Pediatric therapy and rehabilitation have been shown to help children living with disabilities, but not all patients who need it, receive it. Why? One reason may be that parents and caregivers don’t understand the benefits of this type of therapy.
Keep reading to learn more about how pediatric therapy services can support your child’s development.
1. Pediatric Therapy Offers Treatment in Many Areas
Pediatric therapy is a field of medicine dedicated to helping children and adolescents with disabilities, injuries, or conditions. Assessments are done for children with congenital abnormalities or don’t meet developmental milestones. Specialists work with pediatric patients with:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Muscular dystrophy
- Brain or spinal cord injury
- Dysphagia
- Post-operative complications
- Learning disabilities
- Orthopedic conditions
- Developmental delays
- Disorders of sensory processing
- Language delays
This therapy helps children gain or recover everyday skills, work on physical, cognitive, or motor functions, and build self-confidence. Some specialties include pediatric physical therapy, pediatric occupational therapy, and pediatric speech therapy.
2. The Family Is an Integral Part of the Treatment Process
The initial step in getting help from a center for pediatric therapy is an assessment. The therapist relies on input from family members or caregivers. You may need to answer questions about your child’s development, likes/dislikes, fears, habits, challenges, and goals.
Caregivers are included in the treatment process and instructed to continue support outside the clinical setting. You’ll watch your child and look for improvements or declines in functioning and give feedback to the therapy team. This way, the treatment plan is always up-to-date.
Also, pediatric therapists know that it’s hard to see your child struggle to perform tasks and you may feel compelled to do it for them. It’s your job to take a step back and let your child practice strengthening those skills. Your child’s care team will help you build your comfort levels and teach you the best ways to support them.
3. Pediatric Therapists Help Children Become Healthy Adults
A child who experiences social or developmental delays may need support early on to participate later in activities of daily life. Activities of daily living (ADLs) are independent daily tasks.
These include grooming, dressing, styling, feeding, and moving from one place to another. These are the foundation for many other tasks impacting one’s quality of life.
While there are support systems available for disabled adults, who are just as deserving of care, parents and caregivers want to give children the best life they can have, and accessibility often plays a factor.
By getting your child the help of a pediatric therapist, you can better prepare for their future. To learn more about how therapy for children can help, look at this Pediatric Rehabilitation center page for more information.
Can Pediatric Therapy Help Your Child?
A child with a disability may need extra support to develop daily living skills. A pediatric therapy center can help your child develop the necessary abilities and skills, and you will always be involved in the process.
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