2305 How Can We Identify Infants At Risk for ASD or SPD? Quality of Movement Indicators-PRO

Keyword(s) Early motor skills, at-risk infants, neurodevelopmental disorder, movement, play, toddler, early screening, motor delays

Summary: Joanne Flanagan, ScD, OTR/L will focus on the implications of early motor dysfunction in children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as ASD and SPD. The importance of early motor development will be discussed, followed by information on how to identify motor delays based on current research in high risk infants later diagnosed with ASD. Finally, practical clinical information on identification and treatment of early motor delays in young children with SPD will be illustrated through a case study.

Credit AOTA CEU:0.2

Tag(s) Infants

2305 How Can We Identify Infants At Risk for ASD or SPD? Quality of Movement Indicators-PRO

Description

Level: Intermediate

Intended Audience: Occupational therapists, Physical Therapists, speech and language pathologists, mental health and medical professionals

Prerequisite: None

Presenter: Joanne Flanagan, ScD, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics since 1995. Dr. Flanagan received her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Texas A&M University and her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at Washington University in St. Louis. Prior to coming to the STAR Institute, she worked at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD, as a senior pediatric occupational therapist for 12 years. She also worked at the National Institutes of Health for four years as a senior occupational therapist. Her expertise is in the evaluation and treatment of children with various developmental disabilities, including SPD and autism. She has received advanced training in sensory integration and is certified to administer the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT).

Dr. Flanagan has a doctorate degree in Occupational Science from Towson University. The title of her dissertation was “Movement and Play in Infants at Risk for Autism.” She has worked with Dr. Rebecca Landa at Kennedy Krieger Institute and John Hopkins School of Medicine on the early identification of autism in infants by evaluating motor abilities. Their paper “Head lag in infants at risk for autism: A preliminary study” was published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy’s Special Issue in Autism in 2012. Her special research interest is early identification of autism.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the rationale for assessing early motor skills in at-risk infants for neurodevelopment disorders.
Understand specific research findings related to assessing quality of movement and play behaviors in at-risk infants for ASD.
Understand the clinical implications for practice, particularly for early screening and intervention, of infants and toddlers at risk for SPD.

Continuing Education: STAR Institute for SPD is an AOTA Approved Provider of Continuing Education. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

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Upon full completion of the course video, participants must complete and pass a quiz with at least 80% accuracy to receive a certificate of completion.