Pediatric therapy services and treatments

We catch emerging issues early through evaluations and screenings. Our specialists get to know your child and your family to recommend individualized treatment.

• ADOS-2: Autism evaluation and diagnosis
• Adaptive equipment evaluation: To fit mobility devices for children such as wheelchairs, walkers and custom seating systems
• AAC (alternative and augmentative communication) evaluation: To provide tools to help with communication, including speech-generating devices
• Feeding evaluations: To assess the nutrition, eating habits and physical activity levels of children, particularly those with feeding difficulties or other related challenges

Physical activity is critical to a child's healthy development. Our specialists design individualized exercise programs to help your child build strength and coordination. Our therapies help improve:

• Balance
• Coordination
• Gait (how your child walks)
• Gross motor skills, such as running and jumping
• Posture
• Strength and endurance

Our physical therapy specialists use fun and engaging activities to help build independence. We use play to help your child become stronger and more confident.

Learn more about physical therapy.

We use occupational therapy techniques to help your child develop the skills they need for healthy and happy living. Our therapists provide personalized care designed to meet your child's needs. We help improve skills needed for:

• Fine motor tasks: Activities that use coordination and small muscle control, including activities like writing, cutting and drawing
• Organization: Planning tasks, managing school assignments and motor planning (remembering the steps in an activity)
• Self-care: Daily activities like eating, dressing and bathing
• Self-regulation: Managing reactions to sensory stimulation, such as sound, touch and smell

Learn more about occupational therapy.

Sometimes, children struggle with issues related to communicating. Our speech specialists create exercises that help children express themselves better. We offer:

• Articulation exercises: We show your child how to create specific sounds with their tongue.
• Augmentative communication: To build communication skills, our specialists use a range of methods and tools, including:
  • Computers and tablets
  • Nonspoken communications (facial expressions and communicative gestures and signs)
  • Pictures, symbols and graphics
• Language skill building: We use play and games to practice language skills.
• Literacy skill building: Our specialists use a variety of strategies and programs to help children decode, recognize and comprehend words.
• Mouth muscle strengthening: Our therapists work with your child to make the jaw, lips and tongue stronger.

Learn more about speech therapy.

We offer aquatic therapy for physical, occupational and even speech therapy. Exercises in the pool build strength and flexibility while supporting your child's weight.

Aquatic speech therapy enhances communication skills by using water's benefits to improve breath control, coordination and engagement. Plus, it’s fun and can significantly reduce anxiety!

Learn more about aquatic therapy.

Pediatric equine therapy uses interactions with horses to promote emotional, physical and cognitive development in children. It enhances communication, builds confidence and improves motor skills through guided activities, such as grooming horses, riding and sensory games.

We use food texture therapy to help your child with eating and swallowing. Specifically, we use SOS® Feeding Therapy to help children learn eating skills and to help families support them.

The majority of Sentara therapy centers require a physician’s referral. If your child is referred for therapy, your provider will write a referral or prescription and send it to the center of your choice. The Sentara scheduling team will then reach out to schedule the first appointment.

To avoid unexpected costs, we recommend checking with your insurance to verify the requirements for coverage, as well as to confirm the total number of sessions covered by your plan.

We also offer financial assistance and self-pay options if you do not have insurance or habilitative therapy is not covered by your plan.

Visit billing

For Tricare coverage, children must have an IEP from school or parents have to sign a letter stating they don’t have an IEP.

They should wear comfortable clothing.

Therapy sessions typically last 40 minutes.

Be sure to bring the following to their therapy appointment:

• Physician referral
• Health insurance card
• Photo ID (such as a driver's license)

Your therapist will send the initial evaluation report to your child’s doctor within 48 hours of their appointment. Progress reports are sent periodically.

More common questions