 Occupational
Therapy
Occupational
Therapy is a treatment that focuses on helping people achieve
independence in all areas of their lives. Occupational Therapists
(OTs) are committed to providing a child and family centred,
needs-led service, in the most appropriate setting, to support
individual children and their families.
A child's
main job (occupation) is play and learning and OTs therefore
evaluate a child's skills for play activities, school performance
and self-care to help them do the everyday things that all
children need and want to do.
OTs offer
children with various needs positive, fun activities to improve
their cognitive (thinking), physical and motor skills and
enhance their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment. This
unique approach makes Occupational Therapy a vital part of
health care for some children.
OTs provide
assessment of the need for therapy. Based on the assessment
findings, goal based treatment may be provided on an individual
or group basis. Occupational Therapy may also be implemented
in the form of advice or programmes to parents/carers/teachers,
followed up by a therapy support practitioner. OTs work together
with the young person, their carers at home and at school,
their family and teachers to develop strategies to try and
practical ideas to help meet their needs. There is also strong
liaison and communication with any other professionals involved
in the child's care.
Assessment,
advice and treatment (if required) are provided to children
with a variety of difficulties including:
- Physical
Impairment
- Perceptuo-motor
difficulties
- Complex
multiple disability
- Developmental
Co-ordination Disorder (DCD)
- Sensory
processing needs
An OT
can:
- Work
with children who have sensory and attention issues to improve
their focus and social skills.
- Evaluate
a child's need for specialist equipment.
- Teach
children with physical difficulties the co-ordination skills
required to feed themselves.
- Provide
a slanted desktop for a child with co-ordination difficulties
to support their posture and enable them to complete their
work.
- Show
the parents of a 6-month old baby with poor head control
the position and support that will enable their baby to
play on their tummy.
|
