St. Luke's Hosts Pediatric Health Fair

Parents and children ages 1 through preteen are invited to meet and experience the multi-disciplinary therapeutic staff in the newly renovated space at St. Luke’s North, 153 Brodhead Road, Bethlehem on Saturday, April 2^nd from 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

The Open House will provide parents with information and free screenings about pediatric developmental milestones, as well as the play based occupational, speech and physical therapy that can help offset the symptoms of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Niemann Pick’s disease, Rhett’s Syndrome and other neurological conditions offered by St. Luke’s Pediatric Rehab.

“What we want to offer the public is more information about typical toys, play and equipment in regards to speech, motor development, feeding” said Amy Taylor, a speech therapist who will be demonstrating the “feeding area” at tomorrow’s open house.

Children should bring their teddy bear or a stuffed animal to receive a full check up at the “Teddy Bear Clinic,” one of the many stations where they can experience all the fun equipment available for the play based therapy, which includes a rock climbing wall, swings, barrels, a crash pit filled with soft blocks, balance beams and more. 

Stickers will be awarded at each station where children will experience activities testing sensory processing, body awareness, mobility, motor navigation and feeding skills. While children have fun, parents will be able to talk to professionals about their concerns or get their child screened for possible developmental delays, hearing impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder or sensory processing delays. 

“It’s really about empowering parents who may not know about development delays and to find more information about early intervention” says Taylor.

Even though these therapists cannot make a diagnosis, they can provide referrals to physicians based on the results of the various screenings. Early intervention is the key in helping children overcoming developmental delays and the multi-disciplinary approach applied as the Pediatric Rehab has a high success rate.

Adult screenings will be available to offer early intervention on the most prominent health issues for parents—bone density, blood pressure and cholesterol testing as well as body composition analysis.  Both adults and children who bring their bikes will have the opportunity to have them fit by specialists from SICI.

Parents or primary caregiver are most familiar with the behaviors that would indicate whether or not their children are meeting their milestones. If you have any questions about your child’s developmental progress, these free screenings can provide either early intervention or, as Taylor says, “Peace of mind.”