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Occupational Therapy (OT) for special needs kids

Occupational Therapy (OT) for special needs kids 

 

OT is a type of treatment that works with people to achieve independence in all areas of their life such as cognitive, physical, and motor skills while building self-esteem. 

OT is One of the most trusted services that a child with special needs might qualify for. 

Pediatric OT helps children gain independence while also strengthening the development of fine motor skills, sensory motor skills, and visual motor skills that children need to function and socialize.

Children with special needs do not always suffer from physical disabilities. Sometimes, it can be learning issues, dependency, behavioral problems, and anger. OT can help in the form of learning how to release anger and reflect on this behavior after.

Benefits of OT : 

O Tist working with children typically use a wide range of techniques and routines that seem like play. In reality, they are designed to target areas of delay and difficulty.

occupational therapist works with children to achieve the following results:

  • Help to Improve gross motor such as sitting, standing, walking, running and others
  • Help kids work on fine motor skills so they can grasp and release toys and develop good handwriting skills
  • Address hand-eye coordination to improve play and school skills such as hitting a target, batting a ball, copying from a blackboard, etc.
  • Help kids with severe developmental delays learn basic tasks (such as bathing, getting dressed, brushing their teeth, and feeding themselves)
  • Help kids with behavioral disorders maintain positive behaviors in all environments. e.g. instead of hitting others or acting out, using positive ways to deal with anger, such as writing about feelings or participating in a physical activity.
  • Teach kids with physical disabilities the coordination skills needed to feed themselves, use a computer, or increase the speed and clarity of their handwriting
  • Evaluate a child’s need for specialized equipment, such as wheelchairs, splints, bathing equipment, dressing devices, or communication aids
  • Work with kids who have sensory and attention issues to improve focus and social skills
  • Work to improve muscle strength, Balance and coordination
  • Occupational therapy assistants helps to improve body awareness in children with disabilities 
  • O Tist  provides a sensory diet to improve sensory regulation in everyday activities.
  • OT help in improve oro-motor skill

 

 

O Tist  helps to improve oral-motor skills such as chewing sucking swallowing, blowing, tongue movement and strength of oro-motor muscles which help to improve speech as well

 

  • OT help in school readiness

School readiness refers to appropriate fine and gross motor, language and communication, self-help and emotional competence, cognitive and play skills that children require before starting school.

If your child is starting school within the next two years. You have concerns regarding their age appropriate development toward any of the following areas an O Tist  can assist.

  •   Improve attention span
  •   Improve eye hand coordination in writing’
  •   Improve mental ability
  •   Improve logical thinking and problem-solving skills
  •   Using a pencil with appropriate grip
  •   Writing name
  •   Cutting simple shapes
  •   Copy simple shapes
  •   Knowledge of basic colours
  •   Knowledge of some letters
  •   Counts objects
  •   Complete interlocking puzzle (8-10 pieces)
  •   Understand concepts of size, location, quantity and quality
  •   Able to problem solve
  •   Undressing/dressing
  •   Independent in toileting
  •   Manage lunch and drink bottle
  •   Listen attentively (at group time)
  •   Able to follow multi step instructions
  •   Cope with transitions
  •   Follow a structured classroom routine
  •   Understand the rules
  •   Able to socialize and play cooperatively with peers
  •   Able to share and take turns
  •   Play imaginatively
  •   Manage frustration and avoid temper tantrums
  •   Make needs known
  •   Manage school environment without support
  •   Deal with the structured nature of a formal learning environment

 

 

  • In long term O Tist helps to Improve the quality of life

Who may benefit from OT ?

 Kids with certain medical conditions may benefit. Some conditions are as follows:

 

  • Birth Injuries or Birth Defects
  • Sensory Processing Disorders
  • ADHD/ ADD
  • Traumatic Injuries (Brain or Spinal Cord)
  • Learning Problems
  • Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorders
  • Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Mental Health or Behavioral Problems
  • Broken Bones or other Orthopedic Injuries
  • Developmental Delays
  • Post-surgical Conditions
  • Burns
  • Spina Bifida
  • Cancer
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy and other Chronic Illnesses

Even in later life older adult take benefit of OT

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