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list of the most commonly asked questions by health care professionals and
parents. Questions are organized by topic. Select a topic below to jump to
the relevant questions: |
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 Equipment
Hanging/Installing Suspended Equipment
Questions
Parents Ask
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Category: Equipment Hanging/Installing Suspended Equipment |
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1 |
Question:
How do I begin an installation of hanging or suspended
equipment?
Answer:
Installing hanging and suspended equipment begins with
choosing the right products for your needs, then following the
manufacturer’s instructions for installing it. Here are a few basics to get
you started:
1. Identify the type of beam in your ceiling, such as steel beams, wooden
beam, or drop ceilings.
2. Select the appropriate forged eyebolt for your ceiling. Southpaw sells
eyebolt packages for
2 x 6 Beams,
Steel beams , or
Drop Ceilings.
3. Follow these requirements for a safe installation of hanging or suspended
equipment:
· Your ceiling support point should be able to sustain at least a 1000
pound load at up to a 45 degree angle in any direction.
· There should never be more than a 1/4 of an inch movement in your
eyebolt.
· The base of the eyebolt must be flush with the ceiling.
· There must not be any gap between the base and ceiling surface.
· All eyebolts must be installed 6 feet away from walls or other
obstacles. Two eyebolts intended for simultaneous use by two clients must be
far enough apart to prevent accidental collision during therapy. This
distance is usually 12 feet or more. Two eyebolts intended to be used by one
swing for linear motion should be placed between three and four feet apart.
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2 |
Question:
What if I am unable to install a hook in my ceiling?
Answer:
Southpaw sells a
Custom Support Structure which is the best alternative to ceiling
support. The structure is custom made to fit your room. It is made of solid,
stable steel tubing and includes the forged eyebolts. Please contact us to
discuss a personalized support structure for your practice.
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3 |
Question:
I am a traveling therapist, any ideas on how to use
suspended equipment?
Answer:
Your best choice is the
Itinerant Support Frame (ITN Frame). The Itinerant Support Frame offers
therapists the ability to use suspended therapy in places not possible
because of lack of a permanent suspension point. It also gives the itinerant
therapist quick and easy set up and disassembly, allowing the therapist more
time with the client.
Weighing only 28 pounds and standing less than six feet in folded length,
the ITN Frame can easily be carried in most cars for easy transport. The
frame includes a convenient carrying case. It comes complete with a built-in
safety rotational device and can support up to a 500 pound static load.
Please note, the ITN Frame IS NOT a substitute for a ceiling hook. It is
limited in its capabilities— it should only be used for passive
therapy/swinging. It is not intended for aggressive therapy. The swinging
must be limited to within the angle of the frame legs. Failure to comply may
cause the frame to tip over, resulting in serious injury. |
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Category: Questions Parents Ask |
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1 |
Question:
What is the difference between a weighted vest and your
Bear Hug vest?
Answer:
The
Weighted Vest and the
Bear Hug Vest both provide proprioceptive (muscle) feedback. However,
the weighted vest is loose fitting and provides the input via weight pockets
while the Bear Hug is tight fitting (made of neoprene) and provides the
input via deep pressure. Every child’s needs and responses are different.
Some prefer one over the other. If you are a parent, please refer to your
Occupational Therapist for guidance. |
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2 |
Question:
My child displays many of the symptoms and behaviors of
sensory integration dysfunction (DSI). Where do I go for help?
Answer:
You can start by looking for an Occupational Therapist
(OT) who works in pediatrics, preferably with sensory integration
dysfunction (DSI) experience. Look in your local phone book, or call the
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) for a list of OTs in your
area: 1-800-377-8555 or visit www.aota.org.
Be advised that many insurance companies require a referral for OT services,
so check with your provider. Also, DSI treatment is not always covered by
insurance. If you haven’t already, read as much about DSI that you can find.
Two great books are
SI and the Child
by A. Jean Ayres and
The Out-Of-Sync-Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz. |
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3 |
Question:
We just started seeing an occupational therapist (OT),
but only once a week. What else can I do at home with my child to enhance
therapy?
Answer:
First, always communicate and discuss ideas with your
child’s OT about supplemental home therapy and follow his/her instructions.
Educate yourself by reading books and articles. Consider joining a support
group, whether online or otherwise, to share ideas and concerns. Upon advice
from your therapist, invest in some basic equipment you can use at home not
as toys but as developmental/therapy tools. |
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4 |
Question:
I have heard the terms "proprioception" and
"vestibular." What do these mean?
Answer:
Proprioception refers to "muscle sense". It is the
sensation from the muscles and joints that tell your brain when and how the
muscles are contracting or stretching, or the joints are bending, pulling,
or compressed. This information enables the brain to know where each part of
the body is and how it is moving.
The vestibular system refers to "balance sense". It is the sensory system
that responds to body position in relation to gravity and movement.
Receptors for this system are found in our inner ear. |
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5 |
Question:
When are sensory integration problems actually
considered a dysfunction? Doesn’t everyone experience problems at one time
or another?
Answer:
Yes we all experience problems in processing sensory
stimuli on occasion. For example, going to a rock concert with crowds of
people can be so overwhelming that you have to leave before it is over.
Riding a roller coaster and feeling sick or wobbly when you get off means
you were probably overloaded with vestibular stimuli. Being overly sensitive
to smells when you are ill is another example. An occasional experience of
disorganized sensations is very normal. It becomes a dysfunction when the
sensations are disorganized so much and so often that it interferes with
activities of daily living. |
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6 |
Question:
What is the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT)?
Answer:
The SIPT is a standardized test used to help identify
difficulties in various areas of sensory processing and functioning. It the
only measure of its kind aimed specifically at the different areas related
to sensory integrative dysfunction. The test is designed to test children
between the ages of 4.0 years/months to 8.11 years/months. The test consists
of 17 different standardized subtests and is administered in 2 to 3 two-hour
sessions. The SIPT is a fairly expensive test, not usually covered by
insurance providers. The only providers who are qualified to administer the
test must be SIPT certified. SIPT certification does not address any
treatment planning nor treatment strategies. SIPT certification implies only
the ability to administer, score and interpret the results of this specific
test. SIPT certification, although a helpful compliment, is not necessary
for an occupational therapist to be able to successfully treat DSI.
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