toe walking | Autism PDD

Yes Danyell, he was evaluated through school and they told me that he does have some issues, but because they are not impeding his education he does not qualify for services through the school system.

We did get outside therapy for a little while, but Mason didn't like it...the PT started coming to the house which helped, but all the therapist ever wanted to do was play catch with Mason. He was concerned about Mason standing on a little square on the floor and being able to throw and catch a ball from this square...finally after a couple of sessions I thought I would just ask if that's all he needed to do with Mason...he got a little snippy and said "he needs to learn self control first." In the meantime my dh's work switched insurance companies and it was no longer a covered service. They said they would cover what was already done, but nothing further. I guess I figured if this is all PT is why bother anyway.

Hi,

Weird seeing this topic, thought we were the only ones. My son Ryan walked on his toes for a couple of years and then stopped and walked normal. Interesting (and very personnal), I walked on my toes starting around age 7 until 10. I got a lot of abuse from other kids for this and eventually grew out of it. I always wondered if this was related. BTW, I am not on the ASD spectrum - a little crazy but not autistic lol.

Best regards,

Mark

http://talusmusic.com/MarkMathis/Shine/Songs/Shine.mp3

Emerald,

Did your son have have a evalution by the pt at school and they found him not eligable for services. Is that what happened.. I only ask because my son has the same issue.. toe walking. It is so bad his heels are bad and the cords are really tight he says they hurt mommy.. We bought special shoes and he gets pt in school.. I was afriaid if this didn't stop he would have some problems when he gets older..
B toe walked alot when he was younger. Now he only does it if he has to potty. I consider it nonverbal communication now with him and not really an issue anymore. Jacob on the other hand has just started toe walking. I've started doing the heel stretches that I learned from the PT department at the nursing home I used to work at. I noticed that his little calves were rock hard each night and he couldn't fall asleep w/o a good massage on the calves. Neither of my boys receive any kind of services for this.

Jeremy is 11 and started it at 6.

He still does it most of his day.

We have been to every different kind of dr.

No one wants to do anything and the Drs. say it won't hurt him.

EVENTUALLY- he will come down.....

He has some strong calves though!

Gail

Thanks guys! Elle--I will take a closer look when he gets home from school...I have never seen him do it when he has his feet bare, but I'm wondering if he might be walking slightly different when he has shoes on...he is so weird about his socks and shoes and I always thought it was sensory, but maybe it has more to do with these tight heel cords??

She did write me a RX for PT, but I already know it won't make a difference for the school, she writes me one everytime I see her, but I don't even bother giving it to the school anymore. I might call around and just ask if a PT in the area might have some exercises I can do with him on my own...I'm afraid to even try to get the insurance to pay for this once again! Maybe you can give me some ideas Cam?

I did google tight heel cords and saw some articles that say if children continue to toe walk and tightening that heel cord that it can eventually lead to pain in the heels...sometimes surgery is required to fix the problem...but since I don't think he is doing it so much anymore, I'm not too worried that we will ever have to go the surgery route for this. He has never complained of pain but I will try to find some exercises to do with him.

Thanks again guys!

[QUOTE=Payne's Mom] [QUOTE=camusa]
It does not hurt that DW is a PT.[/QUOTE]

Think she'd come live with me for a while if I send dh your way??

Only if you coach her as mentioned in another post

Now...on to that "Leg Man" post ;)

I knew you'd catch me eveennnttuallly ddddaarrrling

[QUOTE=emerald_521]

I have a couple of questions about toe walking. We went and saw Mason's neuro last week Friday for his seizures. She talked to us a bit about his autism. Asked if he was getting PT? I explained that school won't give it to us and we had a few months of private PT, but that was a bust anyway, and then insurance stepped in and we had to stop anyway.

She told me he needs PT on his feet...specifically his heel cords. She said they are tight and that is a result of toe walking. I told her I don't remember Mason every doing that.

I was just wondering, is that something children just stop doing...that Mason might have done it but corrected it on his own? I went through a couple of old pictures and I can see that he did do it when he was first learning to walk, but isn't that kind of common anyway...and would doing it for that small amount of time be the reasoning for tight heel cords now?

I guess I'm just curious about this...not that I'm doubting or questioning what she is saying, like I said I just don't remember him doing it so I was just curious.

[/QUOTE]

Hi Niki,

Our GS (autism/mild CP) is a toe walker, has been receiving PT since he was 15 months old (walked at 22 months). He still wears AFOs (I think that's what they're called). He started receiving PT through Early Intervention and continues to receive it though he is under the school system now. I believe the PT has helped him tremendously. BTW, my niece toe walked and stopped on her own. I haven't heard anyone say she has tight heel cords, not that I would doubt what the doctor told you either. Sorry I haven't been any help, just wanted to wish you luck in getting the PT started. We don't have a LOT of services through the school, but thankfully he is receiving some PT, OT and ST.

BB has been doing the toe-walking for a long time now.

We do stretching exercises for his heels and actually this was just brought up at his PPT.

It does not hurt that DW is a PT.

Hmmm...yeah, in fact the only kids I've seen who have really severe issues
with this are ones who toe-walk all the time or children who are physically
disabled. Is it possible that he is being very discreet about it--especially in
shoes? I'm not sure. Sometimes docs will mention something that is the
"cup is half empty" mindset...ya know? I would call the neuro & ask some
more questions--if she still says his heel cords are tight & all, have her write
a letter regarding his need for therapy. This *may* help you with the SD.
Or, the neuro may be able to give you some home exercises (I'd imagine
some light stretching may help). [QUOTE=camusa]
It does not hurt that DW is a PT.[/QUOTE]

Think she'd come live with me for a while if I send dh your way??

She told me he needs PT on his feet...specifically his heel cords. She said they are tight and that is a result of toe walking. I told her I don't remember Mason every doing that.

I guess I'm just curious about this...not that I'm doubting or questioning what she is saying, like I said I just don't remember him doing it so I was just curious.

Wow do I feel bad...When I picked Mason up from school I noticed that he is walking weird...it's so subtle that I obviously never noticed it before...but it's not so much toe walking but kind of side foot walking...he's kind of balancing on the outside of his foot!!!!

Huh, now could this cause tight heel cords...seems like it could, it's still stretching the back of his foot in an odd way.

Oh and Mary...Mason's calves are like rocks!!!!! Do you do a light massage or a deep massage to help that?