Local Child with Rare Syndrome Finds Success in Pediatric Occupational and Speech Therapy Practice

WARRENTON, Va. - July 30, 2015 - PRLog -- July 30, 2015

Contact: Crystal McKinsey

cdmckinsey@mckinseydevelopment.com

Phone: 540-905-4457

Vint Hill-Based Pediatric Occupational and Speech Therapy Practice Delivers Exceptional Outcomes for Local Child with Rare Syndrome

Warrenton, VA – JP Peters, a 9-year-old boy diagnosed with a rare developmental disorder known as Dup15q Syndrome, has made momentous strides under the care of two innovative pediatric therapists located in Vint Hill.

Christine Batchellor, pediatric occupational therapist and owner of All About Kids Therapy, LLC, shares office space on Weeks Drive with Carie Dinneen, certified speech and language pathologist of KidTalk, PLC. Due to the nature of JP’s needs, Batchellor and Dinneen believed he would benefit from a combination of occupational and speech and language therapies. The result of their efforts is a groundbreaking multidisciplinary approach for a disorder that typically receives little attention in the medical community.

Dup15q, a syndrome resulting from duplications of particular chromosomes during fetal development, causes a number of physical and mental complications. In JP’s case, these include developmental delays in growth, motor skills, cognition, speech and language, as well as sensory processing disorders and other medical issues. Though he had been receiving therapy, he was discharged at the age of six from those services due to lack of progress. JP and his mother, Gina, were left with nowhere to turn.

“He came to us because other therapists had more or less given up on him,” said Batchellor. “We didn’t believe everything had been tried. One of our primary goals was to get JP to recognize that there was a world around him worth exploring.

“The drive to explore our environment is typically innate,” continued Batchellor, “but because of JP’s complications, he lacked the drive to explore and, as a result, was unable to develop motor skills. The simplest movements, like isolating and pointing a finger, took tremendous effort for him. We had to find what motivated him to move.”

Batchellor and Dinneen began by setting small goals that addressed JP’s language and motor skill needs. Unable to coordinate and control his movements or respond to visual information, JP first had to learn the meanings associated with words and pictures.

These lessons were taught using a Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display (PODD), a communication tool for people with complex communication needs (CCN). JP’s PODD is a “book” that organizes the world into visual symbols to teach him vocabulary. With years of regular practice both in therapy and at home, JP learned to select the appropriate symbols to communicate his wants, answer yes or no questions, give greetings, make requests, comment, correct and even tell stories. Most recently, JP has requested to learn how to read and write.

“One day he really surprised me,” said Dinneen. “He showed me on his device that he already knew how to spell his name. Most people wouldn’t have imagined the extent of what he can do and understand.”

Armed with a means to communicate, JP has been able to slowly overcome his other challenges. Since he began his therapy with Batchellor and Dinneen three years ago, he has made significant developments. With almost no command over his own body when he first met his therapists, JP is now capable of walking with the assistance of a walker. He has also begun to experiment with his voice, initiates social interaction and asks questions to learn more about people and events.

The results of these combined efforts are unprecedented, and have been so positive that through regular contact with other therapists and doctors, JP’s therapists have gained some attention in the medical community. Dinneen and Batchellor have been invited to present at an international conference to address this unique illness, their approach and JP’s results. Batchellor has also been asked to give a seminar on sensory processing.

“Our vision in attending this conference is to provide some hope to these families and educate them,” said Dinneen. “JP is a perfect example of how you can’t give up, and you have to be creative. Working together has made all the difference for him. If you work together, there’s always something you can do for a child.”

The Vint Hill business community is honored to be home to the esteemed collaboration of All About Kids Therapy, LLC and KidTalk, PLC, and is eager to facilitate more success stories like this one. Vint Hill Village, LLC plans to continue to expand and grow with services designed to meet the needs of citizens in Fauquier County.

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About All About Kids Therapy, LLC: Located on 4150 Weeks Drive in Vint Hill,All About Kids Therapy, LLC is committed to providing quality pediatric occupational and speech therapy to children. This is achieved through the earliest possible intervention with direct therapy services fostered by support and education for families of children receiving care. Christine Batchellor, a licensed and registered occupational therapist, earned her degree cum laude from Thomas Jefferson University. She has occupational therapy experience in acute care, psychiatry and hand therapy; however, pediatrics has always been her passion and a prime component of her practice. Learn more at www.allaboutkidstherapy.net.

About KidTalk, PLC: KidTalk, PLC began as a small private practice offering home-based services and grew enough by word of mouth to relocate to office space at Vint Hill. KidTalk, PLC shares office space with All About Kid's Therapy LLC. Carie Dinneen is a certified pediatric speech-language pathologist. She received her master's degree from the University of Tennessee and has over a decade of experience in private practice, early intervention, and public school settings. To learn more, visit www.kidtalkplc.com.

About Vint Hill:Vint Hill is one of the premier business locations in the DC area. It offers a diverse base of affordable commercial real estate, including land, office space or warehouse space. The Vint Hill area offers a highly skilled workforce and balances quality of life with easy access to the nation’s capital, Northern Virginia, and Washington Dulles International Airport. Learn more at www.vinthill.com.