Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Pediatric Occupational Therapy consists of specific interventions and supports, which are performed by a licensed Occupational Therapist, on children birth through adolescence.  The goals of occupational therapy are based on the child and families needs, and are accomplished by performing a thorough examination, evaluation, plan of care and individualized program that is designed specifically for the child. The occupational therapist works closely with the child, their families, other medical, educational, developmental and rehabilitation specialists in order to provide the highest level of comprehensive care for the child in order to achieve the child’s highest potential. Occupational Therapists assist children in learning functional skills that help them perform activities of daily living. For example, a child’s occupation is to play and learn by developing the necessary skills to grow and become a functioning, independent adult.  Occupational therapy helps a child to accomplish this by addressing such needs as:

• Regulating arousal level
• Refinement of sensory discrimination and processing
• Organization and planning of fine motor skills, handwriting skills
• Development of cognitive and processing skills
• Visual-spatial awareness
• Eye-hand coordination
• Play and socialization skills
• Self care/Self help skills and activities of daily living
• Adaptive equipment and training
• Environmental adaptations