“The I’M-Getting-In-Sync Child”

Course Description:

Children with sensory processing disorders (SPD) have difficulty understanding and integrating sensory information from their environment that can impact the child's ability to participate in daily tasks and achieve "Joie de vivre" (joy of life). Children with SPD may seem disorganized, unaware, clumsy, over-reactive, and frankly "out-of-sync". Research indicates that children with sensory processing delays have difficulty interpreting the stimuli from their sensory environment and using internal adaptive behavior to calculate and use the sensory information effectively. This presentation will focus on the SPD subtypes and how therapists can use utilize the Interactive Metronome (IM) as a therapy intensive to address self-regulation, sensory modulation, motor praxis that includes motor timing, coordination, and execution. The presenter will provide research on the current use of the Interactive Metronome as a multidisciplinary treatment intervention for SPD, and analyze the evidence to support clinical reasoning for use by speech, occupational and physical therapists. Intervention strategies will be discussed with video examples and creative ideas to expand the therapist IM "bag of tricks" and help children become organized and "In-Sync" with their sensory world so they can be successful in all they do, including communication, social interaction, and daily activities. *Contact hours/ASHA and AOTA CEUs are offered pending successful completion of a written exam at the end of the course.

Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify 3 subtypes of Sensory Processing Disorder;
  
• Explain 2 strategies using the Interactive Metronome (IM) intervention to support self-regulation;
  
• Examine the research and report 1 study outcome that supports the use of IM as a treatment intervention.
  *Note: This course covers information that pertains to licensed therapists and therapy assistants. OTA and PTA professionals must practice IM under the supervision of a licensed OT or PT.
  

Specific Learning Outcomes for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists:

• Identify 3 subtypes of Sensory Processing Disorder in order to effectively deliver speech therapy services;
• Explain 2 strategies using the Interactive Metronome (IM) intervention to support self-regulation for the effective treatment of communication disorders in children who display Sensory Processing Disorder;
• Examine the research and report 1 study outcome that supports the use of IM as a speech therapy treatment intervention.
*Note: This course covers information that pertains to licensed therapists and therapy assistants. SLPA professionals must practice IM under the supervision of a licensed SLP.

APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINES: