When children do not meet expected developmental milestones, parents may feel concerned and uncertain about next steps. Specialists at Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation have outlined the differences between physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies to help families understand available interventions.
Cora Tardiff, a registered occupational therapist with Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation, explained that “Occupational therapy helps children develop fine motor abilities, sensory processing skills, coordination and the ability to do self-care tasks. Therapists work closely with children and their families to create personalized strategies that promote independence, confidence and participation at home, school and in the community.”
Physical therapy is focused on building strength, coordination, balance and mobility. Kelsey Leader, lead pediatric physical therapist at Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation, said: “Physical therapists work with children of all ages with developmental delays, injuries or conditions that affect movement and posture. We also help by checking how each child moves, suggesting the right equipment like braces or walkers, and making sure it fits and works well. This helps children stay safe, become more independent and take part in activities.”
Speech-language pathologists support communication as well as feeding skills. Hannah Thompson, lead clinical speech-language pathologist (SLP), noted: “Speech-language pathologists are experts in how the mouth and throat work, which makes them uniquely qualified to help with both speaking and eating. They can support verbal and nonverbal communication, assist infants with latching or transitioning after feeding tubes, and help children who struggle with chewing, swallowing or food texture sensitivities, even picky eating.”
According to Leader, signs that a child may need rehabilitation services include missing key milestones such as rolling over by 4-6 months or walking by 12-18 months for physical therapy; difficulties with fine motor skills or self-care tasks for occupational therapy; or trouble pronouncing sounds clearly or using language for speech-language therapy.
To access these services at Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation clinics—a part of Baptist Health Jacksonville—families need a referral from their child’s physician before scheduling an appointment. Leader explained: “To see a Wolfson Children’s Rehab therapist, you’ll need a referral from your child’s physician; this may be their pediatrician, family doctor or another specialist. Once you have the referral, you can schedule an appointment at any one of our clinic locations that works best for your family.” She added that initial appointments typically last around 90 minutes during which experts assess needs collaboratively.
Leader emphasized a collaborative approach: “At Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation we practice family-centered care and treat the child as a whole,” she said. “While our therapists specialize in their respective areas we collaborate across disciplines and integrate all aspects of the child’s goals into each session providing the most comprehensive support and opportunities for success.”
Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation also offers specialized programs such as its Early Autism Intervention Program for young children showing signs associated with autism spectrum disorder or other neurodevelopmental concerns. Thompson listed possible indicators including limited eye contact or few spoken words.
For those needing intensive rehabilitation options—including treatment after neurological injury—Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation Intensive Therapy Center provides various approaches such as Therasuit therapy (which uses supportive suits during daily sessions), post-rhizotomy care following surgery to reduce muscle spasticity through targeted strengthening exercises over three weeks of daily therapy sessions; as well as constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) aimed at improving function in weakened limbs.
Leader described what sets their program apart: “What makes our intensive therapy program unique is that each child’s intensive program is individualized to their functional abilities and goals,” she said. “We meet the child where they are and assist them in progressing them to become more functional at home school or out in the community.”
Families interested in learning more about Wolfson Children’s Rehabilitation services can call 904.202.4200 for general information or inquire specifically about intensive therapies by calling 904.271.7500.
