Maryland's Health Matters - Charles Regional - Winter 2018 - 12

SPOTLIGHT:

Dr. Carissa
Baker-Smith

Dr. Sunjay
Kaushal

"We came to University

Dr. Ryan
Miller

Dr. Teresa
York

family learned how to care for

of Maryland because

him at home, administering

we've always had a great

insulin and monitoring his diet.
For Ben and his family,

experience in their pediatric
ER," says Ben's mother,

type 1 diabetes has been

Katie Roelofs. "The staff

a major lifestyle adjustment.

are always competent and

For example, heat and

prompt. After diagnosing

anxiety can affect blood

Ben with type 1 diabetes,

sugar, so figuring out how

they admitted him imme-

much insulin he needs is

diately, and Dr. Miller came

not always a simple cal-

down from UMMC Midtown

culation. He has quarterly

Campus to meet with us in

appointments at UMMC

our hospital room."

Midtown Campus and

Ryan Miller, MD, assistant

wears an insulin pod.
"It's difficult for a 7-year-

professor of pediatrics at

HELPING KIDS
COMMUNICATE
Speech-language therapy services are available to
pediatric patients at University of Maryland Charles
Regional Medical Center.
"I see any child with a speech or language difficulty,"
says Stacey McCauley, MS, CCC-SLP, certified
speech-language pathologist. Examples include
children who have trouble:
Pronouncing words
Finding the words they want to say
Understanding language-for example, following
directions or understanding and answering questions
"We work frequently with kids who have autism, Down
syndrome, cleft palate or hearing loss," McCauley says.

A POSITIVE TEAM APPROACH

UMSOM and a pediatric

old boy to go through this.

"We work in conjunction with the teachers and school

endocrinologist at UMCH,

But he's doing great and

therapists," says Sharon Khoo, MS, CCC-SLP, manager

educated the family about

taking everything in stride,"

of Rehabilitation Services.

Ben's treatment plan. They

his mother says.
Now that Ben's type 1

also met with a diabetes

School therapists tend to work with children in groups.
"When you come to us, you get individualized and

educator and a nutritionist.

diabetes is under control,

targeted treatment," Khoo says. Children are typically

Because Ben's pancreas does

he can focus on doing the

seen once or twice a week for 30 to 45 minutes.

not produce enough insulin

things he loves: science

to regulate his blood sugar,

experiments. Ben wants to fol-

about what to do at home between sessions. "We

his family would have to do

low in his father's and grand-

train parents on everything we do," says McCauley.

the work of his pancreas.

father's footsteps and become

During Ben's three-day

a scientist when he grows up.
"I'm going to cure diabe-

hospital stay, the diabetes
team made sure that the

tes!" Ben says. 

An important part of therapy is coaching parents

SPEAK UP
As a general rule, children start speaking:
First words by age 1

LEARN MORE
Visit charlesregional.org/healthy to meet other
kids like Ben, Amari and Gabbi through online
stories and videos.

12

 MARYLAND'S HEALTH MATTERS

Two-word combinations by age 2
To explore whether your child qualifies
for speech therapy, call 301-609-4552
or email stacey.mccauley@umm.edu.
http://www.charlesregional.org/healthy
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland's Health Matters - Charles Regional - Winter 2018
