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.
programs
Pediatric Pelvic Floor Therapy
Cleveland Clinic's Children's pediatric occupational therapy (OT) team provides specialized care for children with bladder, bowel, and pelvic floor concerns. We know these issues can be sensitive and our team is always compassionate and understanding. Our team uses proven, engaging therapies to create personalized plans that improve your child's quality of life.
Conditions treated
Pelvic floor therapy might be helpful for children ages 4 and older who are experiencing these symptoms:
- Bowel incontinence
- Bedwetting
- Chronic constipation
- Sensory challenges around toileting
- Frequent bladder infections (UTIs)
- Abdominal pain, gas, or bloating
- Pelvic pain or muscle spasm
- Difficulty fully emptying bladder or bowels
- Stress urinary incontinence (loss of urine with sneezing, laughing, coughing, physical activity, etc.)
- Urinary frequency, urinary urgency, or urinary retention
- Urge incontinence (strong urge to urinate with the inability to make it to the bathroom in time)
- Withholding behaviors of stool and/or urine
What to expect
Our team will create a custom OT plan after a thorough evaluation of your child. Initially, there will be 3-5 weekly sessions, which will be reduced as your child progresses. Sessions are 45-60 minutes, and your child will receive an individualized home exercise plan to maximize their success. Treatment will be tailored to your child.
These treatment strategies could be used during the sessions:
- Urotherapy (bladder/bowel education)
- Biofeedback (muscle control)
- Exercises (strength/posture)
- Manual therapy (muscle relief)
- Self-regulation (relaxation)
Make an appointment
Discuss your concerns with your child’s doctor (urologist, gastroenterologist, or primary care physician) to see if pelvic floor therapy is a good fit. Together, you can decide if a referral is needed. If so, your doctor can provide a prescription for outpatient pediatric pelvic floor OT.
After the prescription is sent, or if you have any questions, please call 216.448.6378. Leave a detailed message, and a team member will call you back to schedule an evaluation or answer your questions.
Locations
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.
2025 dates coming soon!
Additional Information
For any additional questions regarding community education, please email pedsvirtualeducation@ccf.org.
