Occupational Therapy Program

Assessment, Treatment and Consultation for Children Prior to School Entry

What Is Occupational Therapy and Who Might Need It?

A child's main job is playing and learning, and an Occupational Therapist (OT) can evaluate a child's skills for play activities, school performance and activities of daily living, and compare them to what is developmentally appropriate for an age group.

OTs address physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors that may hinder an individual's functioning in different ways. This unique approach makes occupational therapy a vital part of health care for some children.

So who might use an Occupational Therapist?

Infants and children with the following diagnoses may benefit from occupational therapy:

• birth injuries, birth defects and prematurity
• feeding and swallowing problems
• sensory processing/integrative disorders
• traumatic injuries (brain or spinal cord)
• learning problems
• autism
• pervasive developmental disorders
• behavioral problems
• broken bones and other injuries
• developmental delays
• post-surgical conditions
• burns
• spina bifida
• traumatic amputations
• cancer
• severe hand injuries
• cerebral palsy and other chronic illnesses

The OT helps children with their fine motor skills such as grasp and release of toys and good handwriting skills. Occupational therapists also address hand-eye coordination to improve play skills.

An Occupational Therapist can also:

• help children with severe developmental delays to learn some basic tasks, such as bathing, getting dressed, brushing their teeth, feeding and swallowing.
• help kids with behavioral disorders learn anger-management techniques (i.e., instead of hitting others or acting out, the children would learn positive ways to dea lwith anger, such as writing about feelings or participating in a physical activity)
• teach children with physical disabilities the coordination skills required to feed themselves, use a computer, or increase the speed and legibility of their handwriting
• evaluate each child's needs for specialized equipment such as wheelchairs, splints, bathing seats, or dressing devices.

Who Are Occupational Therapists?

An Occupational therapist completes 6 years at University and in the field to gain a master's degree.

Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, including:

• hospitals
• schools
• rehabilitation centers
• mental health facilities
• private practices
• children's clinics
• homes

For more information, please contact the Occupational Therapy Program by calling 752 -6766 - ext. 245.

Occupational Therapy Program Links:

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