A brief overview of Occupational Therapy

A child’s job is to play, learn, grow, explore, and experience. Sometimes children have difficulties performing their “jobs” independently. Occupational therapy treatment focuses on helping children achieve independence in their physical, motor, sensory, and academic skill areas and enhance their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.

Who Can Benefit from Occupational Therapy? Children with the following might benefit from Occupational Therapy: • Sensory Processing Disorder • Sensory-Based Learning Difficulties • Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorders • Gross and Fine Motor Delays • Developmental Delays • Coordination and Balance Problems • Attention and Concentration Problems • Down Syndrome • Cerebral Palsy • Learning Problems • Birth Injuries or Birth Defects • Traumatic Injuries (Brain, Spinal Cord, Hand) • Neurologic Disorders • Chromosomal Disorders • Executive Function Disorders

How Might Occupational Therapy Help? An Occupational therapist might help children: • Facilitate development towards delayed milestones • Improve balance, coordination, strength, and/or motor planning (praxis) skills. • Develop fine motor skills, visual motor skills, and/or handwriting skills. • Learn daily living skills (bathing, dressing, grooming, and feeding). • Improve issues with sensory integration, attention, and concentration.