Occupational Therapy helps children develop sensory awareness, strength and coordination needed for self-care, and early learning skills.
Children who have social and behavioral difficulties may also benefit from treatment.
Occupational Therapy Targets:
Fine Motor Skills - the precise movement of hands in manipulating objects, and in coordinating arm/hand use with visual skills.
Decreased hand strength and eye/hand coordination, poor body awareness and motor planning, poor visual tracking, difficulty using both hands at the same time, and reaching arms across the body for an object.
Self-Help Skills - the daily activities of dressing, eating , grooming, and hygiene.
Difficulty or inability buttoning, zipping, or tying articles of clothing,or problems holding eating or grooming utensils.
Social Skills - the ability to interact appropriately with peers and adults in any given situation.
Difficulty sitting still, following directions, staying on task, making friends,taking turns, or managing emotions.
Orthopedic Problems - problems with muscles and joints which limit the child’s ability to walk, play, eat, dress, and groom self.
Fisted hands, arms flexed at chest, poor pencil grip, and inability to fully straighten or bend arms and/or other joints.
Sensory Integration Problems - problems processing or organizing sensory information, especially visual, auditory, and tactile sensations.
Difficulty learning concepts, following directions, attending to activities not of his or her own choosing, performing personal care tasks, dislike of certain textures, physical clumsiness, social and emotional problems, impulsivity, and poor