tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post1287807420078810263..comments2024-03-28T21:36:55.157-04:00Comments on Love That Max : Brain regeneration in kids with cerebal palsy: feeling regroovyEllen Seidmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01433429847255621203noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-57765270176024617142015-02-26T06:14:01.910-05:002015-02-26T06:14:01.910-05:00Yea nothing new. It'S just learning. And curr...Yea nothing new. It'S just learning. And current therapies don't even make the most of it...biofeedback, that'lll re grove your re groving<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-60574443140111191312015-02-10T11:49:49.235-05:002015-02-10T11:49:49.235-05:00When the neurologist tells you your child will lik...When the neurologist tells you your child will likely not eat (orally), walk, or talk, as our neurologist did when our son was finally going home after a premature birth and 100 days in the NICU, remapping is exciting and new. For some reason, his remapping was more of a celebration than my mom's remapping when she learned to eat again after her stroke. (Of course, my son's remapping took many more years - he stopped using his g-tube at age 8.)<br /><br />CathyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-30478644578244351452015-02-09T17:08:32.094-05:002015-02-09T17:08:32.094-05:00Ellen, it's not that I have such a prodigious ...Ellen, it's not that I have such a prodigious memory (in fact, I couldn't remember whether the letter was M or A), but that the event was so striking in a shark-fin-peeking-above-the-surface kind of way--it just had to mean that there was so much significant unseen stuff going on underneath. To me, it meant that Max could see similarities between something he'd learned in a very specific context and something he observed in an entirely different setting, on his own with no prompting, and despite changes in scale (tiny letter vs big swing set), materials (text vs 3-D construction), function (reading vs swinging), etc. In other words, the exact opposite of rote learning! Plus, it showed Max's interest in and engagement with his world that was like--well, like a kid interested in and engaged with his world. I thought it was an amazing peek into his mind at that moment, so the memory stuck.<br /> --PhylAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-77622759685062869222015-02-09T11:31:46.424-05:002015-02-09T11:31:46.424-05:00LOVE this blog post. Brain regeneration/re-mappin...LOVE this blog post. Brain regeneration/re-mapping is such an important topic that often does not get enough coverage. It is this topic in particular that I have shaped my entire career, and now my own therapy clinic around (I am a physical therapist who specializes in intensive outpatient services for individuals with neurologic disorders). <br /><br />If anyone is looking for more information regarding brain plasticity and re-mapping, I would highly recommend the following books: The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge and Spark by John Ratey. Spark is less technical and "information dense", but they are both wonderful books that I suggest to all of the families who come to my clinic. <br />Beth Hubbardhttp://www.achievehealthwellness.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-88573030658812347102015-02-08T15:44:12.020-05:002015-02-08T15:44:12.020-05:00Of course it's nothing "new." This p...Of course it's nothing "new." This post was about the regenerating Max's brain has done, with explanations for those who aren't familiar with that process. I sure do love Dr. D.'s "regrooving" terminology, so much more picturesque than "brain plasticity." Ellen Seidmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433429847255621203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-62221351751450502622015-02-08T15:40:26.697-05:002015-02-08T15:40:26.697-05:00I'll take that! xo, PDI'll take that! xo, PDEllen Seidmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433429847255621203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-18851606477676899942015-02-08T15:40:13.050-05:002015-02-08T15:40:13.050-05:00Sharon, this is wonderful to hear. Thank YOU!Sharon, this is wonderful to hear. Thank YOU!Ellen Seidmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433429847255621203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-7385982346631651612015-02-08T15:39:42.169-05:002015-02-08T15:39:42.169-05:00The magical powers of the brain!The magical powers of the brain!Ellen Seidmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433429847255621203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-46033295376600760412015-02-08T15:39:24.895-05:002015-02-08T15:39:24.895-05:00Phyl, I so appreciate it when you weigh in. From w...Phyl, I so appreciate it when you weigh in. From what I understand after reading up on CVI, yes, Max does not present typically as having it now. We'll get it checked out, to be sure. I am impressed you remembered the time he saw the "M" in the swingset!Ellen Seidmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433429847255621203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-51697274483158488092015-02-07T10:59:12.217-05:002015-02-07T10:59:12.217-05:00The brain usually remaps itself whenever a part is...The brain usually remaps itself whenever a part is injured. This is seen alot in stroke patients and head trauma war veterans. Its nothing new.Sophienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-50772119300505150172015-02-06T09:08:18.606-05:002015-02-06T09:08:18.606-05:00Thanks for the info and links about CVI. For year...Thanks for the info and links about CVI. For years, people working with my son would say, "what's with his eyes?" I would say CVI impacts him as much as CP. Now I have a name for it. He is 13 and still has difficulty with facial recognition. I was encouraged to read that it is often late to resolve.<br /><br />CathyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-77716997564385388292015-02-05T20:07:23.523-05:002015-02-05T20:07:23.523-05:00I was born two months early and spent three months...I was born two months early and spent three months over at Columbia Presbyterian; at the time their NICU was brand-new (I was born in '79). My parents still sing the praises of that hospital. :)Sabrina Steylinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10502908654294596013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-2609084496733569442015-02-04T18:43:15.069-05:002015-02-04T18:43:15.069-05:00This is all excellent news. Hurray for awesome doc...This is all excellent news. Hurray for awesome doctors that give hope!Kathrynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-19000353091296870762015-02-04T12:35:44.394-05:002015-02-04T12:35:44.394-05:00Thrilled over the regrooving. And everything else....Thrilled over the regrooving. And everything else. Go, Max. Go, Ellen. You are both groovy!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07930796856020938418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-79268412875321054192015-02-04T12:20:12.065-05:002015-02-04T12:20:12.065-05:00Regroovy! Go Max!
VictoriaRegroovy! Go Max!<br /><br />VictoriaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-39231436910006707872015-02-04T11:26:13.968-05:002015-02-04T11:26:13.968-05:00Hi Ellen, your blog was such a comfort and help to...Hi Ellen, your blog was such a comfort and help to me and gave me the hope I desperately craved in those early days, now 5 years on and see how well my daughter is doing I have learned patience and learned to let Jessica show me the journey. I am so happy for you and max and a big heartfelt thank you.<br />Sharon - Irelandsharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08229924021461394740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-7983989990887961462015-02-04T09:54:27.205-05:002015-02-04T09:54:27.205-05:00What kind of human body sorcery is this? This is c...What kind of human body sorcery is this? This is cool. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616282351291824392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-401303964563152307.post-43720727611259231672015-02-04T07:39:58.381-05:002015-02-04T07:39:58.381-05:00Maybe the CVI Max might have had in early childhoo...Maybe the CVI Max might have had in early childhood got regrooved and is no longer an issue. I don't want to gainsay a CP specialist, but here's what I'd want to ask him: How can a kid with CVI have a spectacular visual/spatial memory? That's the very stuff he ought to have difficulty processing! And how can he recognize the similarity between the shape of a letter of the alphabet that he'd only seen on paper and the shape formed by a structure of a swing set? That's very sophisticated visual processing (and, by the way, was one of the first things you blogged about that made me realize that Max had a whole lot more going on cognitive than I had, mistakenly, assumed)!<br />Visually, Max seems to get both the big picture and the details.<br />Yes, CVI could explain the math problems, but math problems are common in people with no visual processing difficulties.<br />And about getting an MRI--that would show new cell growth or the lack of it, but it wouldn't show how the existing cells may have (re)connected and repurposed themselves to support Max's impressive cognitive processing.<br /><br /> --Phyl the psycholinguist/neuropsychologistAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com