Pediatric Therapy for Children of All Ages

Munson Healthcare offers pediatric therapy for children of all ages - for any need. Our multidisciplinary team of physical, occupational, and speech therapists creates an environment that encourages learning while still allowing children to play and have fun.

We work closely with parents and caregivers to help every child reach his or her unique goals. Including parents and caregivers as an integral part of the team means children receive more opportunities — with home activities and exercises — to reach their highest potential.

Our highly trained and experienced pediatric therapy team has years of experience improving the lives of children with conditions such as:

• Apraxia

• Articulation/ phonology deficits

• Auditory processing disorders

• Autism spectrum disorders

• Cerebral palsy

• Cognitive impairments

• Developmental delays

• Down syndrome

• Dysarthria

• Expressive/receptive language disorders

• Feeding disorders

• Genetic syndromes

• Neurological problems

• Orthopedic problems

• Pediatric cognitive disorders

• Pediatric feeding therapy

• Pediatric traumatic brain injury

• Sensory disorders

• Spasticity

• Speech and language delays

• Tongue thrusting

• Torticollis

• Voice and resonance disorders

• Weakness/hypotonia

Our specially trained pediatric therapists help children increase their chances of succeeding at home, at school, and in their communities.

Specialized Pediatric Physical Therapy

We treat musculoskeletal problems to assist children with their gross motor skills. This helps them with daily mobility activities, including developmental skills such as rolling, crawling, and sitting, as well as walking, balance, and coordination skills.

Our specialized pediatric physical therapy techniques include:

• Adaptive play activity training to build strength

• Equipment assessment

• Flexibility exercises to increase range of motion

• Gait analysis and training

• Safety and prevention programs

• Serial casting

• Torticollis and plagiocephaly treatment

• Use of adaptive devices and bracing

Occupational Therapy Expertise for Children

Pediatric occupational therapy provides child-centered therapy focused on reaching or regaining the maximum level of independence and improving basic skill levels.

We focus on functional skills that are important to each child to support health, well-being, and development. These skills include dressing, fine motor skills, play, and self-care skills, such as brushing teeth and toileting.

Our team provides therapy for all conditions, including developmental delays, injury-related needs, and emotional-behavioral needs. We also provide treatment for children with sensory integration and processing difficulties.

Using sensory integration therapies personalized to each child’s needs, Munson Healthcare’s occupational therapists help children improve their ability to interact, accept, and process new information from environment.

Speech-Language Pathology Improves Outcomes

Munson Healthcare’s speech-language pathologists provide exceptional care for children with hearing or speech difficulties. We also include caregivers in our sessions to help reinforce goals and learning outside of the therapy setting.

We take a child-centered treatment approach, helping children of all ages achieve their maximum level of independence despite speech, language, and other disorders, including:

• Speech disorders that result in difficulty with articulation, phonology, fluency, resonance, and/or voice disorders.

• Language disorders that involve challenges with comprehension and/or use of spoken, written and/or symbol systems.

• Cognitive disorders that lead to deficits in the areas of memory, attention, organization, problem-solving/reasoning, and executive functioning.

• Oral motor function (movement of the lips, tongue, jaw, and cheeks) deficits that may result in decreased speech intelligibility or swallowing disorders.

Our specialized therapists evaluate and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication, and swallowing disorders including:

• Apraxia

• Articulation/phonology deficits

• Auditory processing disorder

• Cleft lip and palate

• Cognitive impairment, including concussion and brain injury

• Dysarthria

• Expressive/receptive language disorders

• Stuttering

• Tongue thrusting

• Voice and resonance disorders

Specialty Therapy Programs

Our team uses specialized treatments, such as Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC), to supplement or replace speech, if needed. We offer several other specialty therapy programs at Munson Healthcare such as pediatric feeding therapy, aquatic therapy, or casting and splinting for stretching, as well as:

Constraint-induced Movement Therapy

This type of therapy involves constraining the unaffected arm with a removable cast to force use of the affected arm for activities of daily living tasks. Research has shown consistent improvement in functional independence in children with semi-paralysis of one side of the body associated with conditions such as cerebral palsy.

Our emphasis throughout this specialized therapy is whole body improvement. We know that the development and use of arms affects the core and lower body development. This therapy may be appropriate for three-year-olds to adolescents who can actively open their hand to grasp an object and are able to follow directions.

Interactive Metronome

This treatment tool is used for sensory processing, working memory, attention and concentration, processing speed, motor planning and sequencing, balance, and coordination. Treatment may be provided by occupational therapists or speech therapists with an interactive metronome certification.

Enhanced Services in Kingsley and Traverse City in Collaboration With Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation 

Better-than-ever specialized and coordinated care is what our patients can expect with our expanded collaboration with one of the largest and most comprehensive rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. Our health care team works closely with experts from Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation to enhance rehab services for our northern Michigan communities.

Our health care team includes physiatrists and physician assistants who provide integrated, coordinated, and high-quality rehabilitation. Their expertise includes complex medical conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons.

Our enhanced pediatric therapy services are available in Traverse City.

Learn More about Pediatric Rehabilitation Services

For more information about Munson Healthcare’s pediatric therapy services, contact one of our team members at the following locations. Please click on a location below for more information and contact details.