What does a Pediatric Occupational Therapist do? 

A pediatric occupational therapist will address the functional and developmental needs of your child in a fun, playful, and meaningful way. Therapists use play to increase independence, enhance your child’s sense of self-esteem and sense of accomplishment. Your child’s therapist will address his/her ability to engage with others across the lifespan and increase independent participation and success in meaningful daily occupations. For children, “occupations” include but are not limited to, self-care (dressing, eating, washing), playing with friends, succeeding in academics, participating in leisure activities, and learning how to manage behaviors and emotions.

Therapy Can Help Your Child With.. 

• Decrease sensory intolerance
• Improve fine and gross motor skills
• Increase success in meaningful activities
• Increase balance and body coordination
• Improve self-coping, behavior, and attention skills
• Encourage discovery of new interests and activities
• Expand preferred foods and decrease mealtime battles
   

Our therapist specializes in treating children with: 

• Neurodevelopmental and congenital disorders
• Fine and gross motor difficulties
• Body coordination challenges
• Sensory processing disorders
• Splinting and casting needs
• Visual-motor impairments
• Developmental concerns
• School-based challenges                 
• Behavioral concerns
• Traumatic injuries
• Feeding therapy

What is Feeding Therapy? 

   Picky and resistant eating can be a typical part of childhood development. However, when the pickiness persists for an extended period of time, is extreme, or creates child/parent anxiety it can become concerning for parents and professionals. Cause for concern occurs when your child is not eating enough quantity or variety to support healthy emotional, social, and/or physical development. It can also be a cause for concern when pickiness is a significant source of conflict, stress, or anxiety for you and/or your child.

Your child may benefit from feeding therapy if they exhibit

several of the following red flags: 

• Challenges transitioning between developmentally appropriate foods
• Unable to transition accept table food solids by 12 months
• Choking, gagging, or coughing during eating and drinking
• Unable to transition to purees by around 10 months
• Falling off growth charts or sharp percentile drops
• Avoidance of foods based on sensory properties
• Preferred food list of less than 15-20 foods
• Increased negative behaviors around meals
• Frequent dry heaving or vomiting at meals
• Child distress/crying around food
• Elimination of food groups
• Frequent mealtime battles
• Nutritional deficiencies
• A history of reflux
• Trauma