Powerful Physical Therapy

How Occupational Therapy Can Help In Pediatric Rehabilitation

2 November 2022 by Clifford Ramos

For children, being able to play is an important part of their development. However, some children have difficulty participating in activities due to health conditions or injuries. That's where occupational therapy comes in. Occupational therapists (OTs) help children with various conditions improve their ability to perform everyday tasks. Here's a closer look at how OT can help your child in pediatric rehabilitation.

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a type of therapy that helps people learn or relearn the skills needed to perform the activities of daily life. OT can help people of all ages, from infants to the elderly. An OT's goal is to help people live as independently as possible. For example, it can be used to help children with various physical, mental, and emotional disorders improve their ability to perform daily tasks, such as eating, dressing, and bathing. It can also help them develop social skills and improve their academic performance.

Who Needs Pediatric Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapists work with children who have a variety of disorders. These disorders may include:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Sensory processing disorder
• Cerebral palsy
• Down syndrome
• Orthopedic injuries or impairments
• Developmental delays

Occupational therapists can also help children who have sustained injuries in accidents and are in need of pediatric rehabilitation.

How Can Occupational Therapy Help Your Child?

Occupational therapy is a tool used in pediatric rehabilitation. It can be beneficial in helping children overcome struggles in many areas, including:

Fine motor skills.

This refers to a child's ability to control small movements, such as writing, using scissors, and grasping objects. Your OT will work with you and your child to develop fine motor skills that will allow him or her to participate more easily in everyday activities.

Gross motor skills.

Gross motor skills refer to large movements, such as walking and running. Children with gross motor skill impairments may have difficulties participating in physical activities, such as sports and playground activities. OT can help children build the strength and endurance they need to be more active.

Cognitive functioning.

Many children with physical and mental health conditions struggle with their cognitive development. Whether you're concerned about your child's memory, attention, or problem-solving abilities, you can work with your OT to develop strategies to help your child thrive.

Sensory processing.

OT can help children with sensory processing disorders learn to better process information from their senses.

Social skills.

OT can also help children who have social skill deficits work on developing better communication and interpersonal skills.

Additionally, children with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other conditions improve their ability to function in school and at home through rehabilitation and occupational therapy.

If your child is having difficulty with everyday activities, rehabilitation through occupational therapy may be able to help. Contact a local OT rehab provider such as Dominion Physical Therapy for more information 

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