Programs
In addition to ongoing therapy, we offer programs tailored for specific populations, including TheraSuit Method which can be indicated as a cerebral palsy treatment. Our programs are available as a supplement to regular therapy and/or for patients who do not receive ongoing therapy at Little Tesoros. These programs are offered for a specific amount of time (for example, for 3 weeks in a row) and are usually offered at regular intervals throughout the year. Below you will find descriptions for our current program offerings.
Please contact Amanda Reichle at (512) 248-2422 with questions, or email her. Additionally, if you are interested in our programs, but have concerns about the cost, ask us how we may be able to help you obtain funding.
Select a link to learn more about our programs on this page:
» TheraSuit Method Intensive Program
» It Takes Two to Talk: The Hanen Program for Parents
» Talking Tots: A Parent/Child Facilitated Language and Play Group
» Social Caterpillars
» Social Butterflies: Level 1
TheraSuit Method Intensive Program
The TheraSuit method intensive program is designed to increase functional outcomes of traditional therapy services. Patients participate in an individualized strengthening program for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 3 consecutive weeks. A variety of tools and techniques including the TheraSuit and the Universal Exercise Unit allow the participants to achieve accelerated functional outcomes. Therasuit Method can be beneficial for many populations (see list below) including treatment for cerebral palsy as well as treatment for spasticity.
Little Tesoros TheraSuit Method Intensive Program:
- Uses the TheraSuit and the Universal Exercise Unit which includes the bungee and pulley weight systems.
- Is provided by a combination of physical, occupational, and speech therapists.
- Runs 3 hours per day, 5 days a week, for 3 weeks.
What is the Universal Exercise Unit (UEU) and TheraSuit?
The UEU is an open metal cage equipped with pulleys, weights, straps, and elastic cords. This dynamic system allows us to isolate and strengthen desired muscle groups and improve specific, functional movement patterns. The TheraSuit is a soft, proprioceptive, dynamic orthosis consisting of a cap, vest, shorts, knee pads, and shoe attachments that are connected to each other through a system of elastic bands. It is a safe, effective tool used in combination with our intensive exercise program and the UEU to accelerate the child’s progress.
The TheraSuit also:
- Improves proprioception
- Reduces pathological reflexes
- Restores proper patterns of movement & posture
- Provides external stabilization and supports weak muscles
- Corrects body alignment
- Improves hip alignment by vertical loading over the hip joint
- Stimulates the brain to re-train the Central Nervous System
- Provides tactile and sensory stimulation
- Improves speech production and fluency
- Loads the body with gravity type pressures
- Accelerates the progress of newly learned movements and functional skills
TheraSuit Method Intensive Program is recommended for children with:
- Cerebral Palsy
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Hypertonia
- Hypotonia
- Ataxia
- Dystonia
- Spina Bifida
- Other Neurological Disorders
- Post Stroke (CVA)
- Developmental Delays
- Down Syndrome
- Other Syndromes
Please call us at (512) 248-2422 or email us for more information or to schedule your intensive.
Speech Therapy Programs
It Takes Two to Talk: The Hanen Program for Parents
Concerned about speech delay or language delay for your young child? It Takes Two to Talk is a family-focused program run by speech-language pathologists for groups of parents with young children who have communication difficulties. It is appropriate for children whose communication ranges from pre-verbal to those who are beginning to combine two words.
The program includes an initial consultation/evaluation, 8 weekly parent group sessions and 3 individual visits with the parent and child, including video feedback. It Takes Two to Talk is based on the research-supported principles that parents’ interaction and responses are important in encouraging young children’s language development.
You can learn more about the Hanen Centre at www.hanen.org.
Please download, print and complete this general information form before your initial consultation.
Talking Tots: A Parent/Child Facilitated Language and Play Group
Talking Tots is a program designed for parents and children ages 1 to 2 years, who are demonstrating language delays, speech delays, or play skills delays.). It consists of four sessions that are 1 ½ hours in length and run by a speech language pathologist. The first hour of each session will be used to teach a specific skill by modeling through parent/child play. The remaining 30 minutes will be used for parent practice and questions. Each session targets specific play skills such as, joint attention, using signs and vocalizations to request or label, building vocabulary, oral motor movements necessary for speech, and using toys and books to promote speech and language development.
