Inpatient Services

The Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit

The Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit cares for individuals from birth to young adulthood with decreased function from causes including brain disorders and injuries, spinal cord disorders and injuries, chronic pain, orthopedic surgery, and complex medical conditions that require ventilator assistance or tracheostomy tubes. Family training is an important aspect of the child’s admission, and care is coordinated with school and community providers prior to discharge to ensure a successful transition. 

Speech-Language Pathologists on the rehabilitation team conduct evaluations and treat speech, language, cognitive-linguistic disorders, and voice disorders including speaking valve use. They also coordinate oral motor and feeding/swallowing assessment and treatment, which may include completing Modified Barium Swallow studies and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluations of Swallowing. Speech-language pathologists work closely with the assistive technology department on the use of augmentative and alternative communication systems or technology to access the environment. Speech language services are provided through individual sessions as well as co-treatment sessions, when clinically appropriate. 

Neurobehavioral Unit (NBU)

The Neurobehavioral Unit (NBU), a 16-bed inpatient unit, is dedicated to the assessment and treatment of patients with developmental disabilities experiencing severe dangerous behaviors. Patients who are admitted to the unit have behavioral disorders that are intense enough to cause significant self-injury or harm to others. Length of stay varies, but patients generally spend several months on the NBU.  

SLPs evaluate and treat patients’ functional language via total communication (verbal speech, AAC, signs, etc.), play, literacy, feeding/swallowing, and voice skills. They partner with other professionals to identify links between communication and problem behaviors and help patients replace problem behaviors that served a communicative function with safe and appropriate means of expression. High, mid, and lite tech augmentative systems support communication alongside verbal expression. Staff and caregiver training are integrated to improve outcomes. 

Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program 

The Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program addresses children’s and their families’ needs relative to the complex nature of a pediatric feeding disorder. The program’s continuum of care includes an interdisciplinary outpatient clinic for evaluation or follow up, an intensive day-treatment program, or inpatient stay for more medically complex patients. Babies and toddlers may also be seen in our inpatient setting if medically indicated. 

SLPs provide comprehensive care through a variety of responsive feeding techniques incorporating their knowledge of development and specialized training in swallowing. They collaborate with occupational therapy (OT) and provide guidance to the interdisciplinary team on recommended consistencies, textures and feeding strategies. Experienced SLPs perform instrumental assessments when warranted. SLPs also conduct initial evaluations, individual and/or co-treatment sessions with OT as appropriate, interdisciplinary team meetings and discussions, and discharge planning.