velde, B., Lamm, S., Mohler, M., & Thomas, L. (2007). Lessons learned about mothering a child with a sensory modulation disorder. Exceptional Parent, 37 (3), 52-53. Retrieved from CINAHL with Full Text database.

Week 6, Summary 1

This article explains a subtype of sensory processing disorder known as sensory over-responsivity. It lists some of the characteristics of children that struggle with sensory processing disorders including getting upset after hearing certain noises, being light-sensitive, and only being able to wear 100% cotton clothing. A young girl initially diagnosed with sensory over-responsivity was taken to a psychiatrist, diagnosed with juvenile bipolar disorder, and was prescribed numerous medications. The mother of the child is writing in to a psychologist asking whether or not she thinks her daughter should be placed on medication. Dr. Jennifer Brout is a psychologist dedicated to learning more about sensory processing disorder and its affect on mental health. This article is her response to the mother’s question. She explains that mood swings are common in children with SPD. Further, individuals diagnosed with SPD often jump from being calm one minute and irritable the next. Therefore, sensory-responsivity often appears to be bipolar disorder. In order to diagnose, one must observe the child’s irritability and trace the source of it. When children are irritable to specific sensory stimuli, it is a general indication that bipolar disorder is not the problem. Another characteristic to look for is the location where sensory stimuli may be irritating and whether or not the child acts out in those kinds of places (lunchroom, supermarkets, etc.). Unfortunately, differential research to distinguish between the two (bipolar and SPD) is hard to come by because SPD along with its subtypes cannot be found in the DSM-IV, the tool used to diagnose mental disabilities.


Reference: 
Brout, D. (2008). Sensory over-responsivity or juvenile bipolar disorder?. Exceptional Parent, 38 (7), 48. Retrieved from CINAHL with Full Text database.

Week 5; Summary 2

This fact sheet was really helpful to me for gathering information on sensory processing. However, it is difficult to summarize because it’s not in paragraph format but rather bullet points; but, I’ll try my best…

First, it is important to note that sensory processing disorder is a developmental disorder in which individuals have problems perceiving information from the outside environment. It is most prevalent in males and the majority of kids who struggle with SPD also suffer from autism. Problems in functioning include behavioral issues, attention disorders, and delayed reactions in fine motor skills as well as daily life skills. Features of SPD include marked impairment in the processing and integration of sensory inputs (i.e.: pointing to a picture, sitting in a chair) which interfere with daily activities.

Children with SPD generally have mothers who struggled with prenatal and birth problems including illness during pregnancy, pre-term, and complications during labor and delivery. Children with SPD also develop slightly different than the average child. For example, they may have entered the crawling phase later than “normal” or they may have had difficulties sleeping and/or feeding.

Other subtypes of sensory processing disorder include sensory modulation disorder, sensory discrimination disorder, postural-ocular disorder, and dyspraxia which all affect daily functioning and the performance of life skills.

Spiral foundation: Sensory Processing Institute for Research and Learning (2006). Physician Fact Sheet: Sensory Processing Disorder Signs and Symptoms. Retrieved from             http://www.thespiralfoundation.org/pdfs/Fact%20Sheet%20for%20MDs%20PDF.pdf

                                                                                                                                                                              

Week 5; Summary 1

In her article, Internal Senses, Michelle Colletti provides the reader with a knowledge of the sensory systems; namely, the proprioceptive and vestibular systems. She explains that the body contains millions of tiny receptor cells called proprioceptors. These receptors relay messages to the brain regarding when and how the body has moved. This provides our body with a sense of where it is in relation to the external environment.

Our vestibular system is one that sends information to the brain when the head is in motion. She uses the example of turning our heads once we hear our name called. The vestibular system is the system that tells our brain that the head is in motion. The brain is only receiving information from the brain and therefore concludes that only the head is in motion, not the rest of the body. This system has a very significant impact on everyday functioning.

The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is an area in our brainstem whose job it is to “wake us up”. The vestibular system sends information directly to the RAS. This is a reason that children with sensory processing disorders cannot sit still: they are trying to keep themselves awake by providing themselves with outside stimuli to do the job. Therapists often suggest “heavy work” for children with sensory processing disorders because it helps inhibit excessive vestibular activity that may otherwise cause problems (i.e.: lack of attention).

For the body to function accurately, it must gather the proper information from the external environment to provide itself with an internal sensory picture, or body scheme. The information from proprioceptors located at joints and muscles help coordinate body movements to cause appropriate functioning. Children who have sensory processing disorders do not receive the necessary information to provide them with an accurate body scheme; resulting in a general clumsiness.

The vestibular system sends messages from the brain to the muscles and joints, keeping them firm and ready to respond (muscle tone). Children who struggle with sensory integration often have low muscle tone, which means that the information regarding outside stimuli is not being sent to the nervous system.

