Vera Hayward Centre

The NICU follow-up programme is for pēpi who:

• were born at less than 32 weeks gestation
• weigh under 1.5 kilograms at birth
• are considered 'at risk' by paediatricians.

These pēpi may be at higher risk of developmental problems, so it is useful for them to have developmental assessments to check their progress. This allows us to give extra help to pēpi who need it.

Therapists visit NICU to meet the pēpi and their whānau and to give early developmental advice. After discharge, pēpi are likely to be visited and assessed in their home, or sometimes the Vera Hayward Centre.

Developmental assessments are usually carried out at around 38 to 42 weeks gestation, 4 and 8 months age adjusted, and 2 years of age. Some tamariki will be seen more often depending on their needs.

Our music groups help tamariki learn through repetition with music. Music group can help:

• concept development — objects help tamariki visualise concepts such as up and down
• vocabulary — tamariki are exposed to a set vocabulary weekly over the course of the group, objects help develop meaning
• interacting with others — tamariki can interact with peers in a small group situation
• listening and concentration — tamariki use and develop their senses
• participation and enjoyment of activities — developing skills in a fun environment
• turn taking — tamariki learn to wait and take turns choosing objects
• following routines and building familiarity with songs — tamariki follow and learn a set routine within the group
• motor planning and sequencing — tamariki follow movements and have the chance to practice these each week, such as rolling ribbons, jumping and crouching
• body awareness — tamariki develop an understanding of where different parts of their body are
• networking — whānau have can meet others in similar situations and share knowledge
• whānau involvement — whānau are encouraged to take part if they feel comfortable, and also model for their tamariki
• provide ideas for whānau — whānau get ideas on how they can work with their tamariki at home.

We use props like:

• shakers
• poi
• rākau
• drumsticks
• scarves.

One of our child development service therapists will refer you to a music group. We try to match tamariki at a similar skill level in the groups.

We run 2 music groups.

Kiwi Kids

Kiwi Kids runs during school terms on Tuesdays at 10am. It is for tamariki that are generally walking and able to imitate movements.

Musical Friends

Musical Friends is a run on a as needed basis for non-mobile tamariki.

• These tamariki may need more assistance with movements. This group uses similar songs with modifications to movements. We also use:
• signing
• visual supports
• low-tech communication devices
• aided language.

Music groups at home

Here are links to some of the songs we use and some ideas for equipment you and your tamariki can use around your home. These are some of our Vera Hayward Centre favourites.

It's music time today — YouTubeexternal link

Use a blanket for sheet.

Walking with the parachute — YouTubeexternal link

Use a blanket or sheet.

Shaking your maracas — YouTubeexternal link

Use a container with something noisy, like rice.

Jump for joy — YouTubeexternal link

No equipment needed.

I've got a teddy bear — YouTubeexternal link

Use a soft toy.

Teddy bears' cha-cha-cha — YouTubeexternal link

Use a soft toy.

Stick song — YouTubeexternal link

Use something you can tap together, like wooden spoons.

Elke's song (scarf song) — YouTubeexternal link

Use a scarf, tissue or clothing.

Bubbles pop — YouTubeexternal link

Use bubbles.

Paediatric physiotherapists help tamariki achieve their optimal physical development. They have specialist knowledge in movement patterns, developmental milestones and conditions that are likely to affect pēpi and growing tamariki. Physiotherapists:

• assess and treat tamariki with conditions which affect motor function
• work with tamariki and their whānau at home, at the clinic and at early childhood education centres
• sometimes use specific outcome measures to assess functional skills, muscle strength, tone, joint range of motion, reflexes and progress towards developmental milestones
• work with whānau to set goals and provide strategies to help improve physical skills of your tamaiti
• encourage tamariki to move to the best of their abilities through play and age-appropriate activities
• liaise closely with other health professionals and services involved in the care of your tamaiti
• have knowledge in orthotic prescription and the equipment hire to help your tamaiti function.

Occupational therapy is the art and science of helping people take part in the day-to-day activities that have meaning and value to them. Paediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping tamariki develop the skills they need to participate in childhood occupations such as:

• playing
• learning
• eating
• dressing
• bathing
• participating in activities
• toileting.

Paediatric occupational therapists assess and develop treatment plans to to help tamariki with developmental delays in:

• fine motor skills
• self-care skills
• play and social skills
• cognitive skills
• ability to integrate sensory information.

We work together with tamariki and whānau to identify areas of concern and to develop goals and intervention strategies to address these concerns. Together with whānau, we monitor the progress of tamariki and problem-solve to find ways to help them achieve their goals. This may happen over a short or long period of time.

Sometimes equipment helps tamariki to participate in everyday tasks such as:

• eating
• sitting at the table
• getting around in the community.

Occupational therapists can help with this. We also help fit tamariki for wheelchairs and other seating, as well as housing modifications so tamariki can achieve greater independence.

If your tamaiti is eligible to receive speech-language therapy through the Ratoka Whakawhanake Tamaiti, Child Development Service, you and your tamaiti will participate in a therapy programme that is especially designed for them based on their individual needs.

We can see your tamaiti in a variety of settings and will try to choose the location that is best for your tamaiti therapy programme to be at its most effective.

We work with tamariki who have challenges with eating and drinking, and communication such as:

• speech development — the sounds which make up words
• spoken language — how to structure sentences and use language to interact with others
• understanding language — understanding and interpreting what other people say
• social communication — how to relate appropriately using language and typical social skills.

