What is Spina Bifida?
Spina bifida is a congenital disability caused by a neural tube defect that prevents the spine and spinal cord from forming correctly. It can lead to various physical challenges. The severity of spina bifida can vary significantly; some children may have minimal symptoms, while others may need more extensive medical care and mobility aids.
Understanding your child’s unique needs and challenges is crucial for their health and well-being. Our dedicated team provides compassionate and individualised care customised to your child’s requirements. At South West Kids Clinic, we strive to create a nurturing and understanding environment where you and your child can feel supported, empowered, and confident in their abilities.
Types of Spina Bifida
- Spina Bifida Occulta: The mildest form, often with no visible signs and minimal nerve involvement.
- Meningocele: Involves a sac of fluid that comes through an opening in the baby’s back but does not include the spinal cord.
- Myelomeningocele: The most severe form, where the spinal canal is open along several vertebrae in the lower or middle back, exposing tissues and nerves.
Our Approach to Spina Bifida Treatment
- Posture and alignment
- 24-hour positioning
- Motor control and Coordination
- Fine motor skills
- Joint range of motion, flexibility, strength and joint integrity
- Participation in daily living skills (e.g., dressing, feeding, bathing)
- Developmental milestones
- Play and social skills
- Mobility and gait training
- Muscle strength
- Daily functioning
- Gross motor skills
- Joint range of motion and flexibility
- Postural control
- Pain management
- Participation in inclusive sport and recreation
- Articulation and clear speech
- Receptive (understanding) language development
- Expressive (use of) language
- Fluency (stuttering) management
- Feeding difficulties and dysphagia if present
- Higher Level language - such as pragmatics
- Social Skills
- Comprehensive assessment of motor and developmental skills
- Goal-directed training
- Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP Approach)
- Pre & Post-surgery rehabilitation
- Community assessments and intervention to assist with transitions into school
- Equipment and assistive technology prescription, monitoring & support
- Parent/caregiver coaching & support
- Task adaptation or simplification
- Graded task progression
- Liaison with specialist team and key support persons
- Functional, goal-directed therapy
- Assistive technology prescription, monitoring & support
- Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) intensive therapy
- Spider cage therapy
- Pediasuit
- Serial casting & splinting
- 24-hour positioning
- Paediatric Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation (PIASTM)
- Pre and post-orthopaedic surgery rehabilitation
- Aquatic physiotherapy
- Education and family support
- Community assessments and intervention to assist with transitions into school
- Comprehensive assessment of oral motor skills required for speech and feeding
- Comprehensive Assessment of language and literacy skills
- Nuffield Dyspraxia Program
- Rapid Syllable Transition Treatment (ReST)
- Contextual Utilisation Approaches for Speech Sound Production
- The Lidcombe Program for stuttering
- The Oakville Program for stuttering
- Play-based language stimulation
- Peer-based play groups
- Cued Articulation approach
- Responsive Feeding Therapy Approach
- Parent/caregiver coaching & support
Frequently asked questions
What types of therapies are most effective for children with spina bifida?
A multidisciplinary approach is typically the most effective. This includes physical therapy for mobility and strength, occupational therapy for daily living skills, speech therapy if there are communication challenges and tailored support such as psychological counselling and nutritional guidance.
How early should therapy for spina bifida begin?
Early intervention is crucial for optimal outcomes. Therapy should ideally begin as soon as possible after diagnosis, which can sometimes be as early as the newborn period. Early therapy helps mitigate the progression of symptoms and supports developmental milestones.