One way that occupational therapists help children with sensory processing disorder is by providing them with sensory input that allow their bodies to move and their muscles to work in hopes of strengthening both the proprioceptive and vestibular system. The more activities they participate in that they enjoy, the longer their attention span will be.

Colletti, M. (2009). Internal Senses. Retrieved from http://www.watersedgehealing.com/articles/Internal_Senses.pdf

“According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapy is ‘skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational therapy assists people in developing the 'skills for the job of living' necessary for independent and satisfying lives’” (Rudy, 2007). Commonly, occupational therapists work with patients who have suffered from serious injuries like car accidents, burns, or strokes. As a result of their injuries, they generally have trouble performing daily tasks like writing, brushing hair, or grabbing something out of a cupboard. Recently, occupational therapists have expanded their treatment plans so that they are able to work with those who need sensory integration therapy for sensory processing disorders. Occupational therapists treat children with SPD by providing them with activities that teach them how to properly respond to the information their bodies receive from the outside environment. In hopes of teaching children how to better direct their bodies in space, therapists use things like swinging, brushing, stability balls, and bikes. This also helps strengthen their awareness to outside factors around them. Therapists also give the child opportunities to improve their communication and social skills by utilizing play activities (i.e.: social stories to encourage abstract communication rather than literal). Occupational therapists also develop plans to assist patients in making smooth transitions from task to task. This could involve showing them a picture schedule to illustrate what their next activity is or where they are going next. Schedules give the child time to prepare for the next activity by adjusting during the transition. Therapists also develop methods to enhance the learning process. This may include giving the child a sensory break on a mini trampoline after each completed task or having the child sit on a stability ball to keep them focused.

As far as finding a qualified OT goes, some schools hire their own occupational therapists to work with a number of various students while others may be contracted by the school district. In general, family physicians may refer parents to specific therapists who design intervention programs based on a child’s abilities. Most of the time, occupational therapists are funded through different forms of health insurance and sometimes even through Medicaid.

• Rudy, L.J. (2007, August 21). Occupational Therapy and Autism: The Basics. Retrieved from  http://autism.about.com/od/whatisautism/a/OTBasics.htm

 (The second line with the HTML won't indent on the posting and it doesn't remain indented when I copy and past it from my word document so I hope this is ok. Let me know if you need me to change anything.)

Summary One

Sensory processing is the way the nervous system receives and translates information coming from the outside environment. In other words, sensory processing, also known as sensory integration, is how the body perceives exterior information acting upon it. Upon receiving the information of what’s acting upon it, the body responds mentally, physically, and behaviorally, making the appropriate adjustments. Abnormalities occur when there is a problem interpreting the received outside information. The received information is misinterpreted, causing the individual to either respond improperly or not respond at all. This abnormality is known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and affects one out of every 20 children. However, this disability is not limited to only children. It can affect both children and adults and its severity can range from a mild form to more severe cases that impair daily functioning. Those with SPD may also struggle in various social settings because of their difficulty responding to the environment around them. However, it often goes misdiagnosed, leaving individuals without treatment or therapy- left to try and make sense of the world around them. While the cause of the disorder remains unknown, research points to genetics, birth complications, and even environmental factors as possible causes.

• Bialer, D.S. (2010, March 4). Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual- 5^th Edition (DSM-V). Retrieved from http://summit-education.com/dsm-v/spd-and-the-dsm-v-doreit-s-bialer/

Prompt Two for Week 3

Upon being asked to create a web-zine on a specific subject area, I immediately jumped to the field that I hope to be involved in some day; that is, the field of occupational therapy. When asked to identify three topics within that area, I thought of the work I during the summer as a paraprofessional at a school for children with disabilities. Most students who I work with struggle from autism and I have been noticing that a lot of the different therapies they receive involve some kind of work with their proprioceptive and vestibular systems. After further research, I realized that my mother, a special education teacher, works with higher functioning children but who also struggle with disorders because of weak proprioceptive and vestibular systems. She has occupational therapists that come into school to do consulting with some of her students and was amazed by how activities that focused on these systems changed a child’s behavior in the class room. Fascinated by this system that is “unknown” by so many, I decided to research how occupational therapists work to strengthen these systems in hope of enlightening myself and those who read my research findings. I hope to understand more about the proprioceptive system so when I go back to work, I am able to recognize sensory disorders by the behaviors of a child and provide them with proper sensory breaks and activities. I also hope to learn about the different types of activities that occupational therapists use to strengthen the proprioceptive and vestibular systems and why these systems are so crucial to our day-to-day functioning.

