About The Pediatric Development Center - Silver Spring
The Pediatric Development Center provides occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, and feeding therapy in two convenient locations and statewide via TELETHERAPY. Due to our team of dedicated and caring professionals, the Pediatric Development Center is a place where "children discover what is possible!"
Please note that without member information we cannot guarantee that
your specific plan covers these services. We recommend asking the care
provider before beginning services.
Medicaid
Tricare
UnitedHealthcare
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
12520 Prosperity Drive, #220,MD,20904
Get in Contact
(301) 869-7505
frontoffice@pdcandme.com
Reviews
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Great place and amazing staff. Ms. Alleyiana is so kind and helpful. She has helped my son to better express himself. Couldnt have asked for anyone better
Veronica Garcia
17 March 2024
google review
The Pediatric Development Center is truly the best My son loves coming here. Everyone is so kind including the front desk staff they make you feel like family. My son sees Ms. Melanie for OT and Ms. Erin for speech and they are amazing My son has improved so much we look forward to continue working with them
Jackie Alvarenga
17 March 2024
google review
We have been really happy with PDC. My son has seen 2 different occupational therapists over the past two years 1st year with Melanie 2nd year w Kelsey at the Silver Spring location and they are both incredibly caring knowledgable engaging and dedicated therapists. You can tell that they love working with young kids and they bring an incredible level of patience and energy to their work.PDC is an in-network provider with our insurance which was a primary reason why we chose PDC. I have been very happy with the quality of care we have received from the therapists at PDC.
Our son has been coming here for along time now. The staff are friendly and very helpful. The therapists at Pediatric Development Center are very professional and knowledgeable. Arianna and Zachary make every efforts to make our son where he is today. We really appreciate all what you are doing.
Fekadu Debelie
17 March 2024
google review
I love PDC My son has been seeing Ariana and Melanie for a few years and they are amazing My son has went from nonverbal to speaking he is more independent and happy because of their hard work. They are my family at this point and my son loves them.
Tirzah Edwards
17 March 2024
google review
I am very impressed with the level of care of my childs occupational therapist and the professionalism of all the staff at PDC. The biweekly sessions at the Silver Spring office have given my child a lot of help in a variety of areas. Hes more confident and showing dramatic improvement. He enjoys his relationship with his therapist Melanie Witter and is excited to see her. He is proud of what he accomplishes during their sessions and his increased abilities in strength balance and fine motor skills are evident as a result of their work together.
Cecilia Jones
17 March 2024
google review
We have been receiving services both speech and OT for about 6 years. Two grandsons are getting services. PDC is great about allowing us to attend services as they are provided so we can do work with the kids between sessions. Arianna Neary is the best SLP our boys have worked with. She is able to connect with them on a personal level which is crucial to keep kids engaged. Our boys love her She is cheerful communicative and always listens and integrates parental input. OT Services have been helpful with sensory social and motor coordination skills. I recommend PDC as a provider for speech and OT Services.
Audrey Dela Cruz
17 March 2024
google review
Since last Fall my son has taken both OT and ST at PDC. He really loves going there especially to the gym during the OT. His progress has been noticeable especially in dressing eating and drawing. The consistent schedule at PDC is also very pleasing to us.
Ke He
17 March 2024
google review
My 15 month old daughter Cece has only been attending PDC for two months but those two months have been the brightest and happiest of her life. Due to her medical conditions and experiences she was very afraid of new places and new people. Ms. Erin and Ms. Becca have turned that all around. They have brought out so much light in our girl which is all a mom could ever want. Ms. Erin even saw Cece take her first steps during a session. What a special place they have already made in the heart of our whole family. Cece has many doctors she sees regularly but Ms. Becca and Ms. Erin have brought so much healing to her and me by just being the professionals who see beyond a diagnosis and see her and her progress
Katherine Nelson
17 March 2024
google review
We love PDC at silver Spring. My son get so excited when I mention his OT therapist name Ms Dani and his speech Ms Lucia. By watching his reaction I know that we are with passionate group of professionals.
