Sensational Kids Therapy

Pediatric Occupational TherapyHelping children reach their full potentialOccupational therapy is designed to address the functional skills of the whole child and assist each child in working to his/her potential. Therapy builds on the strengths of each child while addressing areas that may need to be enhanced. The unique needs of each family are also considered in tailoring a program to fully enhance development.When a child appears to be capable but is not performing to his/her potential underlying foundational skills may be underdeveloped causing a child to work harder than others to produce the same results. When the frustration becomes too high the child may simply refuse to try. Some of the typical symptoms observed by parents and teachers include the following:Tedious; laborious; or messy handwritingDifficulty completing homeworkFinding it hard to get thoughts down on paperTrouble attending to the task at hand or staying focusedReluctance to participate in sportsNeed for more repetition than others to learn a new taskTrouble staying seated in a chairDifficulty with compliance which may or may not result in tantrumHypersensitivity to tags in clothes; seams in socks; hair washing; unexpected touchPrefers to touch rather than be touchedLeans into other people; walls or furniturePoor balance and/or coordinationDifficulty with visual spatial skillsSlow processing of auditory informationTrouble with spellingDifficulty understanding subtractionAn evaluation by a qualified occupational therapist can decipher which developmental components need strengthening in order to make a given task easier and more automatic. If foundational skills are underdeveloped working merely to correct symptoms; such as practicing letter formation over and over; may add to a child’s frustration. Foundational skills contribute not only to the ability to do a task in a coordinated manner but also to the smoothness and efficiency of movement. When a child uses cognitive energy for what should be automatic body movement the output will generally become labored; inefficient and slower than expected. Many bright children develop excellent compensatory strategies but will continue to struggle. If a child needs to think about how to position his/her body for a specific task rather than simply adapt one's body appropriately each task he/she will require additional conscious body awareness and cognitive energy to perform.Some children whose motor skills appear to be average or even superior may suffer from aspects of poor sensory integration which many contribute to learning and behavioral problems such as inattention or the inability to sit still.Children who have trouble processing touch; smell; light or sound may benefit from sensory regulation strategies. These may be designed by the expert staff at Sensational Kids Therapy and are usually incorporated in a home program to be used to regulate behavior as it occurs in a home or school setting.Pediatric Physical TherapyHelping children reach their full potentialPhysical Therapy is the remediation of impairments and functional limitations to promote mobility and improve motor performance; alleviate movement dysfunction or pain; and improve quality of life through a process of examination; evaluation; diagnosis; and procedural interventions. Interventions are individualized based on the purposeful and skilled interaction between the patient/client and includes communication; documentation; and patient/client related education and instruction.The Physical Therapist will select and administer specific tests and measures. Through a clinical reasoning process; the therapist will establish a plan of care; select interventions; predict optimal outcomes and recommend adjunctive services (if necessary) to improve activities of daily living and increase participation in home; school and community. The Scope of Practice includes but is not limited to early intervention for:Developmental Delay of Gross and Fine Motor Skill AcquisitionTorticollis/PlagiocephalyDevelopmental Coordination DisorderGait Disturbances (delayed walking; gait deviations including persistent toe- walking)Cerebral PalsyEarly Intervention for GMFCS I-IIIAutistic Spectrum Disorders/Delay in Play SkillsNeuromuscular DiseaseCIMT/HABIT Treatment; Program Planning and Follow-upWords In Motion (OT/Speech Group)Each group session lasts 50-60 minutes for 8-12 consecutive weeks. Our speech therapist and occupational therapist team design an integrated; child-centered approach providing an engaging social atmosphere that emphasizes sensory and language development through team building activities with peers. Groups are limited to 4-6 children with similar ages and developmental levels. This group is currently meeting on Mondays at 5:00 pm. Please contact our office if you are interested in these group (202-244-8089).