Frequently Asked Questions
what is therapy?
Pediatric Occupational Therapy helps kids strengthen their sensory and emotional regulation as well as their fine motor, visual motor, and self-care skills to improve their overall participation and independence in their daily activities. Areas addressed can include balance, coordination, self-regulation, social participation, cognitive development, attention, feeding, and school skills.
Pediatric Speech Therapy uses multiple strategies and modalities to include speaking, sign language, and both low- and high-tech communication devices to improve a child’s communication skills. Treatment areas include intelligibility, following directions, auditory processing, stuttering, social skills, and understanding and using language. They also assist kids with trouble eating due to swallowing difficulties.
Pediatric Physical Therapy helps kids help kids improve their strength, posture, range of motion, balance, and coordination in order to move effectively throughout their environment. They work on gross motor skills including sitting, standing, walking, running and can help train in the use of adaptive equipment to allow mobility when needed.
Pediatric Speech Therapy uses multiple strategies and modalities to include speaking, sign language, and both low- and high-tech communication devices to improve a child’s communication skills. Treatment areas include intelligibility, following directions, auditory processing, stuttering, social skills, and understanding and using language. They also assist kids with trouble eating due to swallowing difficulties.
Pediatric Physical Therapy helps kids help kids improve their strength, posture, range of motion, balance, and coordination in order to move effectively throughout their environment. They work on gross motor skills including sitting, standing, walking, running and can help train in the use of adaptive equipment to allow mobility when needed.
What is sensory processing?
Sensory Processing refers to how we receive, organize, and respond to sensory information from our bodies and the environment. Sensory processing difficulties can affect kids in many different ways. Some kids will be withdrawn, scared of new experiences, and fearful of movements, while others are “overly active”, unable to sit still and pay attention, and completely lacking fear of any movement. Motor skills, such as coloring, writing, and using utensils are often challenging. Regular routines and tasks such as bedtime, mealtime, dressing, and bath time can be a struggle. Sometimes sleep is impacted, and often frequent meltdowns are common whenever routines are disrupted. At school, children with sensory processing difficulties often have difficulty taking part in classroom activities in the same way their peers do.
Here are a few helpful resources on sensory processing and/or parenting a child with sensory processing challenges:
https://sensoryhealth.org
https://www.spdfoundation.net/about-sensory-processing-disorder/
https://childmind.org/article/sensory-processing-issues-explained/
https://www.sensorysmartparent.com
Here are a few helpful resources on sensory processing and/or parenting a child with sensory processing challenges:
https://sensoryhealth.org
https://www.spdfoundation.net/about-sensory-processing-disorder/
https://childmind.org/article/sensory-processing-issues-explained/
https://www.sensorysmartparent.com
what are typical milestones i should watch for in my child?
Click here for a chart on typical development.
How do i know if my child has autism?
Autism is diagnosed by your child’s pediatrician or after undergoing a full developmental evaluation by a physician experienced in diagnosing autism.
Some signs warranting further evaluation include the following:
-Few or no spoken words by age 2
-Only uses words they repeat from TV, movies, or other people
-Does not initiate interactions or conversations with other people
-Does not respond to their name
-Avoids eye contact
-Lines up objects or toys instead of using them in pretend or interactive play
-Plays the same way with the same objects (toys, doors, containers, etc.) over and over
-Engages in repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers, or rocking their body
-Highly sensitive to sounds, bright lights, different textures, and/or changes in routine
Some signs warranting further evaluation include the following:
-Few or no spoken words by age 2
-Only uses words they repeat from TV, movies, or other people
-Does not initiate interactions or conversations with other people
-Does not respond to their name
-Avoids eye contact
-Lines up objects or toys instead of using them in pretend or interactive play
-Plays the same way with the same objects (toys, doors, containers, etc.) over and over
-Engages in repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers, or rocking their body
-Highly sensitive to sounds, bright lights, different textures, and/or changes in routine
what is babies can't wait and how is it different from Kids that can?
Babies Can’t Wait (BCW) provides therapy services in the home to children from birth to 3 years old. Children receiving BCW are provided with an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) that details their goals and plans for treatment.
At Kids That Can, we provide therapy services in the clinic setting to all kids from birth to 21 years old. Children receiving therapy in our clinic receive an evaluation every 6 months along with a plan of care that outlines goals and treatment strategies to be used. Sometimes we are able to provide services when a child does not qualify for BCW or offer more frequent and/or longer treatment sessions than available through BCW.
At Kids That Can, we provide therapy services in the clinic setting to all kids from birth to 21 years old. Children receiving therapy in our clinic receive an evaluation every 6 months along with a plan of care that outlines goals and treatment strategies to be used. Sometimes we are able to provide services when a child does not qualify for BCW or offer more frequent and/or longer treatment sessions than available through BCW.
What is the difference between therapy in the schools and at Kids That Can?
Therapy can be provided in the schools for children as young as 3 years old if the school evaluation team determines that a child needs therapy to access their educational program. For a child to receive school services, they must have a recognized disability or disorder that affects their educational performance. There are various steps and evaluations to go through at the school level in order to determine eligibility for school services. If a child is eligible, they will have an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) which details the services the school will provide and is updated annually.
This is different from outpatient therapy at Kids That Can, where therapy services can address, but are not limited to academic/educational needs. Children receiving therapy in our clinic receive an evaluation and plan of care every 6 months that outline goals and treatment strategies to be used. Children can receive both school and outpatient therapy services.
This is different from outpatient therapy at Kids That Can, where therapy services can address, but are not limited to academic/educational needs. Children receiving therapy in our clinic receive an evaluation and plan of care every 6 months that outline goals and treatment strategies to be used. Children can receive both school and outpatient therapy services.