Technology Opening Doors for Patients at Spaulding Outpatient Center for Children Salem
At the Spaulding Outpatient Center for Children Salem, we are pleased to offer several technology options in the rehabilitation process.
Our comprehensive adult and pediatric Assisted Arm Robotic Movement (AARM) Clinic is ready to provide expert evaluations, and fittings for the most cutting-edge mobile arm supports and robotic options available today.
Our speech-language pathologists are using a computerized program used for voice therapy. This technology is used with children and adults with voice disorders, vocal nodules (or other vocal fold pathology), hoarse vocal quality, and motor speech disorders (e.g., dysarthria and apraxia).
Assisted Arm Robotic Movement Clinic
Written by: Catherine N. T. Mundo, OTR/L
As Occupational Therapists, we understand the devastating impact of weakness or inability to move your arm. This can limit an individual’s independence, quality of life, and livelihood. Our comprehensive adult and pediatric Assisted Arm Robotic Movement (AARM) Clinic is ready to provide expert evaluations, and fittings for the most cutting-edge mobile arm supports and robotic options available today. We want individuals to feel inspired and empowered by the freedom that comes with the right device. Mobile arm supports are designed for those struggling with limited shoulder strength and allow persons to reach higher to maintain their autonomy and complete everyday tasks (e.g., hygiene, self-feeding, tabletop tasks, and so on). Here at Spaulding, we have taken the opportunity to look at the next generation of this style tool that can be mounted to either an individual’s wheelchair or table. Some of these models may connect directly to power wheelchairs and can offer dynamic, power assistance. The AARM Clinic can also determine the appropriateness of an assistive robotic arm for a client. This new technology literally and figuratively opens doors for patients, lending to multiple possibilities in life that may no longer be accomplished without assistance. The robotic arm can be mounted to a power wheelchair. It is operated through a user’s existing controls (e.g., joystick, head control, sip-and-puff, head array system, etc.) and looks to mimic the versatility of a fully functioning human arm. The AARM Clinic team starts with a virtual clinical intake to learn more about you and your goals. Next, we look forward to meeting you in person at the Spaulding Outpatient Center in Salem for a clinical assessment and equipment trial that takes approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours. Your therapist will use this information to match you to the optimal piece of equipment. Our team partners with a contracted vendor and Assistive Technology Professional (ATP). If you are interested in more information or an evaluation with the AARM Clinic, please contact Melanie at the Spaulding Outpatient Center in Salem [phone: (978) 825-8700].
Computerized Program for Voice Therapy
Written by: Shannon Leary, M.A., CCC-SLP
At the Spaulding Outpatient Center for Children in Salem, we utilize a computerized program designed specifically for voice evaluation and therapy. It is an evidence-based visual feedback clinical tool used with children and adults with voice disorders, vocal nodules (or other vocal fold pathology), hoarse vocal quality, and motor speech disorders (e.g., dysarthria and apraxia). It provides interactive and motivating games that target frequency/pitch, loudness, sustained phonation, voice onset, and prosody (rate, rhythm, and intonation) during speaking tasks. Treatment always begins with assessment tasks that provide clinicians with objective data used to track progress across the course of therapy.
For more information, please contact the Spaulding Outpatient Center for Children in Salem.