For families

Therapy Guides for Children and Adults

Clear, practical guides to occupational, physical and speech therapy for children and adults — by condition, cost, comparison and age.

Expert Reviewed
Evidence Based
Patient Focused

Written by the DrSensory Editorial Team. How we write and who reviews it

Therapy guides explain what occupational, physical and speech therapy actually involve for a child or an adult — what a therapist works on, what a session looks like, and what the evidence supports. The guides are grouped four ways: by diagnosis, by cost and insurance, as side-by-side comparisons, and by the child’s age. The adult guides cover what therapy costs, Medicare, denials and care without insurance. Every guide is listed below, for children, for adults and for any age.

Condition guidesWhat occupational, physical and speech therapy do for a specific diagnosis.24 guides →Cost and insuranceWhat therapy costs, what insurance covers, and options without it.9 guides →ComparisonsOT or PT? Speech or OT? In-clinic or teletherapy?8 guides →By ageWhat therapy looks like from infancy through the teenage years.12 guides →

Every therapy guide, for children and adults

Each guide below opens in one click: first the guides for children and teens, then the guides for adults, then the ones that apply at any age. The four topic pages above hold the same guides with a summary of each.

Therapy guides for children and teens

By condition

By age

Cost and insurance

Comparisons and settings

Therapy guides for adults

By condition and need

Starting and continuing therapy

Cost and insurance

Therapy guides for any age

What each therapy is

Getting, paying for and waiting for therapy

Key Takeaways

The three disciplines address different things. Occupational therapy focuses on daily activities, fine motor skills, and sensory processing. Speech therapy covers communication, feeding, and swallowing. Physical therapy addresses movement, strength, balance, and mobility.
Many children see more than one, and that isn’t duplication. The disciplines overlap — feeding is addressed by both OT and speech therapy, motor planning by both OT and PT — and working together is common.
In the US, children under three can be referred to early intervention by a parent directly. No doctor’s referral, and the evaluation is free regardless of income.
A diagnosis usually isn’t needed to start. Therapy is based on assessed need. Insurance coverage may depend on an associated diagnosis, so ask providers how they bill.
Ask what the functional goals are. “Improve sensory processing” isn’t a goal. “Tolerate a haircut,” “climb stairs with alternating feet,” and “ask for what he wants using two words” are.

Free printable: Questions to ask at your child's evaluationDownload the printable PDFTherapy Guides for Children and AdultsFree, no email required. Print it or take it on your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy for my child?

Physical therapy focuses on gross motor skills — walking, running, balance, strength, coordination, and mobility. Occupational therapy focuses on the activities a child does day to day: dressing, eating, handwriting, play, and managing sensory input. The two overlap around motor planning and postural control, and many children see both. As a rough guide: PT is about how a child moves through the world, OT is about what they do once they get there.

How much does pediatric therapy cost and will insurance cover it?

Costs vary considerably by region, setting, and whether therapy is private, school-based, or through early intervention. In the US, the early intervention evaluation for children under three is free regardless of income, some states charge sliding fees for the services that follow, and school-based services are free where a child qualifies. Private therapy is paid or insurance-funded. Coverage differs by plan — many require a diagnosis and prior authorization, while Medicaid’s EPSDT benefit covers medically necessary services for children. Ask any provider directly how they bill and what they’ve seen covered.

What kinds of therapy can help an autistic child?

It depends on the individual child rather than the diagnosis. Occupational therapy commonly addresses sensory processing, daily living skills, and motor coordination. Speech therapy addresses communication — including augmentative and alternative communication where speech is limited — along with feeding and swallowing. Physical therapy is involved where motor differences affect movement or participation. Since 2022, ICD-11 has included sensory processing differences in the autism diagnostic criteria, so sensory assessment is now a reasonable thing to ask about specifically.

Is sensory integration therapy the same as occupational therapy?

No. Ayres Sensory Integration is a specific, manualized approach delivered by occupational therapists with additional training — not all occupational therapy is ASI, and not every sensory-based technique is ASI either. The distinction matters because the evidence differs: ASI has moderate-quality evidence for autistic children when delivered with fidelity, while individual sensory-based techniques such as weighted vests have repeatedly been found to have little or no effect. If sensory integration therapy is recommended, it’s reasonable to ask whether it’s Ayres Sensory Integration specifically and what training the therapist has.

Should I choose Early Intervention or private therapy for my young child?

For a child under three in the US, start with early intervention — the evaluation is free regardless of income, you can refer your own child without a doctor, and there’s no reason to wait. It’s usually delivered at home and centered on coaching families rather than working with the child in isolation. Private therapy may offer more frequency, a specific approach, or shorter waits, and it costs. These aren’t mutually exclusive, and many families use both.

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Medical disclaimer. This page is for general educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your child.