Occupational Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a discipline that helps people gain independence in their daily activities or “occupations.” In the pediatric setting, therapists use their expertise to help children prepare for and perform important learning and developmental activities. Areas often addressed by pediatric occupational therapists include self-care skills (feeding and dressing), fine motor skills (dexterity and hand skills such as cutting, writing and tying shoes), neuromotor development, sensory integration and play skills.

The occupations of infants include sleeping, eating and exploration of their physical, social and cultural environment.  With children the occupations expand to include self-maintenance, play, socialization and school. Adolescent and young adult occupations expand further to include preparation for adult employment, social engagement and community involvement, and managing tasks of life independently such as money management and food preparation.

What is an occupational therapist?

An occupational therapist specializes in working with individuals who are experiencing a condition that  limits their ability to independently complete the tasks of every day living. In pediatrics, occupational therapists use their expertise to help children gain the functional skills they need for independence in play, learning, motor skill development, self care, and socialization in their home, school, and community environments.

How do I know if my child needs occupational therapy?

Indicators that a child may benefit from occupational therapy include:

• weak hands and/or fatigues easily while doing fine motor tasks
• difficulty with learning gross motor tasks such as riding a bike, skipping or hopping
• overly sensitive or emotional to sensory stimulation including touch, textures, tastes, sound and movement
• under-responsive with decreased reactions to movement, touch, sound, or have unusually low emotional responses
• trouble with writing including pushing too hard or not hard enough, not being able to develop and maintain a good grasp on the pencil, and having trouble with size and spacing of their letters
• trouble learning how to dress self and difficulty tying shoes and buttoning
• difficulty with coordinating the muscles that control their eyes for good vision
• trouble keeping up with others in class
• difficulty reading and copying from the blackboard
• trouble cutting, tracing
• difficulty spacing and forming letters when writing
• avoids touching textures
• messy handwriting
• difficulty sitting in his/her seat and paying attention in class
• becomes tired easily
• stumbles and falls more frequently than others in peer group
• seeks intense physical contact
• has difficulty standing in line
• fails to follow multi-step verbal or written directions
• becomes upset by changes in plans and expectations
• confuses right and left
• has an immature pencil grip

If you are concerned about your child’s development in any of these areas you may want to contact us for an occupational therapy evaluation.