Benefits of Occupational Therapy


A child would benefit from seeing an occupational therapist if they
experience challenges in any of the following areas of development:

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Gross Motor Skills

Such as: balance, walking, running, hopping, skipping, jumping, climbing stairs & playgrounds, balls skills, riding a bike

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Fine motor skills

Such as: using feeding utensils & scissors, holding a pencil, drawing & writing, fastening buttons and zippers, dressing & tying shoe laces

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Low muscle tone or endurance for activity

Including: slouching at work desk, preferring sedentary tasks and avoiding physical activity

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Visual perceptual and visual motor skills

Such as: eye/hand coordination tasks, assembling puzzles, drawing, copying, letter formation, spacing words and writing on the line, reversing letters when writing, coloring within the lines, organization of written work

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Oral motor and feeding skills

Such as: difficulty chewing & drinking, picky eaters and problem feeders, gagging and food aversions, persistent feeding difficulties resulting in low weight gain

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Self-care/Self-help skills

Including: feeding, dressing, toileting, bathing, grooming.

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Sensory Processing

Such as: hyperactivity or under responsive reactions (behaviors are over or under responsive to the sense of touch, sound, sight, taste, movement, smell), awareness of the body’s position in space, clumsiness

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Self-regulation

Including: the ability to control impulses, sustain attention & concentration, organize tasks, manage one’s behaviors, moods, & reactions, and maintain endurance for activities

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Play skills, social interactions and academic achievement

Early intervention can have a positive impact on the quality of life of a child, influencing family relationships, friendships, overall development and self-esteem.

Occupational therapy can help children with the following conditions (and is not limited to):

  • Learning Disabilities
  • Dysgraphia (handwriting difficulty)
  • Developmental Delays
  • Dyspraxia (impaired motor planning)
  • Sensory Processing Disorder
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Attention Deficit Disorder
  • Developmental Coordination Disorder
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Feeding Disorders (picky eaters/problem feeders)