-Handwriting skills
-Fine Motor Skills
-Feeding/ Oral motor development
-Self-Care Skills
-Visual-Motor Development
-Sensory Integration
-Postural/ Core Development
-Coordination and Balance
-Strength, endurance, and range of motion
In its simplest terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday life activities (occupations). For children, the most common Occupation is Play. Occupational therapy interventions may include helping children with differing abilities to participate fully in play or school activities. Occupational Therapists not only look at the physical, cognitive, and social components needed, but also finds the "just right challenge" for the child by analyzing the environment and grading the activity to promote a successful outcome. Occupational Therapists use their expertise in designing intervention that promote healthy development, establish needed skills, and modify environments to support engagement in daily activities. Occupational therapy services for children typically include
- an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and occupational therapist determine the child’s goals,
- customized intervention to improve the child’s ability to perform daily activities and reach the goals, and
- an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or make changes to the intervention plan.
OT’s are leading providers for pediatric therapy services for children impacted by:
Prematurity, Cerebral Palsy, feeding concerns, developmental and fine motor delays, behavior concerns, visual perceptual/ motor deficits, hearing impaired, Sensory Integration dysfunction, Down Syndrome, Autism, Asperger’s and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Orthopedic injuries or surgeries, Burns, and Tourette’s Syndrome.
