Low Tone and Low Energy son... what can help?

[Bess]

My 10 year old son has always been low energy. He always prefers to lean on something when he is standing. He's tall, skinny and akward. He's clumsy. He often trips over his own feet (literally). He still can't do a jumping jack correctly. When we were at the playground last night, all our other children were jumping around, running, playing energetically, and then there is this son who just sort of lumbers along. He is always like this. He would prefer reading over anything active. I've learned in the past year that he likely would be considered "low tone".

 

Other things about him: he is always smiling... others outside the family have commented on that. And it's true...he thinks everything is joyous, and is a very happy, smiley, down to earth, sweet kid. He is very bright. He's into chess, programming, and other such pursuits.

 

Now my husband is sort of nerdy and lanky. So, I always thought perhaps his son just takes after him. But it concerns me at the same time that he is so different than the other children.

 

My question is, do I need to be concerned? Does he need to see a specialist about this, and if so, who?? He does take martial arts (because we are making him), so besides that, what else can we do to help him be less "low tone" if anything? What causes a child to be low tone in the first place? I had a *very* difficult birth with him, so in the back of my mind I wonder if he has a little CP, but then if he did, wouldn't his brain be affected too, and he wouldn't learn as well? He is our brightest child.

 

Thanks for any thoughts, and sorry for the novel.

[Laura Corin]

Hello

 

That sounds quite like Calvin. Swimming has given him more stamina, as has martial arts. He saw an occupational therapist for a while, but not in the last three years. You might like to see about an OT report - maybe something can be done to help.

 

I do insist that he does an hour of exercise every day: running/stretching/weights, if nothing else is going on.

 

Best wishes

 

Laura

[Mel in K-zoo]

I don't know about low tone, but I can help out with cp. My niece has cp and is a very smart girl. Her cp only affects her physically. She does not have low tone as her muscles are always tight and never relax.

[JFSinIL]

Sounds like hypotonia - which means low muscle tone - one of my ds's has this. He is now 5'9" and 160 lbs - I am always having to tell folks who do not know Joe that he is not as strong as he looks (since he also has autism he can't tell folks himself very well). When we want to go as a family somewhere like a museum or zoo we have to either rent a wheelchair or plan lots of pauses for Joe to rest.

If there is a cure for hypotonia I'd sure like to hear it, too!

[kRenee]

You should call an occupational therapist and ask these same questions. Then, if you decide to, you can get an evaluation. your son probably takes after his dad, but his condition may be more severe and life-impacting.

[Peela]

My son was like this until recently.

He would always lean against something- often me- and in particular he didnt like to hold his head up.

I took him to a kinesiologist for Brain Gym and therapy, because of his recently diagnosed dyslexia, and she pointed out all these things to me- I had only vaguely noticed all his other symptoms. After several months of therapy with her, which is almost over, he has improved radically and these things are no longer issues.

And, he suddenly has the most beautiful handwriting.

Kinesiology works with all the body-brain-emotional connections. I was rather dubious at first, and thought I would just have him do a couple of sessions- each session, he would come out such a different kid- upright, alert, bright. So, I kept going, and I am glad I did.

[AmyB]

I think it is a genetic condition that fits how you describe your son. See a doctor or physical therapist. It sounds like your son really needs help.

[Kathy in MD]

Get the Out-of-Sync Child by Kranowitz and read it. It's *possible* that your ds has SPD. While you're reading start looking for an occupational therapist, or the rare physical therapist, specializing in sensory processing problems. OT's specialize in many areas and if you see your child in The Out-of-Sync Child, you need an OT trained and experienced in SPD.

 

Time is important with SPD because your ds is approaching puberty when therapy becomes less effective.

 

However it's also possible that he doesn't have SPD. He has other "symptoms" that aren't typical of severe SPD (logical thinking for one) An SPD OT should still be able to help him because low muscle tone is very common with SPD. However other OT's and PT's could help with low muscle tone, but still check their specialty. Some OT's specialize in hand rehabilitation, handicap driving, stroke rehabilitation, etc. --not what your ds needs.

[NevadaRabbit]

Get the Out-of-Sync Child by Kranowitz and read it. It's *possible* that your ds has SPD. While you're reading start looking for an occupational therapist, or the rare physical therapist, specializing in sensory processing problems. OT's specialize in many areas and if you see your child in The Out-of-Sync Child, you need an OT trained and experienced in SPD.

 

Time is important with SPD because your ds is approaching puberty when therapy becomes less effective.

 

However it's also possible that he doesn't have SPD. He has other "symptoms" that aren't typical of severe SPD (logical thinking for one) An SPD OT should still be able to help him because low muscle tone is very common with SPD. However other OT's and PT's could help with low muscle tone, but still check their specialty. Some OT's specialize in hand rehabilitation, handicap driving, stroke rehabilitation, etc. --not what your ds needs.

 

:iagree: I second, third, fourth, and etc that book recommendation. Get the companion, The Out of Sync Child Has Fun, too. OOS Has Fun is full of ideas for therapeutic play and you can start it on your own, immediately. (I'm a former physical therapist, with a child who has SPD.)

[bettyandbob]

we had him in OT when he was young. However, I think it more important that we've insisted on regular participation in sports. And since sports are just plain hard for him individual sports are best. He's done gymnastics, swimming, tae kwon do and now works with a personal trainer (and attends that trainer's group class). We require that the activity work him hard and meet at least twice a week. When not working out the muscle and coordination problems get worse. At times this regime has been hard to keep up and we have encountered coaches/instructors who thought ds looked "normal" therefore was "faking it". But generally if we take the time to explain the situation most coaches work well with ds. We had one swimming coach who kept ds's laps and motivation up by having intermittant conversations with him about computer games throughout practice.

 

Low muscle tone is often association with sensory processing disorders. So, if you decide to investigate further, you may want to find an OT who is trained in identifying SPD.

[Storm Bay]

One of mine did early intervention for low muscle tone.

 

Swimming for sure--fabulous OT!!!

 

Brain Gym.

 

Smart Moves: Why Learning is Not all in Your Head by Carla Hannaford.

 

Also, you may wish to check into food sensitivities, envirnomental allergies. My eldest had an ELISA test that has helped her a lot (NOT my hypotonic child, but some food affected her in seemingly odd ways.)

 

My ds's OT with Early Intervention said that hypotonia doesn't go away, but that they can become strong. fwiw, ds has great rhythm but so far not good at sports. He's going to keep learning to swim and take tap dance next year for 1/2 hour per week.

[Laurie4b]

Your best bet is to have him evaluated by an occupational therapist. He or she will be able to answer your questions AND develop an individual program for your ds. It will probably be covered by your insurance.

[Ottakee]

I would see a peds neurologist first. IF they find something medical, your insurance will pay for the physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc. but if you just "go it on your own" the insurance might not cover it.

 

I have 2 thoughts---just from experience--not any medical training.

 

CP--yes, it could be a mild hypotonic CP. If it is, insurance would pay for OT, PT, etc. but there is no real cure. It might also get you a handicapped sticker to use if needed, a wheelchair for long distances---zoos, museums, Disney, etc.

 

Mitochondrial disorder---this is the powerhouse of each cell and if there is a mutation there they don't work as well which means lower energy. There is no cure for this but there are supplements that can be taken that can be very helpful. My girls take CoQ 10, Carnitor, Omega 3s, B-100, etc. per their neurologist. Testing is done by a blood test and it can be hereditary.