Pediatric Rehabilitation Services (Child Therapeutics)
Occupational Therapy (O T)
Occupational therapy focuses on the “occupations” or “jobs” of childhood such as play, socialization, self-care and school performance. At Pediatric Therapies, our pediatric occupational therapists help children develop the skills needed for functional independence in these important developmental areas.
Pediatric occupational therapy is aimed at the unique needs of each individual child and is provided through meaningful activity, so as to keep the child motivated and invested in the therapeutic process. While pediatric therapy is designed to feel like play to the child, our expertly trained occupational therapists draw from strategies in many specialty areas to build upon your child’s progress.
Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on the progression of developmental skills, the use of compensation techniques and/or adaptive equipment as needed, and adapting to the environment. The goal for your child is to promote the greatest level of independence and success during work or play.
Sensory Integration Therapy (SI)
SI occurs in each of us and refers to the way our central nervous system receives sensory messages from the environment and our body, processes those messages, and turns them into “adaptive” motor or behavioral responses. The term “adaptive” means our ability to respond appropriately (adaptively) to some change that occurs within our bodies or in the environment around us. For example, we perceive that we are hungry and respond “adaptively” by getting something to eat. Or, we hear a loud alarm in the school building and respond “adaptively” by quickly and calmly leaving the building. The successful completion of any daily task and our controlled emotional responses depend on our ability to efficiently process incoming sensory information.
Behavior Therapy (ABA)
Behavior therapy is a form of treatment that focuses on modifying or changing behavior. The behavioral approach to therapy focuses on increasing adaptive (positive) behaviors and decreasing maladaptive (negative) behaviors. Positive (e.g. parent attention, special time with mom or dad, special treat) and negative (e.g. taking a toy away) consequences are used to increase or decrease positive and negative behaviors. Although this type of therapy can be an effective form of treatment for most behaviors, you should have discussions with your child’s therapist about experiences or other factors that may impact behaviors, including traumatic events and worries, anxieties, or fears.
Speech & Language Therapy
Speech and language therapy focuses on a child′s ability to communicate both verbally and non-verbally. Children communicate using a wide variety of means, from simple gestures to one to two word utterances to more complex skills such as those necessary to sustain a conversation. As children grow they learn to engage in social situations and read and respond to non-verbal gestures and body language. Speech and language pathologists emphasize receptive and expressive communication, articulation, social pragmatics, feeding, and oral-motor skills. At Pediatric Therapies, the speech and language pathologists are an integral part of our multi-disciplinary team so that language can be reinforced across all environments.
Pediatric Physical Therapy
Pediatric physical therapy focuses on helping children of all ages become as independent and fit as possible with respect to strength, endurance,
balance, coordination and mobility. This includes in the home, community, school and playground.
At Pediatric Therapies, our therapists draw from years of expertise in a variety of pediatric physical therapy approaches. We focus on enhancing your child’s development, restoring function and preventing disability from pediatric conditions, illness or injury.
Special education
Special education is a kind of inclusive education. It is a specially designed education system for children who are different – socially, mentally, or physically, as compared to the average population. And, the difference is to such an extent that the children require modification in the usual teaching practices.
Special education may be needed by children with behavioral, emotional, or cognitive impairments or with intellectual disabilities or learning disabilities. Children with vision and hearing impairment or neurological disabilities too may benefit from special education. Not only this, gifted children with advanced academic abilitiesmay also need to be imparted special education.
Remedial Education
Remedial education also known as developmental education, basic skills education, compensatory education, preparatory education, and academic upgrading) is assigned to assist students in order to achieve expected competencies in core academic skills such as reading, writing and mathematics.
Feeding Therapy
At Pediatric Therapies, we recognize that some children truly struggle with eating. It is not true that “all children are picky eaters” or that if they are, “they will outgrow it”. In fact, research shows that approximately 20% of children will struggle with a feeding difficulty between the ages of birth and 7 years old and of those, only half will completely outgrow it. If your child is one of those who doesn’t outgrow it, you understand the confusion, anxiety, frustration and concern that then becomes the focal point at almost every meal. And while not every child who demonstrates a picky tendency needs intervention, having several of the below problem symptoms indicates an evaluation may be useful:
Teletherapy
Pediatric Therapies is now offering teletherapy to deliver Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech/Language Therapy. Now, instead of missing an appointment or driving a long distance, you and your child can connect with our experienced therapists through live videoconferencing in the comfort of your own home. With just a computer or smart device, you, your child, and our therapists can work together interactively while in different physical locations.
