FAQs

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviours, speech and nonverbal communication.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that can cause above-normal levels of hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. People with ADHD may also have trouble focusing their attention on a single task or sitting still for long periods of time. Both adults and children can have ADHD.

Although they share many of the same symptoms, the two are distinct conditions. Autism spectrum disorders are a series of related developmental disorders that can affect language skills, behavior, social interactions, and the ability to learn. ADHD impacts the way the brain grows and develops. And you can have both.

Mental retardation (MR) refers to substantial limitations in present functioning. It starts before age 18 and is characterized by significantly subaverage intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with related limitations in two or more of the following applicable adaptive skill areas:

• communication
• self-care
• home living
• social skills
• community use
• self-direction
• health and safety
• functional academics
• leisure
• work

Developmental milestones are behaviors or physical skills seen in infants and children as they grow and develop. Rolling over, crawling, walking, and talking are all considered milestones. The milestones are different for each age range.

Play therapy is a form of therapy used primarily for children. That’s because children may not be able to process their own emotions or articulate problems to parents or other adults.

While it may look like an ordinary playtime, play therapy can be much more than that.

A trained therapist can use playtime to observe and gain insights into a child’s problems. The therapist can then help the child explore emotions and deal with unresolved trauma. Through play, children can learn new coping mechanisms and how to redirect inappropriate behaviors.

The ability to communicate is important for daily living, including the development of social relationships. Children learn to communicate in stages, with articulation and language developing independently. To understand verbal communication development, it is important to understand the difference between speech (articulation) and language.

• Speech (articulation) − the physical production of sounds to form spoken words.
• Language − the message conveyed back and forth in talking. This includes the ability to understand the speech of others (receptive language) and the ability to express thoughts through words and sentences (expressive language).

A developmental delay is more than just being “slower to develop” or “a little behind.” It means a child is continually behind in gaining the skills expected by a certain age. A developmental delay can happen in just one area or in a few. A global developmental delay is when kids have delays in at least two areas.

The first thing that I’d like to point out is to remember that first, and foremost, please remember that the prescribed home exercises are always for the patient’s own benefit and should be done in its’ entirety.  That being said, in order to answer the question, most people we work with in the clinic for sciatica do their home exercises at least once per day…EVERY day.

Some of our patients will do them up to 3 times per day.

The short answer is: as long as you need and want to be. There are no cut-and-dried answers when it comes to a timeframe, although your reasons and goals for therapy may help inform your decision.