Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Pediatric occupational therapy helps children, ranging in age from newborns to teens, gain independence in daily routines while also strengthening the development of fine motor, sensory motor and visual motor skills necessary for participation in day-to-day activities. Adaptations for disability are also addressed through compensation training and adaptive equipment.

Our pediatric occupational therapy staff members are clinically trained to provide services to children with a variety of medical conditions and diagnoses related, but not limited to:

  • Attention deficit hyperactive disorder
  • Autism & pervasive developmental disorders
  • Birth injuries, birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities 
  • Cerebral palsy and other chronic illnesses
  • Coordination disorders
  • Developmental delays
  • Down syndrome
  • Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
  • Learning difficulties, dyslexia, dysgraphia 
  • Sensory processing disorders
  • Traumatic injuries (brain or spinal cord)
  • Visual impairments

Our Services

Early Intervention Occupational Therapy for babies and toddlers is to establish foundational skills necessary for overall development, large and fine motor coordination, vision and perception, and nervous system regulation. Developmental testing, therapy, home programs, and parent training are part of our program.

  • Gross Motor Coordination Training for posture, balance, running, jumping, as well as eye-hand and eye-foot coordination training.
  • Fine Motor Coordination Training to develop mature hand grasp patterns, pencil grasp and control, handwriting, cutting, coloring, and typing/computer use.
  • Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Skills Training such as buttoning, tying shoelaces, dressing, eating, utensil use, grooming, as well as time management, organizational and memory skill development for daily independence including self-care and homework.
  • Visual Skill Training for oculomotor control for following lines of print, copy, and left-right directionality, as well as visual perceptual training for spatial awareness and understanding of math concepts.
  • Sensory Integration therapeutic activities and sensory diets to help your child with increasing tolerance for touch during grooming, improving self-regulation of alert/calm versus distressed states, improving adaptation to various senses (movement, sound, taste, touch, smell, and vision),  tolerance of sensory rich environments, sleep issues, and transitions. Sound and listening therapies are also available for children who are hypersensitive or non-responsive to sound and speech.
  • Aquatic therapy is therapy that takes place in a swimming pool. Performing usual therapy activities in the water is sometimes easier and works better for some children, helping them reach their movement goals.
  • Positioning training includes use of adaptive equipment for positioning, handling and transportation of the child.

Family education includes home programs and activities, positioning, parent education and support.

For more information about our pediatric occupational therapy programs, call (813) 707-9362 option 2.
South Florida Baptist Hospital Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation Center
1601 W. Timberlane Drive Suite 800
Plant City, FL 33566