5 kinds of pediatric and adolescent outpatient services for kids with disabilities or serious illness

Do you have a child who could benefit from outpatient rehabilitation services? If your child has a disability, serious illness or injury, finding the right services is key to getting the help they need. Outpatient services provide essential care without requiring overnight stays. This means your child can get professional support without major disruptions to their routine. Outpatient services serve children of all ages, from birth through high school and beyond. Do you need to find a new preschool for your young child or a physical therapy provider for your injured high schooler? Regardless of your needs, outpatient services can offer great solutions. Learning more about the different kinds of outpatient services can help you find solutions that work for your child.

Most effective types of outpatient treatment for pediatric and adolescent patients

• Aquatic therapy — Children with disabilities can often benefit from physical therapy. However, traditional PT may be too high-impact. If your child needs therapeutic treatment that doesn’t put too much stress on their body, aquatic therapy could be a great option. Aquatic therapy is conducted in a pool environment, and involves a range of aerobic exercises. Your child’s aquatic therapy sessions can be tailored to their specific needs and condition.
• Vital stimulation — Does your child have a hard time eating? In some cases, a serious injury or disability can lead to dysphagia. Dysphagia is an umbrella term for swallowing difficulties. These can vary in severity. Your child may experience coughing fits whenever they swallow, or they may have trouble swallowing at all. Some people only experience dysphagia around a few foods and drinks. Others experience it with nearly everything. Dysphagia can lead to malnutrition, dehydration and other serious health concerns. If your child is having trouble swallowing, vital stimulation may be necessary. Vital stimulation is a form of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). The electrical stimulation helps engage key muscles in the neck that enable swallowing. Over time, this treatment can retrain the muscles and restore full swallowing functionality.
• Assistive technology — Assistive technology refers to technology that helps people with disabilities communicate and access their environment. Assistive technology can offer many major benefits for your child. Common uses include improving classroom communication and enabling computer access, which will increase their independence. Your child’s care provider can help recommend and provide specialized assistive technology. 
• Serial casting — Does your child need help improving their range of motion? Serial casting may help. Serial casting is a treatment strategy often used in conjunction with physical therapy to improve joint flexibility. Depending on your child’s condition, serial casting may be recommended by their physician. This treatment method can be great for children with conditions that limit mobility. Commonly treated conditions include cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy. With serial casting, your child will wear a cast that is changed on an approximately weekly basis. Unlike traditional casting, the purpose is not to limit mobility. Instead, serial casting actually encourages movement and stimulates stretching. The cast will hold the limb in a position that stretches any tight muscles or stiff joints. Each time the cast is replaced, it will increase the stretch based on your child’s current capabilities. Over time, this technique can offer significant results. Serial casting also tends to be appealing due to its undemanding outpatient nature. After having their cast replaced, your child can go about their weekly routine as usual while continuing to receive other treatments. For best results, treatment providers often incorporate continuous therapy even while the cast is being worn.
• CIMT — CIMT stands for constraint-induced movement therapy. This rehabilitative treatment works to help improve functionality in the extremities. To achieve this goal, CIMT involves constraining the non-affected extremity. This encourages the patient to engage and move their affected arm. For example, a specialist might ask your child to try catching a ball while their non-affected arm is constrained. This can help improve coordination with the affected arm. Diagnoses that may qualify for CIMT include stroke, traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis. All of these conditions can limit hand functionality and coordination. Does your child have trouble using their hands? CIMT could be valuable. In one study, CIMT resulted in significant improvements in the functional use of the upper limb in daily activities. It also led to improved functional independence in patients.

Get access to the pediatric or adolescent outpatient services your child needs at Ability KC

At Ability KC, we’re committed to helping each patient discover and unlock their potential. We offer a range of programs for children as well as integrated school programs such as our therapeutic preschool. With our help, your child can start making progress towards their goals and long term improvement.

Ability KC is a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF). We also hold a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.