Pediatric Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy
PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Gross Motor Skills:
Gross motor skills entail whole-body movement, using the large muscles in the torso, arms, and legs. Sample of skills targeted:
- Poor posture while sitting at a table.
- Difficulty performing movements involving sequences such as obstacle courses and dance.
- Difficulty planning out multi-step tasks involving movement, due to motor planning challenges.
Coordination:
Coordination is essential for fluid and automatic movement and is required between our right and left sides, upper and lower extremities, and eyes and hands. Sample of skills targeted:
- Drawing painting, writing, typing, and eventually, driving.
- Planning, sequencing, or organizing activities that involve multiple steps.
- Inability to keep up with peer activities on the playground (often resulting in the child watching rather than participating).
Fine Motor Skills:
Fine motor skills enable one to complete finessed and detailed tasks, using the small muscles in our hands and wrists. Sample of skills targeted:
- Struggling with activities of daily living (ADL) and self-care, such as dressing, feeding, and using utensils.
- Asking for help and relying on adults to do fine motor tasks, although other children their age do them independently.
- Taking extra time and becoming frustrated when attempting fine motor tasks, especially in a group setting.
Sensory Processing:
Sensory processing is the interpretation of information sent to our brains via our senses and movement. Individuals must be able to adequately process sensory input in order to maintain focus and regulation. Sample of skills targeted:
- Lack of awareness of where their body is in space, which affects their ability to smoothly plan out motor activities such as pouring a drink.
- Not understanding what they’re hearing (due to auditory processing disorder), which affects comprehension and ability to follow directions.
- Experiencing melt-downs from sensory overload (bright lights, sirens, high winds, thunder)
- Seeking out extra sensory input such as spinning or swinging, hugging or touching, and chewing.
PEDIATRIC SPEECH THERAPY AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
Our Speech/Language Therapy program focuses on listening skills, language comprehension, verbal expression, speech production, phonological awareness, auditory processing, and social use of language.
We specialize in the areas of:
- Autism
- Apraxia
- Speech impairments
- Language Delays
- Feeding Disturbances
- Social Language Impairments
- Phonological Impairments
PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPY
Our physical therapy program can benefit children with conditions including:
- Brain trauma and injuries
- Cerebral palsy — a disorder affecting a child’s muscle tone, movement, or posture.
- Developmental delays
- General orthopedic — injuries to the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles
- Genetic syndromes — Down syndrome (which can cause developmental and intellectual delays) and muscular dystrophy (which can impact muscle mass and strength).
- Gross motor skills — deficits including muscle strength, coordination, and balance.