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Special Needs Child

History

Medical History

Ben suffered prenatal asphyxia requiring resuscitation at birth. He had seizures during the newborn period and was on medication (Phenobarbital) for the seizures until 18 months of age. At the age of 2, Ben fell and hit the back of his head resulting in a linear skull fracture.

Social History

Ben is the first-born child to a 24-year-old mother and 33-year-old father who was previously married and has a 12-year-old son who lives in an adjoining state with his biological mother. Ben's mother is currently 5 months pregnant with their second child. Ben's father is a long-haul truck driver who is gone from the home approximately three weeks a month. Ben's mother was studying to be a speech-language pathologist, but discontinued her studies after Ben's birth. She currently does not work, but states that she would like to return to college when her children are both in school. The family has recently moved into this school district to allow them to be closer to the university hospital and to be near the mother's parents so that "mom can have their on-going assistance when dad is out of town."

Therapeutic Intervention

Ben has received continuous medical services from the university hospital where he was born. He is seen on a regular basis for basic health care and in the Special Needs Clinic by a developmental pediatrician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech pathologist. Current evaluations have been provided to school personnel from the hospital physical, occupational, and speech-language pathologist.

Bilateral AFO's were prescribed by his special needs pediatrician and constructed. Ongoing adjustments are made by a certified orthotist in another hospital located 100 miles away from his home. Ben wears a thumb abduction splint on his right hand constructed by the occupational therapist at the Special Needs Clinic.

Ben has also received services from the age of 18 months to the present time through an early intervention program in a small rural community which provided speech/language, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and special education services within a school-based self-contained special education classroom for children between the ages of 18 months and kindergarten. Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) goals have been provided by the school occupational therapist including an approximate developmental age for fine motor skills.