As a speech therapist, we do not learn a great deal about occupational therapy and what they do during our educational journey! I started to learn about and understand the role of occupational therapy when I began treating patients on my own. I quickly found that collaboration with occupational therapists is vital.
The scope of occupational therapy is vast, and the goal is to help children be successful in their daily activities. In some cases, it can be challenging to do speech therapy without the support of an occupational therapist!
So, what do occupational therapists do and how do they help?
What do Occupational Therapists do?
Discover the OT Magic!
Regulation
Sensory Processing
Fine Motor
Visual Motor/Perception
Gross Motor
Executive Function
How does Occupational Therapy Help?
Here's how occupational therapy can be a game-changer for your child in these areas:Â
Fine motor challenges include handwriting, using utensils, buttoning, shoe tying, etc.
Learning gross motor tasks such as bike riding, crawling, skating, etc.
Texture sensitivity- food aversions, clothing preferences, sensory seeking, sensory avoidance.
Developing social-emotional regulation skills to identify, manage, & express emotions in healthy ways.
Enhancing hand-eye coordination (Tasks include throwing/catching a ball, handwriting, building blocks, solving puzzles).
Problem solving, planning, & organizing.
