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Author: CritUSA

Deaf and Blindness Awareness Month

By‎: TELETONUSA /

Being “deaf” refers to hearing loss so severe that there is little to no functional hearing. Whereas “hard of hearing” refers to hearing loss with the potential for residual hearing that an auditory device can be used to assist with hearing. If a child is born with or develops a hearing impairment, here are a few signs to be aware of: 

  • No startling to a loud noise 
  • No turning to sound or to their name 
  • Delayed or unclear speech 
  • May hear some sounds but not others 
  • Turns the TV or music up too high 

It is important to note that when speaking to someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, you always face them and speak clearly, slowly and steadily. Many individuals who are hard of hearing utilize lip reading to assist them. You do not need to speak louder, exaggerate or yell at them. This will distort your lip patterns making it more difficult for them to understand what you are saying. 

Being “blind” means that someone can have any level of visual impairment to include the inability to see certain colors or light. Vision is rarely recovered once it has been impaired. Blindness can have a limiting effect on a person’s ability to perform daily activities. Visual aids such as glasses, contact lenses and medication can help someone who is affected by blindness. Signs of blindness in children are:

  • The inability to focus on an object when in front of them
  • Squinting when trying to look at an object
  • No reaction to bright light when shined in their eyes

Some home modifications that can help for the blind person’s safety include high contrast markings in their environment, keeping furniture and home appliances in the same place in the room and the use of a specially trained service dog while out in the community. People who are blind can have fully functional lives and be involved in many activities once they are taught how to safely function in their environments. 

Get to Know Our Food Pantry

By‎: TELETONUSA /

Did you know that we have a Food Pantry?

In partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank, CRIT has a Food Pantry.

Our Food Pantry is available for families:

  • Going through a food crisis
  • Who receive benefits from the government
  • Who are below the federal poverty level of 185%

How does the pantry work?

The pantry is operated through grant funds and through food drives hosted by local schools or organizations.

Want to help?

You can support our families by donating any of the following products:

  • Canned goods
  • Refrigerated or frozen foods
  • Personal hygiene items
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Diapers and wipes
  • Cleaning supplies

Remember that the work we do at TeletonUSA is possible thanks to the generosity of people like you. Thank you!

Beyond the Birthmark: Going Past the Surface with Sturge-Weber

By‎: TELETONUSA /

Sturge-Weber syndrome is a congenital disorder affecting the healthy development of certain blood vessels that supply the brain, skin, and eyes. It is characterized by a port wine birthmark on the face, increased pressure in the eye, and neurological involvement (e.g. leptomeningeal angioma). These can result in seizure activity as well as stroke-like episodes causing temporary weakness on one side of the body, vision deficits, migraine headaches, and loss of consciousness.  Symptom severity vary between individuals with Sturge-Weber syndrome, and some may not exhibit all three symptoms.   

To address these symptoms, individuals with Sturge-Weber syndrome can receive vascular specific laser treatment (as frequent as every 6-8 weeks) to decrease the size and lighten the color of the port wine birthmark. They may receive antiepileptic medications to address seizure activity as well as medications specific to addressing glaucoma. Although there is no cure, children with Sturge-Weber syndrome can benefit from physical and occupational therapy to address muscle imbalances seen on the affected side of the body, facilitate engagement in school activities, and promote their functional independence.  

For more information, please visit: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/sturge-weber-syndrome/   

World Multiple Sclerosis Day

By‎: TELETONUSA /

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that causes a breakdown in communication between the brain and the nervous system. Its symptoms include vision loss, pain, fatigue, and coordination challenges.

This condition has no cure, but with rehabilitation and other treatments it is possible to improve the quality of life of people who have it, changing the course of the disease and controlling its symptoms.

Why is it commemorated?

On the World Multiple Sclerosis Day, a call is made for people living with this condition, to share their stories and raise awareness among the general population. An attempt is also made to break down the social barriers that make people with MS feel lonely and socially isolated. It is an opportunity to promote better services and support networks.

TeletonUSA and MS

At TeletonUSA Foundation we have specialists and equipment that can benefit people living with MS. Our services are available for all children, in the traditional TeletonUSA model.

Don’t Wait, Vaccinate at CRIT

By‎: TELETONUSA /

In order to better serve our community, we are pleased to announce that Children’s Rehabilitation Institute TeletonUSA will become a COVID-19 Vaccination Center.

