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Occupational Therapy for Children with Physical Special Needs

Assistive Tools Used in Pediatric Occupational and Speech Therapy

Anxiety affects approximately 10% of children between the ages 3-17 in the United States. Since this is an estimate for children who are formally diagnosed with anxiety, this does not account for thousands of children who experience undiagnosed symptoms of … Read more

Strategies for communicating with a child who has ADHD? Here is all you need to know about learning to communicate with a child who has ADHD.

Self-regulation is described as one’s ability to manage and control their behavior, emotions, and attention. This includes using specific skills to monitor, evaluate, and adjust for environmental demands so as to react appropriately. Let’s take a look at the following … Read more

Occupational & Speech Therapy for Neuro-divergence can make a world of a difference. Neuro-divergent children have unique ways of thinking that can make it difficult for them to function in their home, school, or community environment. Neuro-divergence can result from … Read more

Early Intervention Autism Therapy

Introduction:In order to improve communication and language skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), speech therapy is an excellent option.  What might a child with ASD need Speech Therapy for? Communication is often difficult for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In … Read more

Introduction: A 5-year old boy with no medical diagnoses enters kindergarten for the first time. Within the first couple of weeks, the teacher notices that he functions a little differently than his peers. He dislikes going out for recess, avoids … Read more

Babies develop at different rates – some may begin crawling as early as 6 months, while others may wait until 10 months. There is no one-size-fits-all development for children. Babies may skip crawling altogether, instead choosing to move by rolling … Read more

Did you ever notice if your child has strong or weak muscles? Is your child often clumsy or using a lot of energy to do general tasks? It could be that your child needs more movement to get his muscles working and built up! As much as exercise is healthy for adults, children benefit from moving too!

Since selective mutism causes a disruption in typical communication skills, speech therapy is a relevant and beneficial treatment commonly used to treat signs and symptoms and to help children improve their social participation.

The holidays are upon us! During the holiday season, we know how hard it is to come up with gift ideas for all the little ones. Looking for ideas for presents for your kids, grandkids, cousins, etc.? The best type … Read more

Pediatric Occupational, and Speech therapies have more advantages than disadvantages. One important factor to consider when choosing the best therapy for your child, in order to maximize its advantages, is the environment in which the therapy is delivered. The Benefits … Read more

It is essential that children reach developmental milestones appropriate for their age so that they don’t fall behind and miss crucial marking points in their growth. As parents, it is vital to know what is considered “typical” and expected at … Read more

Structured OT VS Sensory Experiences Structured occupational therapy sessions offer many benefits for children experiencing sensory delays or impairments. However, there are so many other great ways to reinforce OT skills right in the environment all around us. With a … Read more

For growing children, reaching developmental milestones that are appropriate to their age is critical. While every child develops at their own rate, staying on track with general developmental milestones is important to make sure they do not fall behind or … Read more

What is OT for Infants? Many parents are shocked to learn that services for Occupational Therapy exist for infants too! Infant Occupational Therapy is a branch of OT that focuses specifically on the development of infant motor skills, as well … Read more

How Activities & Games in Speech Therapy Help Children Learn Improving your child’s speech through speech therapy sessions doesn’t need to be a tedious task! Using various age-appropriate games and activities, speech therapists integrate therapy techniques into fun games. Your … Read more

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly complex psychiatric and developmental condition that impacts many children.  When behavioral and emotional problems are present in a child with ASD, it can be difficult to find the right type of treatment approach … Read more

How can occupational therapy help a child with learning disabilities? Communication and social interaction are often challenging for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other learning disabilities. Through Occupational Therapy (OT), these challenges can be addressed.  Discover how Occupational … Read more

As a parent, you want the best for your child. You want them to be successful in life. You want them to have opportunities that they may not otherwise have had. And you want them to enjoy their childhood. Your … Read more

If your child has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is normal to be overwhelmed. This diagnosis can take time to understand and work through for you and your child. As you research supportive measures for your child, … Read more

Within each classroom in a school environment, there is usually a range of children with mixed abilities. Some children may need extra help in certain areas, some may have disorders and others may need guidance in developing new skills. Occupational … Read more

What is Occupational Vision Therapy and how does it work? If your child has trouble with his/her eyesight, you may want to consider Occupational Vision Therapy. Here are the basics of this kind of therapy and how the trained therapists … Read more

Autism Speech Therapy Children on the autism spectrum may present with a multitude of difficulties in different areas. One of the most debilitating problems is their difficulty with communication. This hampers their ability to communicate in a meaningful way with … Read more

Proficient language development is key for children to succeed in multiple domains: making friends, completing homework, writing their names, listening to instructions, and so on. For some kiddos, learning how to communicate with others and comprehending written or verbal language … Read more

