The Pluses of Pediatric Rehab Therapy

Every year, thousands of children across the country receive some type of therapy, be it physical, occupational, feeding, speech, or other developmental therapy service. The earlier a child receives help, the better the potential for a positive outcome.

While there are similarities between pediatric and adult rehabilitation therapy, for children the approach in more focused on developmental goals.

Krystyna Wojtkowski (pronounced Kristina White-cow-ski) is a feeding therapist by training. Feeding problems are common in children. Approximately 20-50% of normally developing children and 70-89% of children with developmental disabilities experience some type of feeding problems.

With a rise in the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, therapists at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois help them overcome a variety of sensory processing challenges. Some children with autism can't manage certain food consistencies and textures, while others may only like very limited types or shapes of food, which isn’t nutritionally sound.

Wojtkowski says a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to therapy is necessary for children with autism.
 

Wojtkowski says as important as therapists’ work with the children is, supporting and helping parents and caregivers learn what to do is just as important since they are caring for the child day-in and day-out, not just during a therapy session.

If you have concerns about your child’s development, talk to their pediatrician. Learn more about some of the milestones they should be hitting and pediatric rehab therapy services available through OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois.  

See how one family benefitted from pediatric rehabiltation on the OSF HealthCare blog.