OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY
What is Occupational Therapy?
The profession of occupational therapy involves skilled treatment that helps individuals across the lifespan achieve independence in all areas of their lives. Occupational therapists are skilled, degreed, and licensed professionals whose education encompasses occupational science, human growth and development with specific emphasis on social, emotional, and physiological effects of illness and injury.
Occupational therapists working with children utilize techniques that correct, facilitate, and adapt the child’s functional performance in fine motor, visual motor, activities of daily living, sensory processing, organization of behavior, social play, motor planning, and adaptations to environment and the use of assistive devices.
Occupational Therapy for children may be provided in a variety of settings including – hospital, home, clinic, or school.
Why Would A Child Be Referred for Occupational Therapy?
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FINE MOTOR DELAYS
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Holding crayons, pencils, and other small items
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Managing fasteners and manipulating toys
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EYE HAND COORDINATION DELAYS
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Being able to use scissors
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Use puzzles
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Ball-handling skills
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VISUAL MOTOR DELAYS
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Forming shapes
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Drawing
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Printing/handwriting
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Coloring
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VISUAL PERCEPTUAL DELAYS
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Matching
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Sorting
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Figure ground
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Scanning
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Letter formations/reversals
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SELF-CARE DELAYS
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Feeding
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Dressing
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Using utensils
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Shoe lace tying
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Grooming/bathing
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SENSORY PROCESSING DIFFICULTIES
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Using an appropriate adaptive response to changes in stimuli as it relates to sight, touch, sounds, movement, and taste
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DECREASED STRENGTH
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Manipulating resistive materials
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Moving against gravity
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Sustaining body positions
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DECREASED RANGE OF MOTION
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Limits in moving arms, fingers, legs, head, or other body parts
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WHAT ARE THE “OCCUPATIONS” OF CHILDREN?
Often times play is utilized during our therapy sessions because playing and learning are often considered as the main occupations of children in the home and school environments.
Like adults, children also have many things they need to do -- From birth, children learn to be part of the family unit, be social, sleep, and indicate what their needs are. As they grow older, they learn to communicate, play, take care of their needs (dressing, toileting, feeding), regulate emotions, etc.
When children begin school, that becomes a primary occupation of their time until adulthood. In order to participate in school, they must know how to pay attention, follow directions, interact appropriately with peers and adults, hold a pencil, write, organize/use materials, and take care of their personal needs.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CLINIC-BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND SCHOOL-BASED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?
The primary difference between clinic-based occupational therapy and school-based occupational is the model used for each type. Clinic-based occupational therapyfollows a medical model and addresses the diagnosis of the child, and may be prescribed by a doctor and is often directed by insurance. Hospital and clinic-based occupational therapists typically assess and address the child’s strengths and needs in a clinic setting in order to support participation in life activities. The focus in non-school settings may be more varied and may or may not address specific educational needs.
School-based occupational therapy uses an educational model that focuses on the child’s access and benefit to their education and academic performance, and is governed by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004. School based occupational therapists observe, assess, and address the child’s strengths and needs within the natural school settings (e.g., classroom, lunchroom, playground) in order to support the student’s educational program. Services may be directed to the child and on behalf of the child in the school environment (e.g., training educational staff).