April is autism awareness month, and all month long “Live in the D” has been showing how Metro EHS, a neighborhood pediatric therapy company, is helping children on the autism spectrum gain a fuller life through various forms of therapy.
A couple of services it provides is physical and occupational therapy, which Kelly Johns, the director of physical therapy said, can be beneficial for kids who walk on their toes.
“Toe walking is what happens with our little kiddos that are looking for more of that sensory input in their feet,” Johns said.
She and other experts at the center said that if kids are doing this when they first start walking, it’s ok. But if parents and caregivers see this around the age of 2, then it may be concerning.
“Kiddos on the spectrum tend to be more prone to toe walking due largely to the amount of sensory input they receive from walking on their toes, on the balls of their feet or even just having their calf muscles engaged in the upright position,” Deanna Coker, Director of ABA Services at Metro EHS said.
Experts said if the child is toe walking more than 50% of the time, they suggest having them evaluated.
Metro EHS has 14 locations across Metro Detroit, including three more on the way. For more information and to find the location nearest click here.