Pediatric Rehabilitation Services

Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation

Arnot Health offers skilled Occupational, Physical, and Speech/Feeding Therapy to individuals' birth to 21 years with a variety of needs and diagnoses. Our team values a collaborative approach with the top priority being your child's development, play, learning, and overall performance. Pediatric Outpatient Therapy is provided on the St. Joseph's Hospital Campus (Elmira), Horseheads Medical Office Building, and Meade Rehabilitation Center (Bath). Teletherapy options are also available.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists (OTs) partner with children and their families to promote participation in occupations that are meaningful to them. Occupation refers to activities that support the health, well-being, and development of an individual (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2014). Children's occupations enable them to learn and develop life skills and are often acquired and observed in play.

OTs partner with caregivers, medical professionals, and educational systems to support the unique needs of children experiencing delays or challenges throughout development.

Through evidence-based and individualized interventions, modifications, and education, OTs promote engagement in meaningful activities across all areas of life and environments.

Arnot Health Occupational Therapists are trained to address:

Fine Motor Skills
Visual-Motor Skills
Play & Social Skills
Self-Help Skills (i.e., Dressing, Toileting, Feeding, etc.)
Cognitive Skill Impairments
Sensory Processing Differences
Emotional Regulation
Balance, Coordination, Strength, & Endurance
Body Awareness & Motor Planning

Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric Physical Therapists (PTs) work in collaboration with children and their families to promote a child's independence and active participation at home, school, and in the community. PTs are experts in movement, motor development, and body functions (i.e., strength, endurance, balance). They help to promote independence and participation through play. The focus of Pediatric Physical Therapy is on building strength, improving mobility, developing and restoring function, alleviating pain, and preventing or decreasing permanent physical disabilities.

Arnot Health Physical Therapists are trained to address:

Gross Motor Skills
Torticollis
Sports Injuries
Toe Walking
Range of Motion, Strength, & Muscle Tone Impairments
Postural Control & Positioning

Pediatric Speech and Feeding Therapy

Speech Therapists target speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders to help increase communication, cognition, and expression in everyday life. At Arnot Health, we offer specialized Speech Therapy services for children of all ages with delayed speech and language development, articulation disorders, and feeding/swallowing difficulties (food sensitivity, difficulty with bottle or breast feeding, gagging or refusal causing poor nutritional intake). Your child may benefit from one or more of the following:

Speech/language evaluation- assessment of receptive and expressive language abilities, speech sound production, fluency, and communication skills.
Swallowing evaluation-assessment of swallowing function and diet level (children with reflux, food aversions, and/or motor issues).

Speech Therapy services are available both in-person and online through teletherapy.

Arnot Health Speech-Language Pathologists are trained to address:

Expressive & Receptive Language
Articulation Disorders
Pragmatics & Social Skills
Stuttering
Augmentative & Alternative Communication
Oral Motor & Chewing Difficulties
Infant Feeding Assistance
Food Aversions & Refusals
Limited Diet & Food Repertoire
Gagging & Vomiting in Feeding

Pediatric Aquatic Therapy

Pediatric Occupational and Physical Therapists use aquatic therapy to enhance a child's functional abilities, working towards achieving a variety of motor and/or sensory goals. Our therapists use the properties of the warm water, including resistance, buoyancy, and hydrostatic pressure to enhance a child's therapy program and to provide a fun and natural environment! Pediatric Aquatic Therapy is offered at our Horseheads location.