What is Speech therapy-hippotherapy?
Hippotherapy is therapy utilizing equine movement. Our licensed speech language pathologist combines physical therapy knowledge and techniques utilizing the equine movement and the equine environment to help you/your child reach your speech therapy goals. Everyone starts with an evaluation from our licensed speech language pathologist, followed by working with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to work towards your specific therapy goals. Sessions will be billed under speech therapy codes to your insurance, covered by insurance similarly to clinic therapy. Hippotherapy can, and often should, be in conjunction with clinic speech therapy in order to complement and maximize progress towards speech therapy goals.
Who would benefit from speech therapy utilizing hippotherapy?
Anyone who benefits from speech therapy! Do you find yourself and your child spending too much time spent in hospitals, classrooms, doctors offices? Perhaps your child is burnt out from therapy or doesn't tolerate clinic therapy well? Do they need a new environment, more time outdoors, and the calming effects of animals? Then your child may benefit from hippotherapy! We see kids 3 years old and up, including adults! Speech therapy involving hippotherapy can benefit a wide range of individuals, including children with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. It is also effective for stroke survivors, people with traumatic brain injury (TBI), sensory processing disorders, and learning disabilities. The rhythmic movement of the horse helps improve muscle tone, coordination, and sensory processing, which can positively impact speech and language development. Additionally, the multisensory, interactive environment of hippotherapy promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety, and enhances focus and engagement, making it a valuable and enjoyable therapy option for those seeking to improve their communication skills.