Treatment
The unique child-friendly home clinic setting offers flexible, adaptive treatment options and sensory integration equipment.
Many people are surprised to hear that children receive occupational therapy, because the term occupation is usually associated with work. Occupational therapists have a broad view of “occupation.” It is a child’s “job” or “occupation” to play to develop physical coordination, emotional maturity, social skills to interact with other children, and self-confidence to try new experiences and explore new environments. At ABC Kids OT, developing these skills is critical for transition to the independence required in adulthood. As pediatric occupational therapists, we address many skills needed for success in a child’s daily life.
The act of playing is an important tool that influences a child’s life. The primary goals of childhood are to grow, learn, and play. It is often through play that children learn to make sense of the world around them.
Therapy is designed to seem like play to the children, yet the therapist draws upon extensive training in specialty areas to provide challenging therapeutic activities aimed at developing greater capabilities. We help children be successful in the many “jobs” of childhood, including play, self-care, school performance and social interactions. Most treatment are based on sensory integration principles and is child-led, but has input from the therapist to have the “just-right” challenge and lead to an adaptive response.
We provide treatment the following areas:
- Gross Motor
- Fine Motor
- Printing/Handwriting Skills
- Visual Perceptual Skills
- Sensory Processing and Sensory Integration
- Motor Planning
- Oral Motor Functioning
- Self-Help Skills
- Adaptive Equipment Modifications
- Environmental Adaptations
- Play/Socialization
We develop and implement a client-centered plan of intervention for children in collaboration with their families and other health care professionals, based on the in-depth standardized assessments. The premise of Occupational Therapy is to promote and facilitate the development of skills and behaviours essential to daily living and to minimize the impact of impairment and/or disability on functional independence.
We also recommend toys and play activities that would benefit the child’s unique sensory needs, promote development and provide stimulation to the child.
Home programmes and sensory diets are provided based on the child’s age, individual diagnosis and special sensory needs.
We do school visits to consult with teachers and other health care providers to address the child’s unique sensory needs in the school setting.
Treatment usually consists of a one hour treatment session at ABC Kids OT, once or twice a week, depending on each child’s individual needs and treatment goals.