Background

Noel was born with Klinefelter syndrome, a genetic disorder in which people assigned male at birth have an additional X chromosome in their genetic code. Klinefelter syndrome is a congenital condition, and symptoms vary significantly from person to person. 

Plan of Care

SLP Megan began seeing Noel when he was only nine-months-old, due to a sustained bilateral subdural hematoma and failed extubation resulting in a tracheostomy. Megan implemented sign language and a communication device during his sessions.

OT Julie also began working with Noel when he was just nine-months-old. He presented with both gross motor and fine motor delays. He was able to sit independently, but was unable to reach for toys without losing balance. He was unable to tolerate a crawling position, and was unable to tolerate supported standing activities. However, with a child-led approach, he was able to gain the trust and comfortability to make bigger movements each session. 

Noel’s Progress to Date

A few years ago Noel began working on breathing exercises, which turned into imitation of sounds, then words, then phrases, and now sentences! Noel is not only speaking in English, but also learning Spanish! Currently, he is working on using more descriptive vocabulary, past tense verbs, retelling stories in the appropriate order, answering WH-questions about a story read aloud, and decoding words.

Noel learned to walk independently during the first few weeks of the COVID lockdown. The ability to continue services through telehealth was a huge help for this family. Noel's mother was able to continue the work with the guidance of their therapy team along the way.

Noel graduated from PT services and is no longer demonstrating gross motor delays. He is demonstrating age-appropriate fine motor skills at this time. Noel continues to demonstrate sensory challenges around food. He has been participating in feeding therapy with a sensory-based approach. He was not eating any vegetables when feeding therapy started and was unwilling to touch and explore new foods. He was unable to eat at school with the other kids too. Now, Noel is eating spinach, broccoli and cilantro. He has tasted several fruits and is more willing to touch and smell new foods when presented. He is eating his safe foods at school and is more interested in what others are eating too.

Great job, Noel, and the entire Colorado therapy team!

Schedule Your Child’s Care Assessment Today

At Care Options for Kids, we understand the unique challenges of caring for a child with health conditions. Our dedicated team of pediatric home health therapists is here to support your family with compassionate, expert care tailored to your child’s needs. Contact us today to schedule an assessment and learn how we can help you navigate this journey with confidence and care.

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