The Shandy Clinic: Traditional Therapies with a Twist

Old science with a new twist

Autism and other disabilities are considered to be a puzzle that is unsolvable. But new scientific treatments, such as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), may show remarkable results for many conditions. The Shandy Clinic is offering HBOT to Colorado and using it in conjunction with traditional therapies, and this article presents information based on an interview with the Clinic.

The Shandy Clinic was opened seven years ago by the Shandy family. There are now three locations to serve patients in Colorado Springs, and plans to expand in order to help more children with disabilities. The Shandy Clinic’s mission is to provide exceptional therapy to exceptional children. Amy Shandy says they “partner with family members and healthcare professionals to provide therapy services that assist individuals in fully experiencing the beauty of life.” The Shandy Clinic goes beyond offering traditional speech, occupational and physical therapies.

To begin at the Shandy Clinic, your child will be given a consultation to assess his or her needs. The child will receive an individual plan with measurable goals. These goals are reviewed and re-evaluated to ensure that progress is being made at six months and at one year. The Shandy Clinic takes pride in its staff and encourages them to think outside of the box to help its patients to make progress towards their goals. The Shandy Clinic hopes its patients will learn tools to be more successful throughout their interactions with the community.

What is HBOT?

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) delivers concentrated oxygen to a patient in a chamber that is pressurized to a greater degree than the current atmosphere. The increase in pressure increases the oxygen that is taken in by the lungs. This further elevates the oxygen in the blood and throughout the body. The extra-oxygenated blood has been shown to improve the oxygen delivery into the body, which decreases infections and injuries. It is simple, natural, non-invasive, and does not hurt.

The theory of HBOT treatment is simple; oxygen promotes natural healing of the tissues of the body. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all of the organs in the body. With HBOT treatment, all of the body fluids in the nervous and lymphatic systems are saturated with oxygen. Certain traumas or disorders can diminish or stop blood flow. By forcing oxygen to the damaged area, the natural healing of the body is encouraged. Individual results can vary, but there have been reports of new blood vessels forming in previously dormant areas.

Traditional therapies with HBOT

At the Shandy Clinic, your child with a disability can receive HBOT treatment while simultaneously receiving occupational therapy. The therapist will get into the chamber with the child that is receiving therapy, as there are no negative effects to HBOT. The biomedical theory behind combining therapy and HBOT is that when a patient is receiving therapy, the level of concentration required immediately increases the blood flow to the brain.¹

Studies have shown that children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, for example, typically suffer from decreased blood flow to the brain. The low blood flow does not deliver adequate oxygen needed to fuel the brain, especially when performing the difficult task of therapies. Extra oxygen in the blood from HBOT may give the brain the energy required to complete the task and improve concentration.

Other unique programs

The Shandy Clinic offers much more than HBOT therapies. Because it partners with other providers, it offers a variety of services. Feeding problems are a common issue that the Shandy Clinic successfully addresses through occupational therapy and sensory integration. Many children with disabilities also suffer from auditory processing difficulties, and the Shandy Clinic provides a therapeutic listening program, which trains the children’s ears to filter out sounds a typical person will automatically filter. It also provides Caryn Short’s Cornerstones of Success, that include the Handwriting Without Tears Clinic®, Interactive Metronome therapy, and Brain Gym.

The Shandy Clinic is expanding to offer more services. Most insurance plans are accepted, and evening appointments are available. The Shandy Clinic strives to provide children with disabilities with the highest level of service for a multitude of different and traditional therapies. While some therapies are unusual, exploring all options for treatments for your child’s disability may be doing the best for your child.

North
8540 Scarborough Drive, Suite 300
Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Central
3625 Citadel Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80909

South
830 Tenderfoot Hill Road, Suite 100
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

phone: 719-597-0822