How can OT help children?
What is Occupational Therapy? Everyone has an occupation or job. A kid's occupation is to grow, learn, do schoolwork, and play. Occupational therapy (or OT) helps kids who have a physical, sensory, or cognitive disability carry out these activities. Some examples of children that may get OT include: one that is having difficulty performing everyday activities like dressing, tying shoes, feeding themselves, paying attention, writing, drawing, or coloring in the lines. In schools, OT’s may work with kids who need help with their handwriting or in developing learning strategies to help them remain focused in class and get their homework done. An OT may help a child with autism learn how to interact with others, or might help kids with sensory processing disorders learn ways to interact with their environment in a more comfortable and appropriate way.
A child that is struggling may:
have difficulty with everyday activities such as sleeping, eating or dressing
coordination, clumsiness or disorganization
behavior or sensory processing issues
learning difficulties or trouble with handwriting, reading, or math
lack of focus or poor attention
have anxiety or depression
be diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, developmental delay or speech and language difficulty
If you suspect or know your child is struggling, you can have him/her evaluated by an OT. The evaluation will look at the underlying skills that may be problematic and causing the struggles such as: sensory processing, reflexes and movement patterns, gross and fine motor skills, visual skills,and visual motor integration.
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