Pediatric Physical & Occupational Therapy
Pediatric Physical & Occupational Therapy
The Pediatric Physical & Occupational Therapy Program provides individual occupational and or physical therapy as well as parent education for children from birth through adolescence helping children achieve maximum independence in daily living at school and at play.
The staff consists of licensed occupational and physical therapists, many with specialized training including, neurodevelopmental treatment, the Listening Program, behavioral interventions, and sensory processing. The staff works closely with physicians and other professionals throughout the Hunterdon Health System and the greater community.
Pediatric physical and occupational therapists emphasize family-centered care. Parents and other family members are an integral part of the treatment team. Family members participate in assessment and goal setting and are instructed in-home program activities to help their children.
Pediatric physical therapists evaluate and treat infants, children, and adolescents who have impairments that interfere with their ability to perform everyday activities such as sitting, crawling, walking, playing, riding a bicycle, and playing on the playground.
Pediatric physical therapists help children achieve or regain motor skills through:
- Increasing mobility and strength
- Improving balance and coordination
- Positioning
- Promoting functional skills
- Adapting toys for play and helping children move toward the toys they want
- Increasing self-confidence
Pediatric occupational therapists evaluate and treat infants, children, and adolescents who have functional limitations as the result of a developmental delay and/or specific medical condition. These limitations include difficulties with self-care, listening and learning, writing and/or cutting, playing age-appropriately and interacting with others.
Pediatric occupational therapists help children to maximize their potential through:
- Improving sensory processing and self-regulation skills
- Facilitating fine and gross motor coordination
- Improving visual motor/perceptual skills
- Promoting problem-solving, learning, and coping skills
Additional services include psychological counseling and consultation, and learning evaluations.
Psychological consultation can provide screening/assessments, development of treatment/intervention plans, preschool and school observations, consultation with school personnel, counseling services and coordination of with primary health care providers. Learning evaluations are conducted to assess a child’s current academic levels as well as learning style and problem-solving strategies.
The Return to Learn Program is part of the Head Smart Concussion Care Program through Hunterdon Health. Return to Learn provides assistance with school-based accommodations and academic interventions; cognitive, learning and speech/language evaluations as needed. Baseline ImPACT testing is offered for children 10 and older.
