OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES

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Occupational therapists use purposeful activity to achieve improved function. Based on the child’s needs, the therapist may work on gross and/or fine motor skills, visual perceptual skills, visual motor control, sensory motor skills and sensory integration, cognitive skills, and activities of daily living, among others. Therapy with children often includes play, using activities that are specific to the intervention. For example, sensory integration therapy may use activities that allow the child to use touch or taste, or to swing, spin, jump, and climb.  Whereas a focus on visual perceptual may use activities that encourage a child to make sense of and interpret what they are seeing: word searches, block building designs, puzzles, and mazes. Fine-motor therapy might involve the use of the pincher grasp, finger isolation, and crossing the mid-line. Therapy may include activities that help develop turn-taking skills, empathy, social engagement, following directions, cooperative play, non-verbal communication, etc. The ultimate goal will be to have a well-regulated child performing as close to age-appropriate as possible. An occupational therapist will tailor the intervention plan specific to the needs of the child.