Benefits

Could My Child Benefit from Occupational Therapy?

If your child is having difficulties in one or more of these areas, they may benefit from OT.

• Delayed fine motor development for their age
• Trouble holding a fork or spoon
• Difficulty holding writing utensils
• Poor drawing or writing skills
• Poor body awareness
• Falls, trips, or bumps into things often
• Poor hand-eye coordination
• Easily distracted
• Difficulty staying on task
• Can’t sit still
• Trouble following directions
• Avoids loud sounds
• Dislikes tags on clothes
• Picky eater
• Difficulty dressing
• Difficulty performing self-care
• Trouble following a routine
• Difficulty managing feelings

Developmental Milestone Guide

Is My Child on Track?

Every child develops at a different rate.  Some children need special help.  The following is a guideline of the average age when children acquire fine motor, social, and self-care skills.  The checklist below offers a guide to track your child’s progress.

If you have questions about your child’s development or if your child has not reached the suggested milestones, call us at 509.942.8474.  We can schedule an evaluation and determine if your child would benefit from occupational therapy or if their development is on track.

Occupational Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

What is Autism?

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a neurological and developmental disorder that impacts a child’s ability to interact with others, communicate, learn, and function in the world around them.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism now affects an estimated 1 in 36 children in the United States.

We know each child with autism has a distinct set of strengths and challenges and requires individualized care.

Our team’s loving and patient approach to pediatric therapy supports the unique needs of children on the spectrum.  Our tailored treatment plans help children with ASD improve their motor, sensory processing, social, and communication skills.  Through therapy, we help children gain confidence, independence, and grow skills for life.  We also partner with parents to provide education, resources, and support.

At Agape Pediatric Therapy we strive to unlock each child’s potential, promoting growth and a positive relationship with the world around them.

Occupational Therapy for Cerebral Palsy

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological condition that affects a child’s ability to move, balance, and maintain postural control.  CP is caused by damage or abnormal development in the parts of the brain that control movement.  These events can happen before, during, or shortly after birth when the brain is still developing.  There are several different types of Cerebral Palsy including spastic, dyskinetic, ataxic, and mixed.  CP is the most common motor disability in childhood.  While there is no cure for CP, early treatment is vital to help children reach their full potential.

Our specialized treatment approach focuses on improving functional abilities and quality of life for children with Cerebral Palsy.

Cerebral palsy affects a child’s muscle tone, posture, movement, balance, swallowing, speaking, and motor skills.  Our pediatric speech therapists use proven techniques to help children improve their ability to eat, speak, and communicate.  Our physical therapists help children learn how to roll, sit, crawl, and walk.  Occupational therapists help children with CP learn how to perform everyday tasks like playing, writing and dressing.  Therapy can also support cognitive development including memory, problem solving, and organizational skills.

Our goal at Agape Pediatric Therapy is not only to address the immediate needs of children with Cerebral Palsy, but to also provide education and resources so parents are empowered to help their children have the brightest possible future.

Occupational Therapy for Developmental Delay

What is a Developmental Delay?

A developmental delay is when a child is slow to reach one or more developmental milestones, compared to their same-age peers.  Delays may involve motor function, speech and language, social and emotional, play, and thinking skills.  According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 6 children in the US has some form of developmental delay.  Early detection and treatment is vital to helping children catch up and reach developmental milestones.

Our team of pediatric therapists, PTs, OTs, and SLPs, have extensive experience evaluating and treating children with developmental delays.

When a child is not reaching motor, speech, or social milestones as expected, this can be concerning for parents.  At Agape we empower parents to trust their instincts vs “wait and see”.  An evaluation can determine if a child’s development is delayed or on track.  If a child does present with developmental delays, we will create a treatment plan and work closely with the parents to provide hands-on patient care, parent education and support, and a home program to achieve goals and meet milestones.

At Agape we know every child develops a little differently and some need a little extra support.  Our team loves helping children with developmental delays learn new skills, catch up to their peers, and reach their full potential.

Occupational Therapy for Down Syndrome

What is Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which a child is born with an extra chromosome number 21.  The extra chromosome is associated with cognitive, communication, and motor delays, as well as an increased risk for other health problems.  Down syndrome, also called trisomy 21, happens by chance and occurs in about 1 in every 700 babies.

We celebrate the uniqueness of every child and find fulfillment in watching individuals with Down syndrome experience the significant benefits of pediatric therapy.

Children with that special 21^st chromosome sometimes need a little extra help and will often benefit from occupational, physical, and speech therapy.  Occupational therapy helps children increase independence with tasks like feeding, dressing, and writing.  Physical therapy helps children gain strength and postural control needed for crawling, walking, and running.  Speech and language therapy helps children with Down syndrome improve their ability to communicate and interact with their parents, siblings, and peers.

At Agape Pediatric Therapy our goal is to empower children with Down syndrome to reach their full potential and live full and active lives.

Occupational Therapy for Sensory Processing Disorder

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is when the brain has difficulty understanding or processing sensory information received through the senses.  The different senses include; visual, auditory, tactile, vestibular, what we feel inside of our bodies (interoception), and the ability to know how our body is moving (proprioception).  Children with SPD have difficulty with one or more of the senses, causing them to react too much or too little to stimulus.  Signs for SPD can be present as early as birth and the impact can change through the developmental stages.

Our OT Team is highly trained and experienced working with children of all ages with varying forms of sensory processing disorder.

SPD can impact movement, attention, emotional regulation, behavior, and contribute to developmental delays.  Children with SPD may present with clumsiness, unusually high or low energy levels, frequent meltdowns, and social challenges.  They may dislike getting their hands dirty, avoid playing with slime or playdough, and not like balance activities or swings.  Children with SPD may be picky eaters, sensitive to smells, not tolerate noisy environments or tags on clothing.

At Agape we challenge a child’s sensory system with the goal of promoting improved regulation and more successful participation in daily activities.