For children with autism or developmental delays, communication can be difficult. Many children with autism spectrum disorders have difficulty developing proper language and communication skills. As such, this can lead to further difficulties managing in everyday life.  Though this can … Read more

By: Blair Gorenberg MA, CCC-SLP Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work in various settings worldwide to help individuals of all ages with speech, language, cognitive, communication, and swallowing delays and disorders. Enrolling your child in speech therapy is one of the most beneficial … Read more

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) present in so many ways with varying levels of severity. Though it is not an official diagnosis, some people with autism may not speak at all. According to the NIH, it is estimated that around 25 … Read more

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have a unique way of looking at the world and processing information. They can be passionate about their interests and creative thinkers. However, many children with ASD experience challenges with being independent, managing their … Read more

Like any other attentive parent, do you ever find yourself in a position where you feel overly concerned about your child’s development? Furthermore, do you find yourself comparing your child to others their age and think, Something just doesn’t look … Read more

Many parents, caregivers, and teachers wonder how to support a child with special needs, especially if the child has a complex diagnosis such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). One of the increasingly popular methods used is Floortime therapy. The goal … Read more

Private occupational therapy is a great opportunity that can truly help your child thrive! While occupational therapists work in a wide range of settings, private practice or clinic-based occupational therapists can help children improve their independence with play, learning, and … Read more

As a parent, it can be tricky to determine what type of therapy your child requires. Not only is identifying the need to seek therapy difficult, but it can also often be hard to ascertain what the appropriate timing is. … Read more

Playtime gives us an abundance of knowledge about children and their developing skillsets. Children learn, through trial and error, how to get along with others and enhance their cognitive, motor, emotional, and social capacities via the use of meaningful, fun activities. What better way to assess, guide, and improve their abilities to communicate and problem-solve than to utilize play as a form of therapy?

and language. But what did speech therapy look like when it first started? 

Speech therapists use a variety of materials to stimulate speech and language. One of the most versatile stimuli you can use in therapy is a picture scene.

It’s difficult to understand the sequence of events that must occur in the body in order for just one sound to be produced. In the blink of an eye, the brain sends messages to tell the mouth exactly how to move. These messages allow for the muscle coordination necessary to produce sounds, words, and sentences. When there is a breakdown in communication between the brain and the mouth, a child may demonstrate unusual speech patterns or may not be able to talk at all. This breakdown is called Childhood Apraxia of Speech.

Parents are often concerned about whether their child is developing at the expected rate. As parents, you know your child best, and if you are concerned that your baby or toddler’s milestones are delayed, we recommend that you consult your pediatrician, who will perform a developmental screening test. This will better inform you regarding your child’s difficulties. If necessary, the pediatrician will refer you for early intervention to a speech, occupational or physical therapist.

By: Leah Gross March 31st is National Crayon Day, so I wanted to highlight some of our favorite ways to use crayons at The Therapy Place. Aside from the typical ways children use crayons to color and write, they are … Read more

By: Nina Chesno                                                           At The Therapy Place, we are excited to introduce our latest video series “Live … Read more

No matter what curveball life throws you and your child, Occupational Therapy can help. Each child has a unique set of capabilities and areas needing improvement. As such, occupational therapy is available in various types and forms to help young … Read more

Parents are often concerned about whether their child is developing at the expected rate. As parents, you know your child best, and if you are concerned that your baby or toddler’s milestones are delayed, we recommend that you consult your pediatrician, who will perform a developmental screening test. This will better inform you regarding your child’s difficulties. If necessary, the pediatrician will refer you for early intervention to a speech, occupational or physical therapist.

Autism Behavior therapy is a specialized type of therapy, that identifies and helps children with autism, or autism spectrum disorders (ASD), to change their inappropriate behaviors. These behaviors affect their ability to function at home, at school, and in situations requiring interaction with other children or adults.

There’s a common misconception that speech therapy is only meant for kids who can’t say words with “r.” While issues producing sounds can definitely be addressed, speech therapists are trained to work with children and adults who struggle with so many other concerns, such as a limited vocabulary, following directions, reading and writing, organization, and critical thinking.

Childhood is an exciting time full of changes and growth. Though there are norms that children typically follow throughout their development, meeting speech and language milestones may look different for your child. When your child isn’t following the “normal” flow of development, speech therapists are here to help! Whether your child struggles with eye contact, following directions, talking, or speech that is difficult to understand, it is never too early to seek intervention from a speech therapist. Here are some questions to help guide you through the early intervention process.

A diagnosis of Down syndrome comes along with seemingly infinite questions about what the future will bring. How different will this child be compared to his/her peers? Do all individuals with Down syndrome struggle to communicate? Can speech therapy help? Where does one begin?? While each child with Down syndrome is unique in their own life journey, there is some clarity as to what one may expect when it comes to speech and language development.

