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What is Occupational Therapy and what should I look out for?
Occupational Therapy is provided in many settings such as private practice, schools and hospitals. There are various specialties in Occupational Therapy such as pediatric, geriatric (working with the elderly), physical and neurological, hand therapy and vocational.
Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on evaluation, treatment and support of children that are experiencing difficulties in their functioning (eating, grooming, social interaction, schooling or play) which are termed our occupations. This promotes independence in their occupations by utilizing their strengths and treating challenges with specific individualized intervention to improve their functioning. Therapy is tailored to the child’s needs and graded according to their abilities.
A few of the therapy interventions may include:
- Sensory Integration: Sensory Integration therapy is offered by trained Ayres Sensory Integration Therapists. In South Africa only Occupational Therapists trained in Ayres Sensory Integration can offer Sensory Integration Therapy. Sensory Integration focuses on treating a child’s reactivity and/or perception. Treating sensory reactivity refers to assisting a child to correctly process and respond to stimuli. Treating sensory perception refers to treating foundational skills such as proprioceptive, visual, vestibular and tactile perception.
- Treating gross-motor, fine-motor and bilateral integration: This incorporates treating children’s coordination, dexterity, timing, posture etc.
- Visual-perceptual skills: This involves greeting visual perceptual skills necessary in reading, writing and drawing.
- Activities of daily living: This involves teaching and facilitating independence in self-care skills such as eating, bathing and dressing.
- Play skills: Using play based intervention to improve and promote social skills, problem solving and cognitive development.
- Environmental adaptation: Adapting environments such as the classroom to promote effective participation in tasks.
- Parent and teacher coaching and guidance: This is a form of guidance and training where teachers and/or parents are guided to promote effective interaction of children by accommodating specific needs.
Occupational Therapy is play-based in nature and should always be a playful and happy time for a child. Due to their being many areas in Occupational Therapy it is always important to identify the therapist’s speciality and additional qualifications.
Written by Ashley Brecher, Bright Eyes Therapy.
For more information you are welcome to contact us on 0836161662 or email us at ashley@brighteyestherapy.co.za
