Most therapists who see children with a near drowning brain-injury simply don’t know what to do with them or how to help. These kids end up being “given up on” and receive intensive therapy that is limited to prescription of wheelchairs and seating needs.
This is not something that should be blamed on the therapists though. They are simply not exposed to, how to do therapy with these types of brain-injuries.
A near drowning accident can be one of the most severe insults the brain can endure. The lack of oxygen can cause pervasive damage to the brain. Effecting motor function, sensory function, and cognition.
Our principle therapist, Chad Timmermans, was lucky enough to intern at the British Institute for Brain-Injured Children, under Keith Pennock. This year that Chad spent in England, allowed him to work with all levels of brain-injuries, which provided him with a vast experience with near-drowning cases.
Keith taught Chad that these kids are not to be given up on. Rather with continual trial and error results can go beyond what anyone would have expected. The key is by starting with passive exposure to stimulus and build up to active involvement in motor and sensory tasks
Chad learnt how to help reduce spasticity and improve breathing function. Improve vision and help kids to learn how to see again. Help deaf kids restore their hearing, and ultimately, teach kids how to function again.
While working with a child post near-drowning is an exceptionally long and difficult road, it is one that is worth the journey and one that should never be given up on.