The Occupational Therapists at The Therapy Place specialize in treating children who present with sensory issues which may occur concomitantly with learning or language disorders. Young children cannot express themselves or don’t understand what is bothering them, get frustrated and parents become anxious not knowing why they are crying. Learning more about why they’re upset in the first place allows parents to work with them and communicate with them more effectively.

Everyone experiences disfluencies while speaking, which include pauses, disruptions, and repetitions of words. However, there is a fine line between a “normal” amount of disfluencies and an excessive and persistent presence of disfluencies, otherwise known as stuttering. Stuttering presents as a frequent disruption of the forward flow of speech.

Occupational Massage Therapy for children is a unique form of Occupational Therapy that many parents may not be aware of. This process involves using the natural power of touch and integrating that into occupational therapy practice.

From recording videos to filling out a journal, parents are overcome with joy at the opportunity to document every milestone their child hits. But when children don’t follow the “normal” path of development, parents are left wondering when they will catch up to their peers.

At the Therapy Place, our Occupational Therapists specialize in hand strengthening exercises to develop or improve children’s hand skills to enable fine motor skills for daily living skills. The goal of this kind of Occupational therapy is to create hand strengthening activities for children who struggle with fine motor skills.

We take it for granted that our children will learn skills naturally, however some children require Occupational Therapy to achieve the milestones essential for executing motor skills, to function at home, at school, in public, or in social situations. Luckily, occupational therapists are specifically trained to help these children reach milestones and function effectively in their everyday lives.

Imaginative play is the act of demonstrating or role-playing real-life experiences or events the child would like to experience. Imaginative play is an integral part of both language development and play skill development. Here at The Therapy Place, our therapists … Read more

Toilet training is a challenging and frustrating time for all parents, but even more so for parents of children with developmental delays, disabilities, or sensory issues. At The Therapy Place, we are here to help you with the challenging task … Read more

Social stories are a powerful and fun tool that can be used to help young students to understand and cope with different situations.  At the Therapy Place, we use Social stories which are individualized short stories that are highly effective for teaching students new skills.   These skills teach students what is expected in social behaviors and different settings such as school, with … Read more

There are many pathways to help children struggling with ASD and it can get confusing! What is the benefit to intervention and what can Occupational or Speech Therapy specifically offer my child with autism? You’ve come to the right address! … Read more

Starting off the School Year Right: Should you tell your child’s teacher about his/ her delays or any therapy received? “Sarah was a bright child, tons of friends but she simply couldn’t sit still in class. After undergoing a thorough … Read more

The year is finally looking predictable and scheduled. Your days are starting to resemble a routine, yet your child is having trouble getting used to their long day. Does this snippet sound like a page out of your book? Gosh, … Read more

It’s not just about what your child does or doesn’t say. Did you know that there are actually 2 parts to speech and language? Receptive (input): Information your child takes in Expressive (output) Information your child gives out This explains … Read more

You’ve determined that your child will benefit from therapy. The next step is finding out about your insurance coverage, which can depend on many factors. To make things easier for you, we’ve put together this helpful guide on insurance coverage. … Read more

Our Assessment Our assessment is that Gavi is not able to process information from multiple sources simultaneously. Children with typical development can sift through multisensory stimuli to react to and concentrate only on the important information. For example, if the … Read more

Dovi, 7 years old, is having trouble in school. His handwriting is sloppy and often illegible and he complains that his hand hurts when he writes. He mixes up similar letters, such as lowercase B and D or gimmel and … Read more

Atara is a 2nd grader who hated recess. She refused to go on the swings or down slides, complained to her teacher that all the playground equipment was ‘too scary,’ and even went so far as to stay at her … Read more

Natalie is an adorable four-year-old girl. Her mother is concerned because Natalie is always bumping into people and furniture, falls frequently and occasionally even crashes into walls. Natalie is always touching things as she encounters them and often lies down … Read more

Symptoms Joshua could not function in his 5th grade classroom. Whenever his teacher issued instructions like, “Take out your pencil and start working on your worksheet,” Joshua appeared “spaced out” and seemed to ignore the instructions completely. Joshua’s apparent disregard … Read more

Ayala was a bright, articulate, and spunky first grader, but she had a terrible handwriting. Her classmates were learning to write full sentences, both in print and script, but Ayala could hardly write at all. When she started writing, her … Read more

Symptoms Jacob is friendly, sociable 4th grader. Although he has many friends and is socially successful, Jacob refuses to play sports during recess. While his classmates play tag, basketball or football, Jacob sits at his desk in the empty classroom. … Read more