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Every parent’s goal is to watch their child successfully go through the stages of growth and development. You carefully watch their strengths, take note of their weaknesses, and help them overcome as many challenges as possible.
Sometimes children face challenges that may result in them experiencing muscle weakness. In some childhood apraxia es, they are simply developing at a slower pace than their peers, but in other childhood apraxia es, a child may need the care of pediatric occupational and speech therapists.
Our occupational and speech therapists are skilled and attentive individuals who know how to recognize and treat children experiencing muscle weakness. Contact Southern Pediatric Therapy Clinic in Picayune & Wiggins to learn more, and to schedule your child for an evaluation.
Common causes of muscle weakness in children:
Muscular weakness can delay a child’s motor development skills and make it difficult for them to keep up with peers.
According to Boston’s Children’s Hospital, muscle weakness can be caused by a variety of conditions, including those that involve the central nervous system, muscle disorders, and genetic disorders. Some common causes can include:
- Down’s syndrome
- Muscular dystrophy
- Cerebral palsy
- Hypotonia
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Myotonic dystrophy
- Marfan syndrome
- Tay-Sachs disease
How to recognize muscular weakness in your child
Some children do develop slower than others, and that is normal. However, if you are noticing that your child is taking longer than others to reach important motor milestones, there may be an underlying issue.
There are multiple symptoms that may be present in a child with muscle weakness:
- The child’s muscles seem to extend more than they should
- He or she has not developed appropriate motor-related abilities (being able to support their own head, rolling over, walk, or sit up)
- Difficulty chewing or sucking
- Decreased or inactive gag reflex (you notice their mouth hangs open)
How Southern Pediatric Therapy Clinic can help
Here at Southern Pediatric Therapy Clinic our pediatric occupational and speech therapists understand and know how to treat a variety of issues related to muscular weakness.
When you bring your child in for an assessment, our therapists will review his or her medical history, and observe their muscle tone, overall mobility, coordination, balance, and more.
Pediatric speech and occupational therapy for muscle weakness often involve targeted stretches to improve a child’s physical strength, playtime to teach them the correct way to hold toys and explore, as well as exercises and training to improve how they walk or run.
Your child’s therapist will also most likely put together an at-home exercise program so that you can continue to practice with your child away from the clinic.
Contact our clinic today
If you suspect your child might be struggling with muscle weakness, do not hesitate to contact Southern Pediatric Therapy Clinic today to request an appointment with one of our pediatric speech and occupational therapists. Our therapists will put together a treatment care plan to ensure your child’s success.
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