Services Offered
Arbor Therapy

What Is Speech Language Therapy

Speech therapy, also known as speech-language therapy, is a specialized healthcare profession that focuses on evaluating, diagnosing, and treating communication and swallowing disorders. Speech therapists, or speech-language pathologists (SLPs), work with individuals of all ages who have difficulties with speech, language, voice, or swallowing.

Speech therapy targets a wide range of communication and swallowing issues, including:

  1. Speech Disorders: These can include articulation disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds), fluency disorders (such as stuttering), and voice disorders (problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice).

  2. Language Disorders: These can involve difficulties with understanding language (receptive language) or using language to communicate (expressive language). Language disorders can affect vocabulary, grammar, and the ability to form sentences.

  3. Cognitive-Communication Disorders: These include difficulties with memory, attention, problem-solving, and other cognitive functions that impact communication.

  4. Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia): Speech therapists also work with individuals who have difficulty swallowing, which can be caused by various medical conditions.

Speech therapy can benefit individuals with a wide range of conditions, including developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, cleft palate, and voice disorders. The goal of speech therapy is to improve communication and swallowing abilities, enhance quality of life, and help individuals achieve their full potential in social, academic, and professional settings.

Feeding Therapy, Sensory-Motor and Dysphagia Therapy

  • Oral motor deficits
  • Selective eating
  • Sensory processing and the impact on eating
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Therapeutic feeding techniques
  • We have have highly trained and experienced speech and occupational therapists that provide feeding therapy
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Common terms and concerns that feeding therapy may be associated with (not an exhaustive list):

  • Nutrition
  • Weight Gain
  • Aspiration
  • Dysphagia
  • Feeding Duration and Frequency
  • Tethered Oral Tissues
  • Sensory Needs during Feeds
  • Feeding Equipment
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Craniofacial Anomalies
  • Suck, Swallow, Breathe Pattern

Arbor has clinicians in both Chandler and Glendale with training to provide infant feeding therapy.

Click link from the AMERICAN SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION regarding Feeding and Swallowing Disorders in Children for more information.

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Occupational Therapy

The profession of occupational therapy utilizes intentional, goal-oriented intervention to evaluate and treat clients to facilitate engagement in activities that support life participation. Below are just a few examples of areas that an occupational therapist may evaluate and provide intervention for:

  • Visual-motor skills
  • Visual-spatial awareness
  • Sensory needs
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Attention deficits
  • Fine motor skills (e.g., small object manipulation)
  • Academics related to neurological motor challenges
  • Handwriting skills
  • Hand positioning for optimal academic performance
  • Basic strengthening and fitness
  • Infants with a history of drug exposure, traumatic brain injury, stroke, cortical visual impairment, prematurity
  • Activities of daily living (e.g., washing hands, clothing management for toileting, feeding self, etc.)
  • TeleHealth options available
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Physical Therapy

The profession of physical therapy is a health field with the primary purpose of promoting optimal physical health and function through intervention to prevent, identify, assess, correct, or alleviate acute or prolonged movement dysfunction. Below are just a few areas that physical therapists evaluate and provide intervention in:

  • Relieve pain
  • Improve mobility
  • Address tiptoe walking and sitting on knees W sit
  • Prevent or recover from a sports injury
  • Prevent disability or surgery
  • Rehab after a stroke, accident, injury, or surgery
  • Work on balance to prevent a slip or fall
  • Learn to use assistive devices
  • Work hardening program
  • Maintenance program
  • Full sensory room
  • Fun factory gym for the Kids at all Outpatient clinic locations
  • Home Health
  • Telehealth Options available
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The Importance of Posture in Pediatric Feeding Therapy

Posture plays a crucial role in pediatric feeding therapy, influencing a child's ability to eat safely and effectively. Proper posture not only enhances the feeding experience but also promotes overall well-being and development. 

Why is Posture Important?

Posture impacts the entire feeding process, from the way food is chewed and swallowed to the prevention of choking and aspiration. Correct posture ensures that a child can breathe comfortably while eating, reduces the risk of reflux, and supports the development of oral motor skills. It also helps in maintaining attention and focus during mealtimes, which is essential for establishing positive feeding behaviors.

Posture is a fundamental aspect of pediatric feeding therapy, influencing a child's ability to eat safely and efficiently. By addressing postural challenges and implementing strategies to improve posture, therapists can enhance the feeding experience and promote positive feeding behaviors in children. Collaborative efforts between therapists can further optimize outcomes, ensuring that children receive comprehensive care that addresses their unique needs.

Kindergarten: Preparing children for kindergarten involves a combination of academic, social, and emotional readiness.

  • Academic Skills: Help children recognize letters, both uppercase and lowercase, and their sounds.
  • Basic numeracy: Introduce counting, number recognition, and simple addition and subtraction concepts.
  • Fine motor skills: Practice activities like cutting with scissors, coloring, and writing their name.
  • Social and Emotional Skills: Independence: Encourage children to do tasks like dressing themselves, using the restroom independently, and following simple instructions.
  • Social skills: Teach sharing, taking turns, and how to interact with peers and adults respectfully.
  • Emotional regulation: Help children identify and express their feelings in appropriate ways.
  • Vocabulary: Expand their vocabulary by introducing new words and concepts through reading and conversation.
  • Listening skills: Encourage children to listen attentively and follow directions.
  • Cognitive Skills: Problem-solving: Engage children in puzzles, games, and activities that require them to think critically and solve problems.
  • Memory: Play memory games and activities that help improve their memory skills.
  • Physical Development: Gross motor skills: Encourage activities like running, jumping, and climbing to develop coordination and strength.
  • Fine motor skills: Practice activities that strengthen hand muscles, such as drawing, coloring, and using playdough.
  • Daily Routine and Structure: Establish a daily routine that includes regular mealtimes, nap times, and structured activities to help children adjust to the kindergarten schedule.
  • Readiness for Learning: Foster a love for learning by reading to children regularly and exposing them to a variety of books and educational materials. Encourage curiosity and exploration through hands-on learning experiences and experiments.
  • Parent Involvement: Communicate regularly with your child's future kindergarten teacher to understand their expectations and how you can support your child's transition. Attend any orientation sessions or parent meetings offered by the kindergarten program to learn more about what to expect. By focusing on these areas and providing a supportive and nurturing environment, you can help prepare your child for a successful transition to kindergarten.
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