Kamal Chanaka
17 March 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
Speech therapy is almost always recommended for autistic children since many people with autism have difficulty with social communication. Even if a child is very verbal and says a lot of words, they might need to work on communication skills like:
responding to questions
starting or ending conversation
changing conversation topics
using gestures like pointing
understanding other people's body language
Speech therapy is a big focus in early intervention for autistic children and is usually the starting place for recently diagnosed kids. There is a critical period in the brain for language development and so, it's really important to teach language and communication skills as early as possible, especially if there are any delays in that area. Your child will learn effective ways to communicate which will help them grow into more independent and confident individuals.
It might be obvious when a child struggles with speaking —they are very quiet, say only a few words, or don't speak at all.
Spot speech and language delays like a doctor here.
The goal of speech therapy is to help your child communicate effectively with other people across all environments. This may take the form of using gestures, simple signs, verbal speech, and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
Some other common things speech therapists can help with:
Nonverbal skills, such as signs or gestures
Forming speech in a clearer way
Communicating thoughts and feelings clearly
Understanding and responding to questions
Discerning facial expressions and their corresponding emotions
Noticing and understanding body language
Feeding and swallowing
Stuttering
The occupational therapy process includes an OT evaluation before care starts. Here are the four steps your family can expect when starting occupational therapy:
Complete OT evaluation. An occupational therapist first identifies your child’s strengths and needs through a thorough OT evaluation, also known as an OT assessment or screening. You’ll answer questions about your child’s skills, and your child will most likely demonstrate their skills via hands-on activities with the therapist. Evaluations can last 30 minutes to a few hours.
Approve OT plan. The therapist develops a care plan with individualized goals and customized interventions based on your child’s needs. You can also share any specific goals or concerns before approving the OT plan.
Start therapy sessions. The therapist works directly with your child and your family, using various strategies and exercises to systematically improve areas of limitations and to build upon a child’s strengths. Some exercises your child might participate in are animal walks, obstacle courses, and therapy swing activities. Your family may learn strategies for supporting your child’s individualized needs at home, such as ways of supporting emotional regulation and sensory processing. The therapist may also recommend tools and techniques to use at home, in the community, or in the classroom to help your child succeed.
Monitor your child’s progress. Parents and caregivers can expect ongoing progress monitoring and communication to ensure the child is achieving their short and long-term goals.
Occupational therapy can also be provided virtually via telemedicine. Virtual therapy is a great option for families in rural areas who may not have access to in-person services, or for families who prefer to have therapy in their child’s home.
Virtual OT allows the opportunity for increased caregiver participation and understanding of a child’s strengths, areas of improvement, and generalization of skills in the child’s home environment. Virtual therapy also provides increased opportunities for caregiver and family education to support the child and the family based on each family’s needs.
Once you find a quality physical therapist you want to work with, here are a few things you need to know:
There will be an evaluation. First, you can expect an assessment to identify your child’s areas of strength and needs. A physical therapy evaluation usually lasts 30 minutes.
You’ll review and approve the care plan. The physical therapist will create a care plan, also known as a plan of care (POC), outlining the goals and strategies. They will review this with you and your care team before moving forward with therapy sessions.
Physical therapy sessions will be fun. PT with children is designed to be enjoyable. The therapist will use strategies and exercises based on your child’s needs. Exercises might involve playing on large stability balls, obstacle courses, movement equipment, stretches, and other hands-on activities.
Expect home exercises. Physical therapists commonly assign exercises to work on at home. Doing these exercises with your child outside therapy sessions can improve your child’s overall progress.
Yes! Most providers offer physical therapy in their offices or a clinical setting, but many are offering at-home options. Virtual options have become more popular in recent years. You might facilitate care with the guidance of the physical therapist.
Pediatric physical therapy is considered safe and should not hurt. Autistic children spend their time in PT moving and exploring their environment. If you are concerned about your child experiencing pain during certain exercises, especially if they may struggle to communicate and advocate for modifications, speak with their physical therapist about your concerns.
Get in touch with The Pediatric Development Center - Silver Spring