Pediatric Rehabilitation

The Pediatric Rehabilitation Center provides comprehensive, individualized rehabilitation for both inpatients and outpatients from birth to 18 years. Its multidisciplinary staff includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and a social worker. They provide evaluation and treatment services to children with neurological, orthopedic, rheumatic, congenital, and sensory integration disorders. Children are seen by appointment with physician referral.

The Center is an approved Early Intervention Provider servicing infants and toddlers from birth to 3 years of age. Children diagnosed with conditions that affect development such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, torticollis, as well as sensory and speech impairments may be eligible for Early Intervention services.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Pediatric Occupational Therapy provides evaluation and treatment to children with a wide variety of diagnoses including orthopedic, neurological, rheumatic and congenital disorders.  Therapy emphasizes rehabilitation of the total child with a focus on upper extremity functioning, fine motor skills and sensory motor integration. Children with shortened attention span, learning disabilities, and/or sensory processing issues are also serviced by Occupational Therapy. Splinting evaluations are available and custom splints are fabricated as needed.

Occupational Therapists focus on impairments and delays in fine motor skills, visual motor integration/eye-hand coordination, and visual perceptual skills. These therapists also address impairments and functional limitations that affect optimal performance at home, school and in the community.  Interventions are individualized to respond to specific deficits in activities of daily living such as feeding, dressing, and grooming. Children are treated on an inpatient and outpatient basis by appointment with physician referral.

Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric Physical Therapy provides evaluation and treatment to children with a wide variety of diagnoses including orthopedic, neurologic, rheumatic and congenital disorders.  Therapy emphasizes rehabilitation of the total child with a focus on the development of core stability, lower extremity function and gross motor skill ability.  Individualized therapeutic programs are created and implemented based on evaluation and evidence-based practice. Physical Therapists address specific impairments and functional limitations involving proprioception, balance and coordination, strength, endurance and conditioning. Restoration and/or development of age appropriate gross motor skills including ambulation and mobility are emphasized during treatment. Adaptive equipment evaluations are available as needed. Children are treated on an inpatient and outpatient basis by appointment with physician referral.

Pediatric Social Work and Counseling

In addition to other therapy services, Pediatric Social Work and Counseling offers counseling services to children with social and emotional delays. Guidance and support can be provided for their parents and caregivers as well, in the hopes of enhancing the child/parent relationship.  Play therapy, behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and supportive counseling are available for both the individual child and the family.

Behavioral Management Plans (BMPs) may also be developed for preschool and school age children. BMPs can help families and caretakers to better understand their children's behavior, learn methods and strategies for modifying a behavior, and to use them effectively in their everyday lives.

Learn about more Pediatric Social Work Services available at HSS.

Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology (Speech Therapy)

Pediatric Speech-Language Pathology (commonly known as Speech Therapy) services include evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of children with articulation, language, feeding, oral motor and speech disorders/delays.  Clinicians emphasize the development of early communication skills by using techniques to facilitate expressive and receptive speech as well as language development. Feeding skills are evaluated and treated through implementation of a variety of treatment techniques. Specialties include oral motor/feeding therapy and the PROMPT Technique, a tactile kinesthetic approach for oral motor/articulation delays. Services are provided on an inpatient and outpatient basis.