Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that focuses on helping people do all things they want and need to do in their daily lives, such as work, school, play, hobbies, household tasks, social interactions etc.
2. We all know the common
meaning of the word
'occupation' - job or
career path.
However, the term
'occupations' has a very
different meaning in the
context of occupational
therapy.
It refers to the everyday
activities that people do as
individuals, in families and in
society to occupy time and bring
meaning to life.
Things that people need
to, want to and are
expected to do in day-to-
day lives are collectively
termed ‘occupations’.
4. What is Occupational
Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a healthcare
profession that focuses on helping
people do all things they want and
need to do in their daily lives, such
as work, school, play, hobbies,
household tasks, social interactions
etc.
Some people might be facing
real troubles in doing the
simplest of daily tasks like
dressing themselves, eating,
playing sports, doing dishes etc.
5. Occupational therapy helps them
to live the best life at home, at
work – and everywhere else,
increasing their independence and
wellbeing.
Sometimes we see physicians refer a
person to an occupational therapist
if they have a disability or have been
recovering from a medical condition,
such as stroke, or underwent
surgery.
By equipping people to do their daily
activities, occupational therapy aims
to improve their quality of life.
7. What is Paediatric
Occupational Therapy?
Paediatric occupational therapy, as
the word implies, works to improve
the bodily functions and daily skills of
children and teens with disabilities,
injuries, or illnesses.
8. Occupational therapy interventions
assist children in developing fine
motor skills, cognition, gross motor
skills etc., to carry out their daily
tasks.
Pediatric Occupational therapists
at Rehabilitation Centre in Dubai
are qualified experts who analyse
and design activities that help
children of all ages and needs.
9. They provide treatment for
sensory and motor skills, self-help,
play, social skills, school readiness,
fine motor skills, and cognitive
development.
By developing these skills and
abilities, they can easily participate
in all aspects of normal life by
taking care of themselves, acting
appropriately at school or in social
situations, and more.
11. Who benefits from
Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapists often
work with adults and children of
all ages who have a wide range
of conditions, such as mental
health issues or physical or
learning disabilities. Pediatric
occupational therapy majorly
works with children with Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down
Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy,
Attention Deficit Disorder
(ADD), Developmental Delays etc.
12. Children recovering from a brain
injury or stroke may also need
the help of occupational
therapists to equip them for daily
life activities.
Sometimes pediatric occupational
therapists would have to work
with children from the time they
are born till they become adults,
and sometimes the problems get
rectified way before.
Self-feeding
Self-dressing and grooming
Hygiene and toileting
Helping with chores
Academic skills
Socialising skills
Occupational Therapy majorly
equips children to acquire all
essential self-care skills
required for daily living:
13. All skills are instilled in children by developing and sharpening
their fine motor and gross motor skills.
Once these skills get attained, they are good to go!
15. As mentioned before, an
occupational therapist helps people
overcome their challenges in
completing everyday tasks or
activities.
What an occupational therapist
does at a clinic or rehabilitation
centre is as follows:
Assessment
16. To begin the occupational therapy process, the therapist
conducts a few initial and repeated assessments focusing on
individuals and their environmental abilities and problems
related to activities in daily life.
Assessment includes standardised procedures, interviews, and
observations while performing various tasks in a variety of
settings, reviewing their medical history, and consulting with
people in their lives.
17. Planning
With the assessment results in hand, a
treatment plan gets formulated that
includes specific tasks and short and long-
term goals.
The treatment plan must be practical,
realistic and individualistic, catering to the
development stage, habits, roles, lifestyle
preferences and the environment.
The treatment plan must aid the
individual to achieve the breakthroughs
needed to elevate their everyday life.
18. Intervention
Once the plan is perfectly planned, the next step
is timely interventions from the part of
occupational therapists that are person-oriented
and environmental.
Interventions are must to facilitate the
performance of everyday tasks and adaptation to
their living conditions.
Teaching new techniques and methods that give
independence in personal care is a kind of
intervention. Guiding a child with autism in play
activities is an expert intervention toward
goodness.
19. Cooperation
Occupational therapists know the importance of
teamwork. Thus, they support a holistic
approach with other professionals, families,
caregivers and volunteers.
Parents and caregivers are given special
awareness classes and coaching about how to
care for children at home.
20. What are the signs that say a
child requires pediatric
occupational therapy?
21. What are the signs that say a child requires pediatric occupational therapy?
Being a parent, you might be wondering how to identify if your child
requires occupational therapy. Here are some of the signs you can look at.
If you notice these signs, it is better to consult an occupational therapist
for a detailed assessment.
22. If your child avoids certain textures or surfaces, it can denote that
they may have a sensory processing disorder.
If your child does not use both hands together when playing or
pretending to cook, it may denote that they might need assistance
developing their fine motor skills.
If your child has difficulty dressing themselves or tying their shoelaces,
it needs to be specially taken care of.
23. If your child finds a hard time calming themselves and if seen out of control.
They might need OT assistance in learning the self-calming methods like deep
breathing or gazing up at a lighted ceiling fan.
If your child avoids eye contact, take it as a sign to consult an expert.
24. If you tend to notice any of the signs mentioned before, it’s
better that you make an appointment at the best Occupational
Therapy Dubai.
Expert therapists will evaluate your child through a series of
tests that start the treatment if they have motor skills delays,
sensory processing disorders, coordination issues etc.
