Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) is a common condition encountered by rehabilitation therapists (physical therapists-PT, occupational therapists-OT, and speech and language pathologists-SLP) in pediatric practice. In an effort to bridge the knowledge and experience gap, PT, OT and SLP experts have published consensus recommendations for the rehab therapist's treatment of FND1-3 with additional research emphasizing a psychologically informed4,5 and wellness approach.6 This article highlights the unique role of each rehab discipline in treating FND, reviews functional diagnoses specific to PT, OT and SLP, and introduces a unique stepwise or ladder approach to treatment that can be utilized in the inpatient or outpatient setting.
Keywords: FND; Functional Neurological Disorder; Functional Seizures; Rehabilitation.