Speech, occupational and physical therapy: what each one does

Disclaimer: Informational content only. Not legal, tax, financial or investment advice. Always verify with a licensed professional in Puerto Rico. Data comes from public sources — mainly each firm's website or, for doctors, the directory cited on the listing — and may change.

The three most common therapies in special education are speech-language, occupational and physical therapy. Each is provided by a differently licensed professional, and each addresses different areas of development. This guide explains what each one does and when it may be needed.

Speech-language therapy

Provided by the speech-language pathologist. It addresses: articulation and pronunciation; language comprehension and expression; vocabulary and grammar; fluency (stuttering); voice; and feeding and swallowing (dysphagia). It may be needed if the child is late to talk, is hard to understand, has difficulty following instructions, expressing ideas or swallowing foods of certain textures.

Occupational therapy

Provided by the occupational therapist. It addresses: fine motor skills (writing, cutting, buttoning); coordination; sensory processing (hypersensitivity or sensory seeking); daily living skills (dressing, eating, hygiene); and attention and organization. Sensory integration is an approach within occupational therapy for children with difficulty processing sensory stimuli. It may be needed if the child avoids certain textures or sounds, constantly seeks movement, has difficulty with writing or self-care tasks.

Physical therapy

Provided by the physical therapist. It addresses: gross motor skills (sitting, crawling, walking, running, jumping); strength, balance and coordination; posture; and mobility. Pediatric physical therapy specializes in infants and children. It may be needed if the child is late reaching motor milestones, walks unusually, has muscle weakness or a condition such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida.

How is it determined which one is needed?

A multidisciplinary team evaluates the child in each developmental area and recommends in the PEI (or the PISF, for children under 3) the therapies needed, with frequency and duration. The three therapies can combine: one child may receive speech, occupational and physical therapy at once. To verify the professional's license, see the license verification guide.

Modalities

Depending on each provider: at their center, at home, at school or by telehealth. Each professional's listing in the special education & therapy category states the modalities their own page advertises.

General information, not legal or medical advice. Reviewed 2026-11-05.