Occupational therapy (OT) programs assist people of all ages with sensory, cognitive and physical issues. Occupational therapy can help individuals in regaining independence in many areas of their lives.
Do you have any concerns about your child’s daily activities at home, community, or in school? Do they face difficulties that most ordinarily growing children do not? If this is the case, an occupational therapist could be able to assist your child.
What Is Occupational Therapy? A Quick Look
Occupational therapy (OT) is a treatment that aims to help people improve their motor skills, balance, and coordination. It aids children and adults who have difficulty with routine chores such as writing or getting dressed.
- OT is frequently required for children with developmental coordination impairment (DCD).
- Occupational therapists assist children with daily activities such as eating, dressing, going to school, and socializing.
- If your kid is experiencing physical or psychological difficulties, developmental delays, or intellectual disabilities, an occupational therapist may be able to help.
What Is The Process Of Occupational Therapy?
Each child’s needs are met through pediatric occupational therapy.Therapists begin by assessing strengths and weaknesses. Then they design an exercise and activity program that focuses on the motor skills that need to be improved. Picking objects for example, is a way to improve fine motor skills. On the other hand, performing Jumping jacks can develop gross motor abilities.
Therapists might work on daily activities like getting dressed with someone who has trouble with motor planning. They assist people in learning the first steps and the tasks that follow.
If your kid is having difficulty accomplishing ordinary tasks due to physical, psychological, or emotional issues, developmental delay, or intellectual handicap, she may need to see an occupational therapist.
Why Would Your Child Need To See An Occupational Therapist?
The therapists look at your child’s thoughts, emotions, behavior, sensory processing, social interactions, play, gross motor skills, and fine motor skills, among other things.
Occupational therapists will concentrate on your child’s strengths and work in a family-centered manner. When dealing with your child, they take into account the specific needs of your family.
What Does an Occupational Therapist Do?
They work with people of all ages, including premature babies, young children, middle-aged adults, and the elderly.
In other words, the therapist examines how you perform any activity or task. The OT will examine your needs during your initial appointment.
They’ll next collaborate with you to develop an occupational therapy plan for your children and create goals that are tailored to your child’s specific requirements, disabilities, or limitations. Your occupational therapist can teach your child how to adjust motions, develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and perform activities in new ways.
Your Occupational Therapist May:
- Show you how to button a shirt, tie your shoes, get in and out of the shower, and work on your computer in new ways.
- Prescribe and instruct you on how to utilize assistance devices such as higher toilet seats and wheelchairs.
- Children that act out or hit others should have their behavior issues addressed.
- Improve your hand-eye coordination to hit a tennis ball.
- Work on your motor skills so you can hold a pencil in your hand.
What Is the Difference Between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy?
Both physical therapy and occupational therapy aid in the improvement of children’s quality of life, although there are some distinctions. Physical therapy (PT) aids in the following areas:
- joint range of motion pain strength
- endurance
- abilities in gross motor skills (large-muscle movements made with the arms, legs, feet, or entire body)
Occupational therapy aids in the following areas:
- talents in fine motor motions (small-muscle movements made with the hands, fingers, and toes, such as grasping)
- abilities in visual perception
- abilities of cognition (thinking)
- issues with sensory processing
Who Could Benefit from Occupational Therapy?
OT can help children and teenagers with the following conditions:
- Birth defects or birth injuries
- Burns
- cancer
- Catastrophic brain or spinal cord damage learning difficulties
- Rheumatoid arthritis in children and adolescents
- Abnormalities of sensory processing
- Behavioral or mental health issues
- Delays in development
- Post-operative complications
- Other orthopedic traumas, such as shattered bones
- Traumatic amputations in people with spina bifida
- Hand injuries that are severe
- Multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and other chronic ailments are examples of chronic illnesses.
Best Way to Find an Occupational Therapist
If you believe occupational therapy could be beneficial to your kid, you can:
- Request a referral to a specialist from your doctor.
- Consult the guidance counselor or the school nurse. Based on your child’s academic or social requirements, they may be able to provide a recommendation.
- For referrals, contact a nearby hospital or rehabilitation clinic.
Bottom Line
Keep in mind that each child is unique and develops skills at their own speed. If you believe your kid is having difficulty with some of the developmental skills, you should consult an occupational therapist.
Hope AMC is a one-of-a-kind Occupational Therapy clinic in Dubai, providing services to children with special needs. At Hope AMC, we have the best-trained occupational therapists in Dubai who do complete pediatric occupational therapy examinations before establishing occupational therapy programs for each child’s unique needs.
The therapists employ advanced treatment strategies and instruments to ensure that the children achieve their goals and obtain maximal independence in carrying out OT activities for children. Our therapies help children with special needs improve their fine and gross motor skills, as well as their sensory integration, visual motor skills, handwriting skills, grooming skills, learning capacity, and social skills.
Click here to schedule an appointment with our highly experienced occupational therapists today.
