We provide Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy for children in the Ocean County, NJ area.
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SPEECH THERAPY
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
PHYSICAL THERAPY
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SPEECH THERAPY
What is Speech Therapy? Pediatric speech language pathology programs help your child develop the skills needed for successful communication and feeding. These skills can affect all aspects of daily life, from communicating basic needs to developing social skills and friendships to progress in school. Areas of focus include but are not limited to the following: Receptive Language, Expressive Language, Apraxia of Speech, Swallowing and Feeding, Articulation and Phonology, Oral Motor, Pragmatic/Social Language, Memory, Cognition, Auditory Processing, Stuttering and Fluency, Children who have developmental delays or special needs often need help to improve their overall communication skills. Children who cannot express their wants and needs can become frustrated and demonstrate various behaviors to try and express themselves. A Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP) treats articulation and language delays, so the child can more easily share his/her wants, needs and feelings. If your child has feeding issues, a SLP can help make meal time an easier and more enjoyable experience for your child. What is a Speech Disorder? Disorders of speech are characterized by difficulty in producing speech sounds correctly, omitting or distorting sounds, or difficulty with producing a few sounds without sequence. Our therapist creates a General Articulation Treatment Procedure that includes the following steps: Assess the client’s articulation skills, Select the target speech sounds for modification, Prepare the materials for therapy (picture cards, worksheets, etc), Establish baselines with the client, Treat with different therapeutic approaches, Train parents on strategies, Who needs pediatric speech therapy? If you have concerns in one or more of the following areas, a referral to SLP services may be recommended: Articulation (pronunciation of speech sounds), Autism Spectrum Disorders, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Expressive Language (using words and sentences to express thoughts), Receptive Language (understanding concepts, following directions), Feeding, Chewing and Swallowing disorders, Hearing Loss, Oromyofunctional Disorders (tongue thrust), Literacy, Dyslexia, Resonance and Cleft Palate, Social Skills, Stuttering Disorders, Voice Disorders and Vocal Cord Dysfunction. How does speech therapy work? At Seashore Pediatric Therapy Center, we develop a treatment program that is specifically designed for each client and create a fun, enthusiastic learning environment that is rich in communicative opportunities, aimed at developing your child’s area of weakness. Through interactive games, puzzles, and floor play, activities are designed to improve your child’s underlying areas of weakness in expressive/receptive language, feeding/swallowing, and overall communication deficits. Interventions and sessions focus on crucial, every day skills that are important to the needs of both your child and family. At Seashore Pediatric Therapy Center, we recognize the importance of family involvement and education to ensure carryover when and where it really matters, at home and school with family and friends. What should I expect? Following an evaluation to assess each child’s strengths and areas of need, goals are formulated, and speech therapy is initiated to assist the child in reaching these goals. While speech therapy is goal-oriented and centered on each child’s individual areas of strengths and needs, each session allows not only for structured therapy activities, but it also encourages the child to express his or her own preferences while selecting these activities. The key to pediatric speech therapy, as with therapy in general, is to challenge the child while fostering a warm and welcoming environment. The child thus develops skills while having fun at the same time. When these two aspects of therapy remain in balance with each other, the child is able to make sustained progress toward the goals and ultimately the child is able to maximize his/her potential. -
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
What is Occupational Therapy? Occupational therapy (OT) is a skilled intervention that works with children of all ages, along with their families, to facilitate participation and independence in all of their daily life activities. The primary “occupations” of a child are self-care, play, social interaction, and school participation. Occupations are made up of all the small activities in between, including safely moving your body, following directions, transitioning between activities, and remaining calm, that enable children to develop life skills, learn, be creative, find enjoyment, and thrive! What makes Occupational Therapy unique? Occupational therapists utilize a knowledge base of anatomy, physiology, neurology, psychology, sensory processing, and motor development in order to analyze tasks and activities that children are having difficulty with. We specialize in breaking down the activity into component parts and identifying the areas of strength and weakness in order to address the skills and areas of concern. When can Occupational Therapy help? A child may benefit from OT when they have difficulty participating in day to day activities at home, school, or out in the community. These difficulties may be the result of developmental delays, acquired injuries, or challenges with sensory processing and/or emotional-behavioral regulation. Occupational therapists assess and utilize individualized interventions to help children develop and refine sensory processing and motor-based skills in order to allow for increased success with educational performance, independent self-care, happy relationships with others, and fun and safe exploration of their environment. Why Seashore Occupational Therapy? Our occupational therapists use a play-based approach to create an environment rich in sensorimotor opportunities, where your child will have fun participating in activities that develop their areas of weakness. What looks like your child swinging, jumping, climbing, and playing are intentional activities designed to improve underlying sensory processing, strength, balance, coordination, and overall motor planning. Interventions and sessions are always focused on skills that are valued and beneficial to meet the needs of your child and family. Most importantly, involvement and education of the parents/guardians is a priority to ensure carryover when and where it really matters… at home and school with a child’s family and friends! Who can benefit from Occupational Therapy? Our occupational therapists treat children with a variety of abilities. We enjoy working with any child who needs support to meet his or her full potential. Pediatric Occupational Therapy is recommended for children with: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorders, Learning Disabilities, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Hypotonia, Difficulty/limitations in the follow areas: Behavioral or emotional regulation, Fine motor coordination, Visual motor of visual perceptual, Motor planning and organization, Handwriting, Self-help, Feeding/eating, Transitions, Social interaction, Hand, upper extremity, and core strength. -
PHYSICAL THERAPY
What is Physical Therapy? Pediatric Physical Therapists work with children and their families to improve strength, balance, and endurance to help them reach their maximum potential to function independently and foster participation at home, school, and in the community. Physical Therapists use the process of examination, evaluation, diagnosis, and intervention to help promote healthy movement. What makes Pediatric Physical Therapy unique? The pediatric physical therapists at Seashore PTC, combine their knowledge of normal child development with their expertise in restoring motion to create a personalized plan for each child to help them reach their goals. They understand a wide variety of limitations, disabilities, and developmental delays and how they may subsequently effect normal neuromuscular development in a child. These PT’s specialize in helping the child and their families overcome the limitations, helping them reach their full potential. When can Physical Therapy help? A child who exhibits abnormal movement patterns including being unable to hold their head up, or holds it tilted to one side, does not crawl or walk, has stiff arms or legs, walks on their toes, has weak muscles, has poor balance, or is not reaching developmental milestones can benefit from physical therapy. Whether these limitations arise from delayed motor skill development, a traumatic injury, or a disease process or disorder, the physical therapists will help your child overcome them. Why Seashore Physical Therapy? Our physical therapists will address the family’s concerns and provide education for parents, siblings, and care-givers. They may address positioning during daily routines and activities, using equipment effectively, facilitate safety for the home and community so that your child’s gains inside the office span long after their appointment. The PT’s fun and engaging approach will help your child gain strength, increase their range of motion, improve their balance and coordination, and stimulate normal development without making it feel like a chore. The PT’s use creative and innovative methods adapted to your child’s specific needs to reach their goals. Who can benefit from PT? Our physical therapists treat children with a variety of abilities. We enjoy working with any child who needs support to meet his or her full potential. Pediatric Physical Therapy is recommended for children with: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Gross Motor Delay, Torticollis, Neuromuscular Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Orthopedic Conditions, Genetic Syndromes including Downes Syndrome, Developmental Delays, Erb’s Palsy, Scoliosis, Clubfoot, Dropfoot, or Toe-walking