Occupational Therapy

What is

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?

Occupational therapy is a holistic treatment that focuses on helping children achieve independence in their everyday activities. Occupational therapists evaluate a child's ability to participate in daily activities and provide treatment for areas of improvement identified during the evaluation. The ultimate goal for OTs is for the client to be as independent as possible by working with them to improve emotions and address physical and social needs. Occupational therapists not only work directly with the child, but also with the parents, family, caregivers, and teachers in order to educate and reinforce specific skills and behaviors which will be used to improve and facilitate the child’s performance and functioning in all environments.

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills include the ability to control small muscles for various movements involving the fingers, hands, and wrists.

Primitive Reflexes

Primitive reflexes are innate movement patterns originating in the central nervous system.

Sensory Processing

Sensory processing refers to the way the central nervous system receives input from the environment through our senses, both internally and externally, and, in turn, produces an appropriate response to the stimuli.

Handwriting

Handwriting is the production of letters or numbers created through small strokes made with a writing utensil.

Dyspraxia

Praxis, more commonly known as motor planning, is the ability to spontaneously conceive, plan, and execute actions.

Visual-Motor Integration

Visual-motor integration (VMI) is the coordination of both a person’s hands and eyes to draw and write.

Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills are defined as movements of the large muscles of the torso, arms, and legs which create whole-body movements that establish the foundation upon which one’s fine motor skills are built.

Life Skills

Life skills include the daily tasks children participate in including dressing, bathing, grooming, and feeding.

What is