Pediatric Spina Bifida
What is Spina Bifida?
Learning that your child has spina bifida can feel overwhelming, but many children with spina bifida lead active, happy, and fulfilling lives with the right medical care, therapy, and family support. Early intervention plays an important role in helping children build strength, independence, communication skills, and confidence.
Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when a baby’s spinal column does not completely close during early pregnancy. This leaves part of the spinal cord or nerves exposed or improperly formed, affecting how the brain communicates with the body.
Spina bifida is one of the most common neural tube defects and can range from very mild to more severe forms.
Types of Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida Occulta
- Mildest form
- Small opening in the spine
- Often no noticeable symptoms
- Sometimes discovered accidentally on an X-ray
Meningocele
- Protective membranes push through the spinal opening
- The spinal cord usually remains in place
- Surgery often repairs the defect successfully
Myelomeningocele
- Most severe and most common form requiring ongoing treatment
- Spinal cord and nerves extend through the opening
- Can cause weakness, paralysis, bladder and bowel difficulties, and other medical concerns
Signs & Symptoms of Spina Bifida
Symptoms depend on where the spinal opening occurs and how much the spinal cord is affected.
MOVEMENT AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Children may have:
- Weakness in the legs
- Difficulty walking
- Paralysis below the spinal defect
- Poor balance
- Delayed gross motor milestones
- Tight muscles or contractures
- Scoliosis
- Hip or foot deformities
- Frequent falls
SENSORY CAHNGES
Some children have:
- Reduced sensation in their legs or feet
- Difficulty recognizing injuries
- Pressure sores from decreased feeling
DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING CONCERNS
Some children may also experience:
- Attention difficulties
- Executive functioning challenges
- Learning differences
- Slower processing speed
- Difficulty with organization
SPEECH AND FEEDING
If spina bifida is associated with conditions such as hydrocephalus or Chiari II malformation, children may also experience:
- Feeding difficulties
- Swallowing concerns
- Delayed speech and language
- Voice changes
- Oral motor weakness
How Therapy Smarts Supports Children with Spina Bifida?
While a diagnosis of Spina Bifida comes with unique challenges, it also comes with incredible potential. At Therapy Smarts, our multidisciplinary team in Durham and Chapel Hill works together to create a customized “roadmap” that helps your child hit their milestones and gain independence.
Because every child is unique, therapy is individualized based on their strengths, goals, and medical needs.
Physical Therapy (PT)
Our pediatric physical therapists help children:
- Build strength
- Improve balance
- Increase endurance
- Learn safe walking skills
- Practice transfers
- Improve wheelchair mobility
- Improve posture
- Prevent contractures
- Increase independence during play
Goals may include:
- Crawling
- Standing
- Walking with or without braces
- Navigating playgrounds
- Participating in sports and recreation
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Occupational therapists focus on independence in daily activities.
OT may help children:
- Dress independently
- Improve hand strength
- Develop fine motor skills
- Improve handwriting
- Learn adaptive equipment use
- Improve self-feeding
- Build sensory processing skills
- Increase independence with grooming and hygiene
Speech Therapy (SLP)
Speech-language pathologists can help with:
- Feeding and swallowing
- Oral motor development
- Speech clarity
- Language development
- Social communication
- Cognitive communication skills
- Memory and executive functioning strategies
Mental Health Services
Living with a chronic medical condition can affect emotional well-being.
Our licensed mental health therapists help children:
- Build confidence
- Manage anxiety
- Develop coping strategies
- Improve emotional regulation
- Navigate friendships
- Adjust to medical procedures
- Support siblings and parents
Wondering About Developmental Milestones?
Have questions about your child’s development, or wondering if a certain diagnosis may be a fit? Try out our developmental screening tool— it’s a fast, free way to get a snapshot of your child’s progress on his or her developmental milestones.
Ready to Help Your Child Reach Their Full Potential?
At Therapy Smarts, we don’t believe in a “wait and see” approach. We believe in early, expert intervention that gives your child the tools they need to thrive. Whether you are looking for specialized Down Syndrome support or a comprehensive developmental evaluation, our award-winning team in Durham and Chapel Hill is ready to partner with your family.
Two Easy Ways to Begin:
Contact Us Directly: Ready to schedule? Call us at 919-378-1340.
Fill out our Online Inquiry Form to speak with a member of our intake team.
Don’t navigate this journey alone—let’s unlock your child’s possibilities together