            I think [and strongly hope] that the audience is interested in the information because the proprioceptive and vestibular systems are so essential to daily functioning for everybody. Almost everything we do involves some kind of proprioception and I don’t want the audience to take it for granted. I also believe that the audience may be interested because they may know somebody with a sensory disorder caused by a lack of activity of the proprioceptors. Clumsiness, bumping into walls, jitters, not paying attention in class, and fidgeting are all results of an abnormality with the proprioceptive and vestibular systems. I think the audience will find it interesting as to what kind of activities people with these disorders can participate in to strengthen proprioception, like jumping on a trampoline, bouncing on a stability ball, and pushing heavy objects around a room. They’re all such simple activities that anybody could do but my goal is to explain why occupational therapists use these exercises and how they can benefit patients.

            The information that I present will be extremely helpful to teachers and parents because they may have children who struggle with weak or abnormal proprioceptive and vestibular systems but are not aware of it because it is not a very well known issue to the general public. I hope they will find the information valuable because they can learn techniques and activities they can use to strengthen one’s proprioception. The information I present should also help explain why children behave the way they do in class or at home and ways to deal with this behavior and increase awareness among fellow teachers, parents, and therapists.

Prompt One for Week 3

1.

Hincha-Ownby, M. (2008, January 7). Sensory Integration and Autism. Retrieved from             http://www.suite101.com/content/sensory-integration-and-autism-a40485

In order to determine whether or not this topic will be valuable to my project, I tested it using four standards: accuracy, currency, objectivity, and authority. I found the article to be very informative about the sensory system and sensory therapy. The article seems to contain accurate information as it provides links to other sites to further explain her message. The article was posted and published in 2008 and therefore, appears to contain current information. She cites the references that she used throughout the article which were books published in 2005 and 2006. This further establishes the currency of the information. As far as objectivity are concerned, the picture in the article is relevant to the topics and the majority of the ads are applicable to the topic and field of research including ads for OT info, equipment to be used with sensory disorders and pediatric therapy options and resources. To determine the credibility of the author, I chose the link that connected her to the article. Ms. Hincha-Ownby is the feature writer for topics on autism and Asperger’s Syndrome; she has two children with varying special needs including Asperger’s Syndrome and autism. She also manages a website dedicated to providing information on autism education. In conclusion, I have decided that this would be a valuable source to my topic because it appears to contain accurate content, current information, and it comes from a reliable source. Although her credibility is questionable and the ads take away from the professionalism of the article, I find that it contains valuable information that relates to occupational therapy and how it helps children with proprioceptive disorders.

2.

Schaaf, R.C., Lane, S.J. (2009, December 14). Neuroscience Foundations of Vestibular,    Proprioceptive, and Tactile Sensory Strategies. Retrieved from     http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7687/is_20091214/ai_n45434823/

I found this article to contain accurate information as well as proper citations from works by other authors. As far as currency is concerned, the article is current as of December 14, 2009; not even a year old yet. They also establish the accuracy of their information by providing readers with more articles about OT practice and intervention methods. Along with that, they have a copyright to the article from the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. However, the objectivity is a bit concerning. Advertisements throughout the article are for anything from iPhones to Hondas to the yellowpages. However, the article does appear on the CBS interactive business network under a section about the health care industry, which reaffirms my trust in the site somewhat. Both authors of this article are authors of “the neuroscience-related question” and were asked to develop a review of the proprioceptive system and this article is their response. Dr. Schaaf has received a research grant to study and help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder while Dr. Lane is a professor and Occupational Therapy Assistant Dean at the School of Allied Health Professions at the Virginia Commonwealth University. Therefore, I believe that the information that these women provide in this paper as well as their other works will be helpful to me in my project.

 

Prompt Two for Week 2

I guess I already pinpointed three topic areas within my subject that I’m interested in writing about this semester. One topic area that I’m interested in writing about is what occupational therapists do to strengthen a person’s proprioceptive and vestibular system. This topic is interesting to me because I work at a school for disabled children, usually with students who have severe autism. I attend some of their OT appointments at school and get the pleasure of learning how OTs work with different disabilities. However, I really am not aware of what the therapists do to strengthen these systems or how they determine the child’s limitations because of their disabilities. My connection to the subject is that fact that my mother is a special education teacher who works with higher functioning students, yet she also deals with student’s limitations due to their proprioceptive and vestibular systems.

This is another reason why I would like to learn more about the role of occupational therapists in a school setting. As a teacher, my mother has OTs come in to the school to do some assessing of certain, individual students. However, because she teaches at a private school, OTs from the outside community must come to her because there are no therapists on staff at the private school. For this reason, I am interested in finding out what specific schools need to do in order to have an occupational therapist on staff as well as what the therapists do once they are on staff in the school setting.

The third and final area that interests me is the role of occupational therapists in mental rehab facilities. This interests me because their work is so different in these types of facility and I am really unsure of exactly what kind of therapy they provide to patients receiving psychiatric care. My connection to this area is that I know many people who have struggled with mental issues like depression and anxiety disorders and I would like to know what kind of things OTs do to assist these people and develop treatment plans for them.