Apps in Paediatric OT Practice Webinar Summary

Last week I attended the  'Apps in Practice: Developmental Paediatrics' webinar held by the Australian OT Association.  Here is a summary of the webinar conducted by Yolanda Fernandez, Dr Fiona Jones (On Call Children's Therapy network) and Kate Horstmann. The motivation for the workshop was clinical sharing rather than as technology experts with the focus on apps to use WITH children, not functions that we use to support ourselves as professionals. 

When and how do you use an iPad?

Context

• Ipads should be used as an adjunct to therapy.  Consider what are your therapy goals?  What is your clinical reasoning with using an ipad?  does the ipad add anything?  How do you generalise skills learnt on the ipad?
  
• Parent/teacher education is an important element of using an ipad.
• Consider family culture of technology use and financial implications.

Benefits

• Motivation
• consistent, immediate sensory timuli
• visually engaging
• independence
• socially acceptable
• access/portability across multiple settings
• alternative medium to produce "written" output

Challenges

• Screen time = release of dopamine (impacts on release of dopamine at other times and attention).
• Screen time needs to counteracted with physical activity (current guideline is 30 mins screen time = 30 minutes physical activity, maximum 2 hours total screen time for 6 years+).  Screen time undoes what we are developmentally wired to do.  ie. children are not using peripheral vision and dependent on high level of stimulation therefore they find it difficult to cope when there isn't that same level of stimulation (which in turns impacts attention needed for activities such as reading).
• Postural implications (leaning over, raised shoulders)
• Difficulty transitioning when the ipad is removed
• Children demanding control of the ipad
• Screen time before bed affects ability to go to sleep

Self Care (Routines, Sleep, Specific Tasks, Daily Living Skills)

• Creating Routines - iPrompts, Morning Kids
  
• Sleep and Relaxation - iTunes with timer, Nature Music, Calm Kids
• Aussie Kids Count Coins (basic maths with money)

Productivity (learning to write, word processing, organisation, fine and visual-motor skills)

• Elmo Loves ABCs
  
• rED writing- learn to write
  
• Doodoo Lite
• Pages, Notability and Microsoft Office Exchange (word processing basics)
• Flick, Keedogo Plus (typing)
• Audionote, dragon dictation, iReadWrite, WriteOnline (accessibility and voice to text)
• Spelling Test
• Endless Reader (Sight word learning - note: this is American)

Organisation and Planning 

• Use ipad features such as visual timer and clocks, to do lists, calendar and remiinder

Fine & visual motor skills

• Consider games such as Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Puss in Boots, Minecraft, Temple Run
• Dexteria Jr.
• Dexteria

Leisure (social, communication, self-regulation, confidence) 

• Toontastic {review for this app in the pipeline}
• Zones of Regulation
• Talking Ginger and others (for communication skills)
• Using video feedback (including Skype and Facetime) for non-verbal communication practice such as facial expression.

Universal Functions (can be used in any of the previous performance areas and for "pulling together" therapy strategies)

• Book Creator (ibook/PDF)
• iMovie

For App reviews 

• www.commonsensemedia.org
  
• Autism QLD
  
• Spectronics
  
• SPELD
  

Access and Controls

• Understanding and being aware of accessibility and controls that can be put in place
• setting restrictions (parent controls)

Summary

• great resource
  
• adjunct to therapy -not a therapy session
  
• constantly changing and evolving
  

This was a great workshop to attend.  I particularly liked hearing about the challenges to using iPads and learning about some apps that I haven't used before.  The apps that I have reviewed on this site have links for further information. 

Have you considered counteracting screen time with physical activity? 

Is there an app that you are currently using that you would recommend?

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