Does your child have Moebius Syndrome? If so,
there are many ways pediatric occupational therapy may help him live more
comfortably and attuned with the world around him. This type of treatment is
basically focused on helping children learn their environment to help them grow
up to become independent and productive adults. In many cases, it is best used
in conjunction with physical and speech therapy.
Motor skills. Occupational therapy may help children with
Moebius Syndrome cope with the difficulties associated with limb deformities in
such activities as dressing up, tying shoes, brushing teeth, showering, and
buttoning, as well as writing or playing games. Learning these basic skills
could help the child develop self-confidence, and be a stepping stone to
developing other self-sustaining skills later on.
Visual skills. For strabismus, the occupational therapist
may design activities that promote the use of side vision in addition to visual
pursuit, with the objective of improving sensory integration as well as brain
processing. These may involve hitting a ball, walking on a beam while looking
straight ahead, eye patching to strengthen the suppressed eye, and many more.
Social skills. Occupational therapy may also help children
with Moebius Syndrome improve their self-concept, and in the process, increase
their confidence in making friends or engaging with others. Occupational
therapy does not only aim to help kids develop the ability to perform learning
task ; it also deals with behavioral skills and social interaction.
