Other Aids

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HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 62: Developmental Aids > Other Aids

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

Many aids not yet described in PART 3 have been described in other parts of this book. Here is a brief summary of some of these to give you basic ideas and tell you where to look. We also give a few ideas of aids not shown before.

EATING AND DRINKING AIDS

For more information on these aids, see the following sections:

• "Other Challenges"
• "Self-Care"
• "Alternatives for a Child with Amputated Hands"
• "Successful Feeding Involves the Whole Child"
• "Homemade Equipment to Help Eating"
• "Understanding Children with Disabilities"

TOILETING AIDS

For more information on these aids, see the following sections:

• "Self Care"
• "Adapt toileting to the needs of the child"

HOLDING AND REACHING AIDS

For more information on these aids, see the following sections:

• "Maricela's Story"
  
• "Prevention of Injury for Persons with Loss of Feeling and Strength"
  
• "Alternatives for a Child with Amputated Hands"
  
• "Suggestions for Dressing"
  
• "Understanding Children with Disabilities"
  
• "Adaptations for farm work and gardening"

key holder

wash cloth mitten for washing dishes (or self)

button
fastener

aids for working with feet

SPIRAL HOLDING AID

Cut a piece of heavy rubber tube like this.	Bolt it to a piece of plastic pipe or bamboo.	Use it like this.	spiral attached to washstand
For larger objects such as a knife or ruler, the spiral can be made of garden hose.

REACHING TOOL	ALL-PURPOSE TOOL
sheet metal or heavy tin From Don Caston and Joan Thompson.	pole comb mounted firmly on pole This end serves as pusher, a collector, and for combing hair. This end serves as a hook.

WRITING AIDS

For more information on these aids, see the following sections:

• "Self Care"
• "Alternatives for a Child with Amputated Hands"
• "Prevention of Injury for Persons with Loss of Feeling and Strength"
• "Aids for Reading, Writing, and Drawing"

		leather or thick cloth
pencil in a large gum eraser	loop of car inner tube	Velcro	bamboo or tube or hose	rubber or plastic tubing

COMMUNICATION AIDS

(Also see *"Loss of Vision" and *"Hearing Loss")

page turner (for more information, see “Enrique's Story” and *"Aids for Reading, Writing, and Drawing").	aids for painting, writing, or pointing From Art and Disabilites,	communication board

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION, MEASURING AND RECORDING AIDS

INSTRUMENT FOR LEVELING HIPS

Cut 2 pieces of thin plywood like this. Fasten them together so that they slide back and forth.	To use, close instrument around child’s waist and push down against hip bones. Then raise or lower shorter leg until the instrument is level.	Cut rectangles of ¼ inch thick boards and bolt them loosely together at one corner.
long, thin hole 25 cm. nut, bolt, and washer		aid for measuring leg length difference (for more information see "Other things to check in a physical examination".

flexikins for measuring contractures and deformities (see Chapter 5.)	other methods for measuring contractures (see here and here)	rib-hump angle measurer	aids for hearing examination	aids for seeing examination

FOOT CONTRACTURE PREVENTION AIDS

Also see Chapter 59, "Correcting Joint Contractures," and Chapter 58 "Braces."

For more information on these aids, see the following sections:

• "Prevention and Early Management of Contractures"
  
• "Maintaining Healthy Positions"
  

EXERCISE AIDS

For more information on these aids, see the following sections:

• "Maricela's Story"
  
• “Will my child ever be able to walk?”
  
• "Progression of Exercises for the Child with an Arthritic Knee"
  
• "'Floating-in-air' Devices for Relaxing and Moving Painful Joints"
  
• "Correcting Contractures of Arthritic Hips"
  
• "Early Physical Re-education"
  
• "Prevention of Contractures" (Amputations)
  
• "There Are 3 Main Ways of Doing Range-of-Motion Exercises"
  
• "Strengthening Exercises to Get Arms Ready to Walk with Crutches"
  
• "Making Hand Exercises Fun or Useful"
  
• "Precautions in Providing a Child with Aids, Equipment and Procedures"

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This page was updated:04 Apr 2024