Professionals from the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health), will be administering the Pfizer vaccine on the following dates:

  • First dose: Wednesday, May 26, 2021
  • Second dose: Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Requirements:

  • You must be over 12 years of age
  • You must arrive on time for your appointment
  • You must fill out the registration form, available here

If you have questions, or need more information, call (210) 257-6260 or send an email to contactus@critusa.org.

About OI: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment

By‎: TELETONUSA /

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease, is a genetic disorder affecting the healthy development of the skeletal system. Children with this condition have a genetic defect that affects their ability to make collagen, resulting in collagen deficiency or having collagen that doesn’t function properly. As a result, their bones are not as strong as a typically developing child. 

Symptoms can include:

  • Bones that break easily
  • Bone pains
  • Bone deformities (such as scoliosis development or having bowlegs)
  • Shorter stature
  • A triangular-shaped face

Though there are 15 different types of OI, the most common types are types I-IV, which vary in life expectancy and functional prognosis. While there is no cure, children with OI can benefit from physical and occupational therapy to prevent fractures, manage them when they occur, strengthen muscles to promote overall mobility and functional independence and incorporate standing programs for bone/joint integrity. 

For more information, please visit https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/osteogenesis-imperfecta.html 

How to Use Books to Promote Communication Skills

By‎: TELETONUSA /

Whether or not your child has a disability, reading, and story-telling is a critical way to help them develop speech and language skills. 

We use books and story-telling with children to help promote brain development, teach language and emotions, spark curiosity, and encourage children to use their imagination. The book you choose to read is not as important as how you read it to your child. Some books have many words and some books have no words. Feel free to read the books and remember to interact with your child throughout the reading activity. 

You can do this by pointing out objects and characters, asking questions about what the characters are doing, describing pictures in the book, calling attention to colors, actions, emotions, animals, or people. This will help your child to develop a robust vocabulary as kids are visual and auditory learners.

Reading every word in the book is an option but not required to engage your child in a language-rich learning experience. Books that include songs, rhymes, and repetitions are a great way to get your child involved in the story. Have them repeat common phrases, sing-a-long, and predict rhymes throughout the story to keep them engaged. 

Understanding the Puzzle of Autism

By‎: TELETONUSA /

Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), refers to a group of conditions that cause difficulties with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. Collectively, ASD is comprised of the following conditions: autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger syndrome. ASD is a common diagnosis and, according to the Center for Disease Control, affecting 1 in 54 children in the United States today. 

ASD is commonly diagnosed around 2-3 years of age and is based on behavior and development. Each child diagnosed with Autism will demonstrate different strengths and weaknesses. However, common signs and symptoms of ASD include: 

  • Challenges with social, emotional, and communication skills
  • Avoiding eye contact
  • Repeating actions over and over
  • Difficulty adapting to change
  • Fixation on certain objects
  • Sensitivity to light, sound, and touch

Additionally, treatment for ASD is dependent on the child, their symptoms, and their developmental delays. Children may benefit from all therapy services or may need more attention in one area over another. 

A Small Glimpse at Traumatic Brain Injury

By‎: TELETONUSA /

A Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, results from a direct hit to the head that disrupts healthy brain function and development. The severity of a TBI ranges from “mild” to “severe.” Short-term symptoms generally fall within one of four categories: (1) thinking/remembering (such as difficulty concentrating or remembering new information); (2) physical (such as nausea, vomiting, or light sensitivity); (3) emotional/mood (such as irritability, sadness, or anxiety); and (4) sleep (sleeping more or less than usual). Caregivers should seek immediate medical attention if the child experienced a bump or blow to the head/body, and especially if they observe different sized pupils, new seizure activity, or loss of consciousness. Additionally, if a child will not stop crying or will not eat, they should be taken to the emergency department. 

For mild cases, such as concussions, the most important activity that will help recovery is rest. Children should avoid high-risk and high-speed activities that could result in another concussion. Caregivers should administer medications as prescribed by the pediatrician. For more severe cases, early and consistent physical, occupational, and speech therapy is indicated to help optimize their functional potential. While they may not return to their baseline level of function, patient and caregiver involvement with therapist can provide the training and adaptive equipment needed to improve their quality of life.  

For more information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury  

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