What is Occupational Therapy?

We all have occupations, and it’s not the job type! Occupations are what we do everyday, such as; grooming, bathing, dressing, socializing, writing, working, playing, and leisure. Occupational Therapists help kids with disabilities, chronic diseases, impairments, mental health, surgeries, illnesses, and injuries live independently and to their greatest potential. Occupational Therapy makes life worth living! It can help a child with regulating specific sensory needs. It can help a child focus when they are unable to sit still in the classroom. Maybe your child has had a life changing injury and they are struggling with tasks that at one time they thought were simple, then OT is for them! 

Check out how to get started with OT at KidsChoice here!

What is Pediatric OT?

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Pediatric Occupational Therapy helps the youth who have impairments ranging from cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD, down syndrome, specific learning disabilities and sensory processing disorders. Through interactive play, we work with challenges to help empower the child to successfully become independent and fulfill their greatest potential. Occupational Therapy is commonly performed in the home, school, and clinic settings.

Top 4 diagnoses that can benefit from OT:

1) Developmental Delay’s and ADHD

Developmental delay’s cover an array of pediatric concerns to include challenges in physical abilities, learning, language and behaviors, including ADHD. OT can help with challenging issues that may arise such as maintaining focus on homework by coming up with adaptations to accommodate challenges such as persistent movement. We work with the child to develop techniques to help with self-regulation, turn-taking, time-management, coordination, impulsivity, judgement, body awareness, initiation and completion of tasks. OT can also help with gross and fine motor skills.

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2) Autism

Many families are affected differently by autism, as each kid is unique with different strengths. The variety of autism diagnoses range from mild to severe. Autism results in a lack of communication, diminished social skills, perseveration or repetitive movements, rigidity and sensory dysfunction. Through the utilization of specific techniques, OT can help mitigate problems associated with poor socialization, problem-solving, cooperation and motivation. In addition, OT can help with challenging everyday tasks at home such as grooming, bathing and dressing. Challenges with handwriting are also addressed in OT.

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3) Sensory Dysfunction

Every day our brain receives sensory information, processes the information, and processes a sensory response. For some children, processing sensory information can be challenging. Our sensory functions include (1) tactile-touch, (2) proprioception-where you are in space, (3) vestibular-balance, (4) visual-vision, (5) auditory-hearing, (6) gustatory-taste, and (7) olfactory-smell. Some children are “sensory seekers” or “sensory avoiders”. OT can help regulate these senses through strategies of increasing or decreasing the level of arousal. By working to regulate the senses and developing techniques to desensitize or arouse the sensory system, we are able to regulate everyday sensory input.

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4) Neurological Deficits

Neurological deficits affect the central and peripheral nervous system. These include seizure disorders, cerebral palsy, autism, behavioral disorders, and intellectual disabilities. Cognitive training can be utilized to help with developing skills for simple cooking and home management tasks, as well as, other necessary living skills. 

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Written by Emily Atchison, COTA/L and Stephanie Whitney, MOTR/L

Getting started with OT!

Step 1: Obtain an updated prescription for “Occupational Therapy Treatment and Evaluation” from your child’s pediatrician.

Step 2: Email a copy of your child’s prescription to contact@kidschoicetherapy.org or fax it to 405-857-8489.

Step 3: Call us at 405-857-8280to fill out the KidsChoice Intake Form. Once completed, our Patient Care Supervisor will work with you to schedule your child’s OT Evaluation.

Step 4: Start OT!

Call Now! 405-857-8280