Our intervention and collaborative therapy programmes prioritise educational therapy and early intervention, recognising the critical importance of addressing learning challenges and developmental delays as early as possible. Through our educational therapy programmes, we provide individualised interventions to meet the unique needs of each individual, whether they are struggling with academic difficulties, developmental delays, or learning disabilities. Our team of licenced and qualified educational therapists create comprehensive intervention plans that integrate evidence-based practices and innovative approaches. By intervening early and providing targeted support, we aim to empower individuals to overcome obstacles, develop essential skills, and achieve their full potential academically and personally. Our commitment to early intervention underscores our belief in the transformative power of education and therapy in nurturing the growth and development of every individual we serve.
Preschoolers before heading to primary level educations who are taking a longer time to meet standard development milestones may consider early intervention programs (EIPs) to improve on overall abilities and skills. Neuronal connectivity network and its sophistication of a child grows at the fastest rate from birth to the age of six. These connectivity lay the foundation of everyone’s process and skills. Besides developing the child brain’s executive functions (defined as working memory, self-regulation, cognitive flexibility), holistic EIPs also foster your child’s skills in paying attention, curiosity, imagination, speech and language, problem solving, communication, social interaction, critical thinking, creativity and confidence.
The highly personalised activities are intensive and learning targets are unique and specific to every different child ensuring that your child would be able to hit the developmental milestones after the EIPs.
Under the purview of the World Health Organization (WHO), Educational Therapy has been officially recognised and classified under the procedure code 93.82 since 1986 in the International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modifications-ninth revision, Volume 3 (ICD-9-CM, Version 3) (WHO, 1986). It is non-pharmacological and the most holistic so far. Practitioners in many countries must obtain a practising license as an educational therapist before they can provide therapy/ treatment.
Educational therapy is highly holistic and is the gold standard. Our educational therapists are licenced practitioners who have undergone rigorous training and passed examination requirements before admission to professional organisations (such as the International Association of Counselors & Therapists) that regulate practising members.
Educational therapists are equipped with additional knowledge and skills in addressing and guiding children with special education needs who may have learning difficulties in language & communication, attention, numeracy, reading & literacy, emotional, social, behavioural, memory, problem-solving, critical thinking, reasoning, planning, organising and imagination. Some children may have global developmental delays inconveniencing physical, neuronal, and psychological development.
Yet every child has different learning abilities and styles. Educational therapists perform comprehensive psychoeducational diagnostic assessment, evaluation and profiling to fully understand the learning difficulties and disorders encountered by each child before preparing a highly personalised holistic therapy program to prioritise and develop the necessary skills in the child habitually to overcome the difficulties and challenges.
Reading and literacy therapy is a specialised form of support designed for children who struggle with reading, writing, spelling, and language comprehension due to various learning difficulties, disabilities, or disorders. Reading therapy identifies and addresses challenges such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, hyperlexia, cacographia, disnomia, dysorthographia and other literacy-related conditions that affect how children process language, from recognising individual letters and sounds to understanding complex sentences and different types of texts. Through careful assessment and evidence-based intervention strategies, reading therapists work with children who may not progress with traditional teaching methods alone, helping them develop the fundamental literacy skills needed for academic success. Reading therapy goes beyond classroom instruction by targeting the specific cognitive and developmental differences that make reading and writing difficult for your child, providing individualised support to help them unlock their full potential and gain confidence in their learning journey.
Speech and language therapy helps children and adults who have difficulties with communication, speech, language, or swallowing. Speech and language therapy assesses and treats a wide range of communication challenges, including problems with producing sounds clearly (such as articulation difficulties or stuttering), understanding what others say, expressing thoughts and ideas through words and sentences, using language appropriately in social situations, and sometimes even difficulties with eating and swallowing safely. The therapists work closely with parents, teachers, and other professionals to create individualised support plans to meet your child’s specific needs. Through evidence-based approaches delivered in one-on-one sessions, small groups, or by providing strategies parents can use at home and in school, the speech and language therapists help your child develop their communication skills to the best of their ability, whether that means improving spoken language, learning alternative ways to communicate, or addressing the underlying challenges that affect how they understand and use language in daily life.
Cognitive skills are highly related to physical motor and sensory skills as well. Our occupational therapists focus on improving physical functional abilities relating to gross & fine motor coordination skills, sensory processing, handwriting skills, balancing responses, visual-motor integration and daily activities. Occupational therapy in fact improves individual’s independence as the child develop skills to overcome the functional difficulties and complete the task by himself/ herself. This will enhance the confidence and self esteem in him/ her as well.
Creative and arts therapies are art-based activities that are non-verbal and utilise symbols, poetry, sand, music and dance to effectively help a person in channeling their thoughts and emotions through artistic expression. These therapies, not only highly beneficial for those facing difficulties in expressing their feelings verbally, they could also reduce emotional disturbances, anxiety and depressed moods, thus improving self esteem & confidence, reconcile inner conflicts, helping emotional regulation, promote self identity/ awareness & reality orientation, and improve social & communication skills.
Musical ability increases the size of corpus callosum as well as frontal, temporal and motor areas of the brain. Music therapy enhances mentalisation and access to emotional attunement for individuals as it also synchronises the frontal activity with the posterior activity. Hence, it has been able to modulate mood and emotion in individual.
Our Case Referral Service plays a pivotal role in the realm of educational therapy, particularly for parents navigating the complex landscape of intervention treatments and therapies for their children. This service acts as a guiding light, offering expert advice and assistance to parents in identifying the most suitable interventions tailored to their child’s unique needs. Whether it’s addressing learning disabilities, behavioral challenges, or developmental delays, our referral service connects families with qualified professionals and resources, ensuring access to evidence-based therapies and interventions. By facilitating informed decisions and fostering collaboration between parents and practitioners, our service empowers families to navigate the journey of educational therapy with confidence and clarity, ultimately promoting the holistic well-being and academic success of children.
Everyone of us has a unique set of inherited genetics that wire our brain’s neural mechanisms differently. We spend our lives exploring and optimising our functional capabilities – a lifetime of exploration and learning for everyone. Recognising the value of neurodiversity is crucial for creating inclusive communities that celebrate the strengths and capabilities of every individual, irrespective of their neurological differences.
Contact Info
Merlion Paediatric Therapy Clinic Pte Ltd
360 Dunearn Road, Singapore 299552.
+65 9337 9060
enquiry@merlionpaediatric.sg
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