Physical, occupational and speech therapy

Aquatic therapy may be an option for children with muscle stiffness, muscle weakness, pain or mobility limitations. Aquatic therapy can be a fun way for your child to succeed at tasks that may be difficult in traditional therapy. The water provides additional support and the resistance of the water can help improve your child’s strength and muscle tone.

Cochlear implant and aural therapy helps children learn to communicate after cochlear implant surgery. Your child’s care team includes audiologists and speech therapists. Our audiologists are specially trained in providing consultation and programming of implantable hearing devices. And your child’s speech language pathologist specializes in speech therapy for children with severe hearing loss.

Hippotherapy combines the movements of a horse with therapeutic treatments from a physical, occupational or speech therapist. This type of therapy helps improve a child's muscle tone, balance posture, coordination and ability to vocalize.

Integrated listening therapy helps children gain improvements in thinking, communication, memory and organizational skills. Using music and movement, we create a personalized therapy plan for your child.

Therapists with Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital specialized in neuro-developmental treatment (NDT). NDT is an advanced therapeutic option for children who have developmental and movement difficulties related to central nervous system conditions (also known as neuro-muscular dysfunction). Each therapy session is personalized for your child’s needs.

Occupational therapists help infants and children develop and regain play and life skills. Your child has a personalized care plan that focuses on fine motor and daily living skills, such as playing, getting dressed, eating, writing and drawing. Other treatments may include neuro-developmental treatment (NDT), sensory integration, emotional support, splinting and sequential oral sensory (SOS) approach to feeding. Our care team is experienced working with children with many different needs, including children with autism and developmental delays.

Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on pelvic conditions in children. By 4 years old, most children have gained control over their bowel and bladder and have very few accidents. For some children, bowel and bladder control can be challenging. Pediatric pelvic floor physical therapists help your child retrain their muscles to work properly. Physical therapists can treat a wide range of pelvic floor conditions, including:

• Bed wetting
• Constipation
• Fecal incontinence
• Overactive bladder
• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary urgency

Physical therapists help children improve developmental and gross motor skills, such as rolling, crawling, walking, running and jumping. Your child’s care plan may focus on building strength, and improving flexibility, balance, coordination and posture. Specialized treatments may include neuro-developmental treatment (NDT), orthotics, aquatic therapy, joint and soft tissue work, and adaptive and assistive equipment. Your child’s therapist works one-on-one with your child to help make daily life easier.

Speech-language pathologists, also known as speech therapists, evaluate, diagnose and treat children with speech, communication, language and swallowing disorders. We specialize in language development, articulation, augmentative communication, cognitive development, behavior modification, feeding and swallowing dysfunction. Our specialists provide neuro-developmental treatment (NDT),  assessment and treatment of infants with feeding difficulties, sequential oral sensory (SOS) approach to feeding and more. If English is not your child’s first language, we provide bilingual speech therapy in Spanish at our clinic in Indianapolis.

Splinting may be recommended for your child to help improve or maintain range of motion, provide extra support to a joint or prevent deformity. Your child’s therapist works with you and your child’s doctor to create a care plan that’s right for your child.

Speech therapists with Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital provide stuttering therapy for children and teens. This specialized therapy targets the physical and emotional needs of your child. Our goal is to reduce fears, improve understanding of stuttering and strengthen communication skills.