Sometimes parents or caregivers are unsure about whether their child’s speech and language development is normal. It is important to remember that there is a range of normal for each milestone and that two children of the same age may have very different skills and still be typically developing. However, it is also important to trust your instincts about whether your child may have a speech delay and, if needed, seeking professional intervention sooner rather than later can benefit your child and your family.
Language is divided into two areas: receptive, which is what we understand, and expressive, which is the words we say. Here is a link to normal milestones for receptive and expressive language.
» Receptive and Expressive Language Development
Speech refers to the actual sounds that we use to produce language. Many parents or caregivers question whether their child’s speech errors are normal and how much of their child’s speech should be intelligible (able to be understood). Here is a link that provides more information about typical speech development.
» Speech Development Sound Chart
Play is children’s work and we place an importance on play skills because they are often used as a measure of cognitive development. Through play, children learn things that will help them academically and socially later in life such as attention span, turn taking, creativity and sharing. Here are two links that talk about the development of play skills.
» Play Skills Development (link one)
» Play Skills Development (link two)
Social Language Groups
Little Tesoros is excited to offer a variety of group programs that address pragmatic communication skills, also described as “social skills” or “social communication.” These abilities determine how we use verbal and non-verbal language to communicate with others. A child may be effective in saying words clearly, using correct grammar, and understanding complex information but may still have a communication difficulty if they have not yet mastered the rules of social interaction that may seem instinctual to some. Please see the links below for more information about social language skills.
» Pragmatic Development (PDF)
» Social Skills (PDF)
Social Caterpillars
» Download the Social Caterpillar application here. (PDF)
Often, social communication skills are difficult to practice in one-on-one therapy. Social Caterpillars is a great opportunity for your young child to practice critical early social skills with another age-matched and social-emotional matched peer for future success in the community and in a classroom setting.
This group is created for children ages 3-5. It will consist of 2 children and 1 speech language pathologist for 3 weeks. Sessions are 2 days a week for 1 hour and parents are encouraged to take turns participating in each session.
The following describes a general description of the program components you can expect from Social Caterpillars:
- Directed teaching of four lessons throughout the four weeks to promote:
- Engaging in various types of play and sharing with peers
- Learning to identify and manage simple emotions
- Independently requesting objects from peers and asking for help
- Waiting and taking turns with peers
- Guided practice in using lessons that have been discussed in pre-planned and spontaneous interactions, such as in tabletop, circle, and playground activities
- Opportunities for 1 participating parent to attend each session to observe and learn therapy techniques for success outside of Social Caterpillars
The small group size and adult-to-child ratio will promote quality practice with social communication skills necessary for larger groups. With ample opportunities for children to be accompanied by a parent, they will learn useful strategies for coaching their children as they flourish into a Social Caterpillar!
Social Butterflies: Level 1
» Download the Social Butterfly application here. (PDF)
This group is designed for children ages 5-9 and will run with 4 children and 1 speech language pathologist for 4 weeks. Sessions are 2 days per week for 2 hours with a follow-up parent consultation at the completion of the program.
Using the methodology of Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking, Social Butterflies: Level 1 aims to teach your child various rules of social interaction through a cognitive-behavioral approach in structured activities. The following describes a general description of the program components you can expect from Social Butterflies: Level 1:
- Directed teaching of four foundational lessons throughout the four weeks to promote:
- taking the perspective of others
- making inferences
- body language when listening
- identifying emotions
- Guided practice in using lessons that have been discussed in pre-planned and spontaneous interactions
- Therapist to parent communication following each session to share the day’s lessons and activities
- One-on-one consultation between parent and therapist after the program to discuss your child’s further needs and home activities
- Opportunities to participate in additional Social Butterflies programs upon completion of this level to provide further practice and learning
A small group size provides a supportive and nurturing environment where children can learn new, challenging social skills. Regular parent communication with a therapist and a follow-up parent consultation will help navigate this complex area of language development as children grow into a social butterfly!
For more information about any of our programs or to request an application please call (512) 248-2422 or email Amanda Reichle.