OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is the therapeutic use of self-care, work and play activities to increase independent function, enhance development and prevent disability. Since the work of children is play, it is through the use of this media that occupational therapists assist children in learning the skills necessary for living. Concerns often addressed by pediatric occupational therapists include self-care skills (feeding, bathing, dressing), fine motor skills (hand skills and dexterity), Neuro motor development, sensory integration, and play skills. Therapy can enhance the potential of a child throughout their developmental years and build skills, self-confidence, and self-esteem that lasts a lifetime.

Occupational therapists can be thought of as the professionals trained to be the ambassadors between your nervous system’s processing of information and your actual functional abilities. Their goal is to help their patients lead independent, productive, and satisfying lives. They work with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They help these individuals develop, recover, or maintain daily living, play and work/academic skills. Occupational therapists help clients improve their basic motor functions and reasoning abilities and compensate for permanent loss of function.

What is the role of Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics?

Occupational therapists working with children strive to optimize a child’s occupational performance. Children span the age range of birth through adolescence.

Just think what a variety of occupations you were engaged in during this period of time in your life. Consider how these occupations become increasingly complex during childhood and how they formed an important foundation for the roles you play as an adult today. The primary occupations of children are considered to be:

• Activities of Daily Living (feeding, toileting, dressing, grooming, mobility)
• Learning and school performance
• Vocation or performance in a workplace

A core value of pediatric occupational therapy is providing family-centered care and service. The needs, desires, and values of the child and family drive the direction of our assessments and intervention. The focus of occupational therapy intervention

What can OT offer your child?

• Developmental screening/testing
• Visual motor testing
• Therapeutic listening
• Oral motor stretching
• Visual perceptual testing
• Sensory integration services
• Oral motor strengthening

What areas does OT address?

• Developmental Delays
• Attention and focus
• Writing problems
• Self dressing/grooming (Activities of Daily Living)
• Strengthening – general and specific
• Gross motor concerns
• Coordination difficulties
• Sensory motor processing
• Perceptual difficulties
• Oral motor weakness
• Fine motor concerns