Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Pediatric Occupational Therapists are healthcare providers who evaluate and treat children using evidenced based research for skilled interventions. Occupational therapists consider a child's psychological, cognitive, physical, emotional, and social performance skills impact on daily functional performance. OTs work with children with various physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities or delays to improve independence and participation in everyday activities of daily living (ADLs).
Pediatric OTs support children of all ages, as well as families, caregivers, and other professionals on a child’s support team. Services provided address “occupations”, which generally indicate meaningful activities and include activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), health management, rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure, and social participation.
Therapy services are play-based and goal-centered based on the individual child and family in order to improve function across settings.
The following are conditions that pediatric OTs commonly evaluate and treat:
Delayed Milestones and Premature Infants
Autism Spectrum Disorders
ADHD/ADD
Genetic Disorders
Down Syndrome
Sensory Processing Disorder
Cerebral Palsy
Dyslexia/Dysgraphia
Neurological Conditions, such as strokes and brachial plexus injuries
Orthopedic Conditions, such as limb deficiency or injuries
The following are areas of occupation and performance skills that are typically addressed in OT:
Fine and gross motor skills
Visual motor and visual perceptual skills
Motor planning and coordination
Pre-academic and Academic skills
Pre-writing and Handwriting skills
Social and play skills
Attention and self-regulation
Sensory processing
Cognitive and executive function skills
Self-care (i.e. sleeping, dressing, grooming) skills