Some tamariki need different ways of communicating, such as:

• a specialist communication device
• sign language
• a paper board of symbols.

This is known as Alternative and Augmentative Communication or AAC. Speech-language therapists can help you work out what will be the best way for your tamaiti to communicate in different settings.

Here are some of common conditions we help tamariki with.

Autism

Autism is a difference in development that affects communication (verbal and nonverbal), social skills and behaviour.

Autism-Takiwātanga In Children — KidsHealthexternal link

Cleft palate

Tamaiti with a cleft may need some additional support with their feeding initially.

Cleft New Zealandexternal link

Developmental delay

Some tamariki need to work a little harder to acquire language and understand the language of others. Language delays can occur as part of a global developmental delay.

Concerned About Your Child's Development? — KidsHealthexternal link

Down syndrome

Tamariki with down syndrome (Trisomy 21) usually develop along the same track as other tamariki, but at a slower pace. Some tamariki may also have other ongoing difficulties and medical conditions.

Parents — New Zealand Down Syndrome Associationexternal link

Feeding difficulties

Some tamariki have difficulty eating and drinking, or will only eat a small range of food. This can be from physical or neurological conditions.

Motor planning — dyspraxia or development coordination disorder

Dyspraxia and development coordination disorder can make learning some things a challenge as it may affect any or all areas of development — physical, intellectual, emotional, social, language and sensory.

Dyspraxia Support Groupexternal link

Stuttering (disfluency)

Stuttering affects how smooth the flow of words is when speaking) and sometimes body movements, such as head nodding or facial tension.

Stuttering — KidsHealthexternal link

We do developmental assessments for tamariki who are referred with concerns about their development in more than one area, such as:

• gross motor skills
• fine motor skills
• self-care
• learning
• speech and language
• social skills
• eating and drinking.

These multidisciplinary assessments may include a:

• social worker
• physiotherapist
• occupational therapist
• speech-language therapist
• clinical psychologist.

We will ask you about your concerns and observe your tamaiti in a range of play-based tasks to identify areas that may need follow up. We will speak with you about what they have seen and then make a plan for whether and how we will provide support for you and your tamaiti.

These assessments occur on a Wednesday.

We can provide support for whānau when tamariki are transitioning to school. This may include meeting to help plan the transition and making appropriate referrals for support to school.

We work with Te Mahau Leaning Support in the Ministry of Education, and CCS Disability Action to plan a smooth transition to school.

Occupational therapists focus on a tamaiti's performance of everyday self-care, fine motor and play activities with an aim to enhance their development and independence.

Physiotherapists have knowledge of how the body grows and develops in the first years of life. They assess how a tamaiti moves and will give exercises and support if required to help with any difficulties the tamaiti has with their movements.

Speech-language therapists support the development of speech, language, social and communication skills in tamariki with communication difficulties. They also assess and advise tamariki with feeding difficulties.

Our visiting therapy service also provides intervention to tamariki and whānau living in north and south Otago.

Social workers offer support and advocacy for your whānau, which may be needed when your tamaiti experiences a health or disability concern.

The autism coordinator supports whānau through the assessment, diagnosis and post-diagnosis process. After diagnosis, the coordinator helps link whānau with the appropriate support agencies and information.

The clinical psychology team are based at Children's Outpatients in Dunedin and work across Dunedin, Invercargill and north, south and central Otago) providing diagnostic assessments (e.g. cognitive or for autism). They may also see your tamaiti to assess their behaviour, or to support managing a chronic medical condition (e.g., needle phobia, significant difficulty complying with treatment).

Your tamaiti might see a dietitian if they need support or an assessment of their nutrition, growth, or feeding at any age, and may require ongoing dietetic or MDT follow-up. The dietetic service is based in the paediatric outpatient department.

We accept referrals for tamariki aged 0 to 5 years old from:

• whānau
• their main healthcare provider
• other healthcare professionals involved in their care
• education centres and professionals.

Information from the early childhood centre or main healthcare provider your tamaiti goes to can help us when accepting a referral.

Useful information from early childhood centres:

• any developmental concerns, such as physical, fine motor, speech and language, feeding
• social behaviour
• participation in centre activities
• play abilities
• ability to follow instructions
• learning.

Useful information from the main healthcare provider:

• medical history
• information about any visual or hearing impairments, coughs, colds and ear infections, grommets
• any allergies
• any concerns about sleep
• developmental milestones
• any feeding issues.

Vera Hayward Centre referral formPDF230 KB

We consider referrals for 5 to 16 year olds who:

• do not have specific therapy funding from Ministry of Education
• have Ministry of Education funding and need assistive equipment at home, or require rehabilitation after surgery or as a result of decreased function
• meets disability criteria — they have a physical, sensory or intellectual disability, or a combination of these, which is likely to continue for 6 months or more.

Referrals must be made by a healthcare professional involved in their care, such as a:

• consultant
• paediatritian
• orthopaedic surgeon.

The referral must highlight a specific occupational therapy or physiotherapy need that affects their ability to carry out everyday activities.

Talk to your main healthcare provider if you have any concerns and ask for a referral to the Paediatric department.

We only provide speech-language therapy assessments as part of developmental assessments.

We accept referrals for tamariki with dysphagia/feeding issues and will see them for individual assessments.

Speech-language therapy assessment referral pathwayPDF264 KB