Pediatric Therapy Flint

What is Pediatric Physical Therapy?

Physical Therapy (PT) is focused on any problems with movement that cause functional limitations.

Diagnoses may include, but not limited to: 

• Autism
• Asperger's
• Developmental delays
• Cerebral palsy
• And other physical difficulties frequently have challenges with motor skills such as sitting, walking, running or jumping

Physical therapy can address poor muscle tone, balance and coordination. A physical therapist will start by evaluating the developmental level and abilities of the child. Once they identify the individual’s challenges, the physical therapists design activities that target those areas.

Physical therapy might include assisted movement, various forms of exercise, and use of orthopedic equipment.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy

• Dysphagia/oral feeding disorders are disorders in the way someone eats or drinks, including problems with chewing, swallowing, coughing, gagging, and refusing foods.
• Pelvic Floor Therapy
• Cognitive skills– remembering letters, shapes and sequences
• Fine motor skills– finger dexterity, wrist and forearm control, and hand strength
• Gross motor skills– balance and body coordination
• Self-care tasks– dressing, bathing and self-feeding
• Social skills– taking turns, listening and following directions

Pediatric Pelvic Floor Rehab

The Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Program is designed for children who continue to have episodes of daytime urinary leaks beyond the typical age of potty training. Problems with bladder and bowel control are common and affect children of all ages causing embarrassment, anxiety, discomfort and frustration. In addition, multiple urinary tract infections may be a common occurrence for these children. Children and adolescents with bladder and bowel dysfunction may or may not have completed potty training.

Diagnosis of Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction may include any of the following and may occur independently or in conjunction with other medical diagnosis:

• Urinary Incontinence
  
  • Urgency to urinate
  • Increased frequency of urination
  • Leaking or dampness between bathroom visits
• Enuresis (night time wetting)
• Bowel Incontinence, Fecal Soiling, Encopresis (leaking of stool), or Constipation

What is Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation?

Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation works to strengthen and coordinate the muscles that control the bladder. This program also educates you and your child on anatomy of the urinary tract system and strategies to avoid urinary leaks.

What are the possible benefits of the Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation program?

The goal of the pelvic floor program is for each child to improve and/or achieve independent bladder control. Your child will gain knowledge of their urinary tract system and diet related issues. They will also gain improved self-esteem, confidence and the increased ability to participate in social activities such as sleep-overs.

Speech Therapy

Examples of the services that our SLPs provide include: 

• Articulation/speech sound therapy for children whose speech is difficult to understand

• Early intervention for “late-talkers” or children who remain largely nonverbal after they reach their second birthday

• Intervention for children who have trouble communicating and functioning in social situations secondary to Autism Spectrum Disorder.

• Treatment for children and adults who have suffered strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and various neurodegenerative diseases which have had an effect on their ability to communicate.

• Treatment of dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) resulting from a wide variety of disorders in adults and children.

Because everyone is different, our SLPs individualize the treatment techniques that they use in order to suit the unique needs of each patient.

During your initial evaluation with an SLP, you will be asked several questions about previous medical and developmental histories. Depending on the reason for your visit, you or your child will likely be asked to participate in a variety of formal and informal assessments. The SLP may then recommend therapy for either 1 or 2 days per week and will also work with you to develop a set of goals for therapy.