Overview
Outpatient pediatric therapy is valuable for children who:
- Have experienced serious injuries.
- Have chronic and acute conditions that limit their development.
- Are experiencing developmental delays (e.g., walking or speaking late).
- Have learning difficulties.
- Have trouble performing activities of daily living (e.g., bathing or dressing).
Our Team
About our pediatric outpatient therapy team
A team of specialists will evaluate each child and then an individualized treatment plan will be formulated. Specialists involved in your child’s therapy may include:
Speech/language pathologists assess how children communicate with the world by evaluating both understanding and use of language, as well as addressing feeding and swallowing abilities, oral motor skills and respiration. Speech/language pathologists also serve children with hearing loss and central auditory processing disorder.
Physical therapists work with infants and children to enhance flexibility, strength, coordination, balance, endurance, gross motor skills, and mobility through play and exercise.
Occupational therapists evaluate fine motor, play, sensory processing and self-care skills in infants and children with a variety of diagnoses and levels of disabilities. Occupational therapists aim to maximize functional independence by teaching adaptive techniques and using adaptive equipment. Additionally, occupational therapists evaluate and treat feeding difficulties; improving tolerance for tastes and textures, as well as self-feeding habits.
Recreational therapists promote increased functional independence, wellness, leisure activities, and recreation through developmental play, group recreation, exercise, and field trips.
Music and art therapists encourage children to express their feelings and develop self-esteem using enjoyable, creative activities during individual or group treatment sessions.
Aquatic (water) therapists work with children in our therapeutic pool. Sessions may be held with the aquatic specialist alone or in conjunction with a physical, occupational, speech/language, or recreational therapist. The warm water promotes relaxation and ease of muscle movement, assists with strengthening muscles, and advances land-based functional goals.
Adaptive equipment specialists, in conjunction with our other therapists, help children reach their functional goals by designing and fabricating special equipment or adapting standard or existing equipment.
Appointments & Locations
Referrals for outpatient therapy
Outpatient therapy must be ordered by a physician. If you think your child may benefit from outpatient therapy, please ask your child’s doctor for a referral to Outpatient Therapy Services at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation. To learn more please call 216.636.5437 (KIDS).
Locations
Community Education
Is This Typical
Is This Typical is a free monthly opportunity where Cleveland Clinic Children's physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists discuss what to expect from your child at specific developmental age ranges. Classes are held the first Wednesday of every month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom. These classes are for parents, caregivers, relatives, students or anyone wanting to learn more about development in children. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask specific questions about their child's development. Registration is required.
In this class, you will learn about typical gross and fine motor development, speech and language milestones, atypical behaviors for all ages, and ways to facilitate developmental skills at home. Sessions are broken into these age ranges: 0-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and 3-5 years.
- View upcoming Is This Typical classes and register online here. To register by phone, please call 440.356.0670, option 4.
Feeding Development
In this class, you will learn feeding development for birth through preschool ages, breastfeeding/bottle feeding and transition to solids. You will also learn when to seek additional help with feeding.
- View upcoming Feeding Development classes and register online here. To register by phone, please call 440.356.0670, option 4.
Virtual Education Series
Join Cleveland Clinic Children’s Therapy Services' virtual community education classes on current topics of interest! These talks are free of charge and open to the public. Classes are held virtually via Zoom.
Class: Tummy Time Tips
Date: Thursday, May 11 | 7-8 p.m.
During this class you will learn:
- What is tummy time.
- The benefits of tummy time.
- How to address tummy time challenges.
- Basics of infant development.
- The importance of creeping.
Registration required. Register online.
Class: Picky Eating - Solutions for Young Children
Date: Thursday, August 17 | 7-8 p.m.
During this class you will learn:
- Why my child's relationship with food is important.
- Why good nutrition is key to development.
- Clinically effective techniques to improve eating habits.
- Strategies for dealing with difficult mealtime behavior.
- How to structure family mealtimes for success.
- Creative recipes for the picky child.
- When and how to seek additional support.
Registration required. Register online.
Class: Late Language - What to do when "repeat after me" doesn't work
Date: Thursday, November 9 | 7-8 p.m.
During this class you will learn:
- The basics of typical speech/language development from birth through preschool.
- Red flags or risk factors for prolonged language and speech delays.
- Many practical strategies to promote communication across settings.
- How to use play skills to promote speech and language development.
Registration required. Register online.
Additional Information
For any additional questions regarding community education, please email pedsvirtualeducation@ccf.org.
