Kai, a 16-year-old high school junior, was in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and multiple orthopedic injuries. His treatment team developed an interprofessional plan to support his physical, sensory, cognitive-communication, and social–emotional needs so that he and his family could successfully navigate his return to school and community as well as his preparation for college entrance exams. The medical and school-based teams both recognized the importance of proactive, coordinated communication and integrated management to facilitate attainment of these goals and functional outcomes. By the third quarter of his junior year, Kai had transitioned back to school full time with a 504 plan that addressed necessary accommodations, and he was preparing to take his SATs.
A Cleft Palate Team collaborated across specialties to help a 13-month-old child with a history of cleft palate to improve feeding, swallowing, and speech sound production. The interprofessional team completed individual assessments, discussed results, and made recommendations for Sam and the family.
An interprofessional disciplinary team utilized a vestibular test battery—along with other clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings—to help support the diagnosis of demyelinating disease in a 57-year-old male. Vestibular testing includes a battery of test measures designed to determine the function of the peripheral vestibular system and associated central nervous system pathways. While this testing does not identify underlying disease, it can aid in revealing the site of the lesion to support a diagnosis.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common peripheral vestibular etiology presenting with brief symptoms of dizziness or vertigo triggered with position changes (lying supine, rolling over in bed, tilting the head back). However, there are other conditions that mimic this etiology. Careful considerations, consultations, and referrals can help to resolve symptoms. An interprofessional team evaluated and treated a 77-year-old female patient with position-provoked vertigo secondary to a motor vehicle accident (MVA). The team worked together to solve the mystery of the unresolved vertigo and devised a new management care plan.
An interprofessional practice (IPP) team worked together to assess hearing loss and language skills in a 2-year-old child. The team recommended a cochlear implant and a plan of therapy for language development and listening skills. As a result, the child’s expressive vocabulary began showing steady growth.
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The parents of a 6-year-old girl with Down syndrome consulted an IPP team to get help with their daughter’s communication skills. The IPP team evaluated the girl, made recommendations, and helped the family purchase an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device to use at home. After 4 months, the family reported that the device was helping with communication.
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When visiting a village school and outpatient rehabilitation clinic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a team of professionals from the United States worked with their local counterparts to provide training and help patients. One patient was a 6-year-old boy with a complaint of severely reduced expressive language. The team – comprising both US and DRC medical professionals – worked together to create an assessment and treatment plan for the boy. They also provided education and strategies to the boy’s mother.
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After recovering from meningitis, 72-year-old Jon continued to suffer from hearing loss, severe dizziness, and imbalance. Struggling with daily activities, he sought information from a team of professionals about a cochlear implant (CI) and help improving his daily life. After the implant surgery, the interprofessional practice team helped Jon navigate life with the CI and regain his balance.
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A team of educational professionals worked together to set up speech-language pathology telepractice services for a 6-year-old child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who had recently moved to a rural school district. By coordinating with an educational assistant working in the classroom, the speech-language pathologist (SLP) was able to observe and provide services remotely. The team worked with the boy to help him increase his communicative intents.
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An interprofessional practice (IPP) rehabilitation team developed a treatment plan for a 55-year-old man with memory and hearing loss, tinnitus, episodic vertigo, and headaches following a closed head injury. By working across specialties, the team created and executed a plan that helped resolve the man’s dizziness and address his hearing and memory problems.
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An interprofessional practice (IPP) team at a cleft lip and palate clinic developed a treatment plan for a 4-year-old girl with hypernasal speech and dysmorphic features. By working across specialties, the team diagnosed the girl with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) and executed a treatment plan that included speech-language therapy and surgery to create a pharyngeal flap.
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