Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is pediatric rehabilitation?

Pediatric rehabilitation is a medical specialty focused on helping children ages recover from, or adapt to, a variety of illnesses, diseases, genetic disorders and injuries.

What medical specialty treats children who need rehabilitation services?

At Kennedy Krieger, children who need rehabilitative services are treated by a pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R), also known as a physiatrist or physical medicine, physician.  In addition, an interdisciplinary team of professionals work together to develop customized treatment plans.  These specialists include: 

• Occupational therapists
• Physical therapists
• Speech language pathologists
• Nurses
• Nurse practitioners

What is the difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy?

The largest difference between physical therapy and occupational therapy is that physical therapy focuses on improving an individual’s ability to move their body (walking, moving easier, improving function) while occupational therapy focuses on improving an individual’s activities of daily living (eating, bathing, teeth brushing).

How long will my child need therapy?

The therapy plan is customized to each patient. During each visit, your child’s therapist will work with you to identify your priorities so that specific, meaningful, and measurable goals can be developed. The goals will focus on improving participation in particular activities at home and in the community, and will determine the how long therapy will take.

What types of issues does speech therapy address?

Speech therapy addresses delays or disinterest in communicating, poor language skills, poor social skills, poor feeding habits, difficulty chewing or swallowing, tongue thrust and many other issues.