Occupational Therapy

There are many kids who struggle in their daily routine work, or tasks because of poor motor skills, sensory difficulties, or balance and co-ordination problem. This dysfunction could be due to childhood Neuro-developmental, emotional, or behavioral problems like Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, Mental Retardation, Down syndrome, and many more. To treat such childhood illness, a holistic approach is needed and the team comprised of Psychiatrist, Neurologist, Occupational Therapist, Special Educator, Speech Therapist and ABA Therapist is beneficial.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) is a branch of health care that helps people who have physical, sensory, or cognitive problems. It is a type of physical therapy that focus on fine and gross motor skills, sensory processing, balance and co-ordination, self-regulation and improve their motor planning for a better adaption to day to day activities.Occupational therapists practice in the wide range of areas like pediatrics, neurological science, musculoskeletal conditions, mental health, geriatrics etc.It varies from writing, typing, buttoning of shirt to painting.

How they work?

Occupational Therapist, who are trained in occupational therapy, apply their skill to identify the challenges of the children that are troubling in their everyday activities. They assess weakness and strength of the child in detail by using their tools, with the help of detailed and comprehensive report of the assessment they make program of activities to make the improvement in their functioning.

There are many day to day activities, tasks, and skills affected and taken care by Occupational Therapist. For example -

  • Fine motor skill and motor planning skills, hand eye co-ordination.
  • Self-care routine - like the brushing of teeth, dressing, zipping, buttoning of shirt.
  • Study - like holding pen/ pencil, writing, painting, and lining.
  • Gross motor skills
  • Catching, throwing things, playing.
  • Balance and co-ordination
  • Jumping, running, playing, swinging, spinning.
  • Motor planning and organizing skills
  • Bag packing, Placing book on self.
  • Sensory processing
  • Reaction to sound, light flashes, dark area, taste, touch, smell.
  • Support sensory processing and regulation for attention and concentration.
  • Visual motor skills and hand eye coordination.

These problems develop on different age group of the kids and making them in trouble. They struggle to cope with their peer group’s activities and feels left behind and can be victim of bullying. It is observed that Occupational Therapy should be started as soon as possible, the problem is noticed by parents, caregiver or school teachers, the more effective results are expected if started early. Being able to do basic skills, kid’s starts to gain their self-esteem, confidence, which further encourage adopting in the peer groups.

How Occupational Therapy Helps?

Occupational Therapy helps children with different needs develop skills to perform the purposeful activities that make up everyday life. It aims to help children be as independent as possible in their everyday lives. Occupational Therapist can work on dysphagia, dyspraxia, holding difficulties, dyslexia, visual processing issues, executing functioning issues, and many more.OT also provide specialized seating plan for restless or children with ADHD.

There are many sets of activities that are applied to improve the problem like a sensory diet, heavy work, sensory room application, multi-sensory techniques for teaching handwriting, lacing board technique. Recommend adaptations or specialized equipment for home and/or school to improve participation.

How UDGAM will help in treatment

After the detailed assessment if your child have a difficulties, an Individualized program of activities is planned. This personalized plan

  • Lists individualized goals for the child.
  • Specifies the plan for services the youngster will receive.

We at UDGAM - A Mental Health Care & Rehabilitation Centre,  comprise a dedicated team of mental health professionals including Pediatric Occupational Therapist who believe that right interventions for children can bring impactful changes in their and theirs parent’s life. We have online home based program and clinic based program for children with neurodevelopmental difficulties special needs and Learning Disability. We provide quality care, support & multidisciplinary services to achieve this and promote Hope, Health & Happiness.