Treatment Options For Rett Syndrome

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy for Rett syndrome patients includes developing skills to help the child develop and be more functional and comfortable. It may even lengthen the life of the child with the disorder. During the early stages of the disorder, an occupational therapist helps a Rett syndrome patient come closer to reaching developmental milestones appropriate for their age. Next is the rapid destruction stage, during which the individual with Rett syndrome begins to lose motor and communication skills. Therapeutic play activities encourage these skills to develop in a fun way. A part of this therapy includes practice processing sensory information, which, in turn, diminishes self-stimulation behaviors the child may have. Eventually the child’s physical skills plateau. The therapist provides a play or other activities to keep her skills at a standard level and to prevent muscle contractures or other deformities. They also encourage the child to communicate using a variety of methods. And during the final stage of Retts, activities are devised to keep a child’s motor skills at their optimum levels with assistance if necessary.