Monday, August 10, 2015

How OT Helps Young Patients with Daily Activities

Many individuals associate occupational therapy with adults. While this type of therapy can potentially help grown people to be able to work and take care of themselves, they are not the only ones who can potentially benefit from occupational therapy. It may also allow children to develop important skills needed to be more independent.

 For children, functioning better in their day-to-day lives means being able to complete their schoolwork and interacting well with their peers. Working on performing basic tasks, such as writing or getting dressed, as part of occupational therapy, may help children, especially those with developmental delays.

Children in the Stafford area with a range of motor issues and disabilities often receive occupational therapy in their home or at a clinic. Through occupational therapy, children may be able to develop refined hand-eye coordination, visual-spatial awareness, social, fine motor and sensory input skills.

During
occupational therapy sessions, youngsters will work with their licensed occupational therapists on the same skills until they achieve mastery or at least optimal outcomes. The sessions may involve a task as simple as reaching for an object. Many children who undergo occupational therapy also go through physical therapy, which can help them to build up their muscle strength and endurance, balance, coordination, and flexibility. In fact, some established facilities likewise provide speech therapy and nursing services for a more well-rounded approach if needed.