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What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy enables people of all ages and abilities to live life to its fullest by helping them to promote health, and prevent- or live better with- injury, illness, or disability. Specifically, occupational therapists working with children and youth help develop the skills required to play, socialize, improve school performance, and become more independent in daily activities, in order to succeed in important areas of their lives. Occupational therapists work with the child and his/her family to teach and develop functional skills such as getting dressed, writing their name, playing with friends, as well as underlying skills required for function such as fine and gross motor skills, eye hand coordination, visual perception, and self regulation.

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Common Diagnoses OTs work with

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

  • Developmental Coordination Disorder

  • Developmental Delay

  • Intellectual Disability

  • Sensory Processing Disorder

  • Learning Disabilities

  • Cerebral Palsy

  • Down Syndrome

  • Low Muscle Tone

  • Dyspraxia

What are some signs that my child may need occupational therapy?

  • Difficulty keeping up with classwork or learning at age appropriate level

  • Difficulty following directions, completing daily routines

  • Difficulty attending to a task, remaining in seat, easily distracted

  • Difficulty making or keeping friends, interacting with and joining peers 

  • Difficulty with coordination and motor skills such as catching/throwing a ball, riding a bike, and/or avoidance of physical activity

  • Display poor organizational skills

  • Easily bothered by lights, smells, noises, sensitive to touch and impacts daily living 

  • Difficulty transitioning or handling breaks in routines 

  • Poor directional awareness

  • Poor handwriting 

  • Social emotional challenges, difficulty controlling anger or frustration, emotionally reactive

  • Wanders aimlessly without purposeful play

How will your child benefit from occupational therapy?

  • Improvements in gross, fine and visual motor skills

  • Independence in self care skills (ie. Dressing, Toileting, Routines)

  • School readiness (prewriting, handwriting, following directions)

  • Sensory processing integration (impacts behavior and regulation)

  • Development of neuromotor skills (muscle strength, tone, postural control, balance, reflex integration)

  • Improvements in social interaction and play skills

  • Executive functioning skills (initiating, planning, multi step tasks)

  • Motor planning/praxis (this affects ability to participate in age appropriate games, sports, activities)

  • Improvements in emotional regulation and attention (ie. less tantrums, able to control anger and stay calm)

  • Increased self esteem, and confidence -> increased participation in age appropriate activities 

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