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Occupational Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?

Occupational therapy is a health profession that offers support and advice for children who are having difficulties in their everyday living skills. Occupational Therapists work with children and their families to improve their quality of life by helping them to participate in play, pre-school, school and home activities (AAOT). Occupational Therapy promotes normal development and stimulates learning in children with specific learning disabilities, physical disabilities, delayed development, or those recovering from illness or injury (AAOT).


Occupational therapists work in partnership with the child, their parents and other important people in the child's life such as their doctor, teacher and other health professionals.

  

An occupational therapist can help a child, their care givers/parents and other people in the child's life to:

  • Gain a better understanding of the child's illness, disability or difficulties
  • Learn ways to maximize the child's performance in everyday living
  • Promote and nurture the child's strengths and self-esteem
  • Occupational therapy services are provided in a variety of settings including hospitals, community centres, private facilities and some educational facilities (e.g. schools and special units).

More specifically an occupational therapist can assist your child (0- 18yrs of age) through the use of a sensory integration, play and developmental approach with difficulties in the following areas if required:

  • Attention and concentration difficulties including ADHD.
  • Learning delays / developmental difficulties
  • Austism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
  • Self help skills (eg. feeding, toileting, dressing, shoe tying, bike riding)
  • Fine Motor / Gross Motor Difficulties including motor planning, coordination, handwriting and daily tasks.
  
  • Sensory processing / sensory integration challenges. Children with challenges in this area can be either over-responsive or under-responsive to the sensory inputs of touch, sound, sight, smell, taste and also sensations that relate to body awareness and movement (proprioception).
  • Visual processing / perception / Behaviour and self esteem issues
  • Strategies for school
  • Link to Australian Association of Occupational Therapists www.ausot.com.au and South Australian Occupational Therapy Association www.otsa.org.au

Our Occupational Therapist is Tania Thompson

 

 
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