Occupational Therapist (OT)

N

nandz

Guest
What exactly does Occupational Therapist (OT) do for those difficult child's with ADHD/Sensory Issues? I think my difficult child *might* have high functioning autism, but he has never been diagnosed. My question is what does Occupational Therapist (OT) help with kids like this? I think my difficult child may benefit from Occupational Therapist (OT), but just wondered what all it entailed. Thanks!!!
 
T

TheBonnis

Guest
Occupational Therapy (Occupational Therapist (OT)) helps kids who have sensory issues learn to organize their environment. My daughter is 6 years old and has been in Occupational Therapist (OT) since she was 6 months old. Occupational Therapist (OT) can help with many things including handwriting, recognizing facial expressions, fine motor tasks, gross motor play, as well as the 5 senses, and proprioceptive and vestibular systems. It has helped my daughter by giving her a "sensory diet"... for example, we discovered that getting her a weighted blanket helps her settle down at night, and that spinning actually is very calming for her. I know all kids are different, but if you think your child might have any kind of sensory issues (like being hyposensitive OR hypersensitive) I think an Occupational Therapist (OT) evaluation would be a good idea. Even if the Occupational Therapist (OT) doesn't think ongoing Occupational Therapist (OT) is necessary, an evaluation couldn't hurt.

Best of luck to you!
 

Marguerite

Active Member
Occupational Therapy can help in a lot of areas. Not only anything to do with sensory issues, but also if there are problems with loose joints causing pain or affecting handwriting. My eldest daughter is an Occupational Therapist (OT), actually chose the profession because she grew up with our family and saw the sort of problems that her practical mind could work on, in other people.

I really don't know how much it could help with your child, because there could be issues that even YOU don't fully realise. Once an Occupational Therapist (OT) begins to assess your child, sometimes some unexpected things can come out. If there is a need to refer to a different speciality, they will do this. For example, sometimes Sensory Integration Disorder (SID) can account for food faddishness, or possibly there could be a genuinely underlying physical problem to do with swallowing, and this becomes a speech therapy issue/ A lot of people don't realise that speech therapists also can help with swallowing problems, although within speech therapy the swallowing experts are a subset, often. But if the issue is purely sensory - it's still coming under Occupational Therapist (OT).

If you feel your child has Sensory Integration Disorder (SID) issues, even if it's not formally diagnosed, then an Occupational Therapist (OT) is worth a visit. But while you're there, check out all possibilities. Any report can also be put into the centre of the room when other specialists check out your child, and it all gets considered in making a diagnosis.

Marg
 
Top