Therapy Information

Many children who come to us need a combination of specialized therapies. At the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent, we offer both inpatient and outpatient programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, aquatic therapy and hippotherapy.

Occupational Therapy

The primary goal of occupational therapy (OT) is to increase a child’s independence in the daily activities of his or her life -- activities in the home, school or community. OT helps foster that independence by helping a child improve fine motor skills, cognition and sensory integration -- the ability to take in information through the senses. OT can also help a child with oral motor skills needed for feeding. Our occupational therapists also specialize in neurodevelopment training, positioning and visual perception skills.

Physical Therapy

While many occupational therapy activities are focused on fine motor skills such as holding a cup or a pencil, physical therapy (PT) builds strength, balance and coordination for gross motor activities. The goal of PT is to help children achieve independent movement. Our physical therapists are trained in serial casting and orthotics, transelectrical stimulation (TENS), hippotherapy, aquatic therapy and wound care.

Speech-Language Pathology

As infants, children cry to let us know that they are hurt or hungry or need to be changed. As children grow, their ability to talk allows them to share feelings of joy, happiness, desire, pain and sadness. Children who have speech difficulties can be easily frustrated by not being able to communicate. Speech therapy improves both language and oral motor skills for better communication. Our speech therapist can evaluate and treat children with feeding and swallowing issues, as well as cognitive -- or thinking skill issues. Children who may benefit from speech therapy include those with pervasive developmental disorders, autism, central auditory processing disorder, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, apraxia, head injury, hearing impairments and those with tracheotomies and ventilators. Speech therapists can offer early intervention, augmentative communication devices, behavior modification and exercises to encourage language development and improve oral motor skills, feeding and swallowing issues, and articulation.

Aquatic Therapy

Put a child in a swimming pool and you’re almost certain to be greeted with smiles and squeals. Most kids in aquatic therapy don’t understand that the buoyancy of the water helps them to move more independently. Or that the natural resistance of the water can help strengthen weakened muscles. Or that the warm water can help to relax stiff or spastic muscles. Instead, children who participate in aquatic therapy may simply think of workouts in the water as playtime.

Our aquatic therapy program is staffed by therapists who have training in water safety, aquatics—and fun!

Hippotherapy

Despite its name, hippotherapy does not involve the use of a giant hippopotamus. That really would be unexpected! Hippotherapy uses horses as a tool to help children improve their muscle strength, range of motion, balance, coordination and endurance. Other benefits of hippotherapy include increased verbal communication, better concentration and enhanced confidence and self-esteem.

Children with the following diagnoses may benefit from hippotherapy:

• Cerebral Palsy
• Down Syndrome
• Autism
• Spinal Cord and Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Developmental Delays and other Diagnosis

This outpatient therapy can be used as part of a physical, occupational or speech therapy treatment plan.

We offer hippotherapy at a covered, year-round facility that has treatment areas right outside the riding ring, allowing both the child and the therapist to take advantage of the benefits that riding a horse provides. Each young rider is assisted by one therapist trained in hippotherapy, one side-walker and one leader. Of course, in the child’s eyes, the most important member of this treatment team is the horse!

Our Two Feeding Programs

Feeding difficulties caused by physical or behavioral problems can hinder a child’s growth and development. These problems can make the dinner table feel like a battlefield. We offer two feeding programs to help children and families resolve feeding issues.

Inpatient Feeding Program

The Inpatient Feeding Program is structured to help children who need more intensive help in overcoming their feeding issues. Speech and occupational therapists will see the child two or four times per day at meal and snack times to work on oral preparation and feeding skills. Family members are encouraged to participate, providing consistency and preparation for continuing the child’s feeding program at home, making mealtime easier for everyone to swallow.

Outpatient Feeding Program

Our outpatient feeding program offers varying levels of intensity of services from daily intervention as part of our Day Treatment Program to more typical outpatient therapy sessions one-to-three times per week.