COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT OCCUPATIONAL
THERAPY

By Myania Moses
Myania Moses & Associates, Pediatric
Occupational Therapy Services, Inc.
www.myaniamoses.com


What is pediatric occupational therapy and how
can it help my child?

Occupational therapy is an allied health profession
devoted to helping individuals with motor and
behavioral problems learn how to perform purposeful
activities. The purposeful activity of children includes:
playing, climbing, swinging, jumping, running, bike
riding, drawing, cutting and writing to name a few. The
child’s occupation is to develop play, social, self care,
gross, fine, sensory, visual and perceptual motor skills
along with pre-academic and academic skills. Through
activities the child’s response to the environment
becomes more organized and efficient.

How do I know if my child needs occupational
therapy services?

The decision to pursue occupational therapy services
for your child is a very personal one. There are a
number of reasons that a pediatrician, teacher or parent
may decide that it is time to act. Usually, there are a
number of concerns in one or more of the following
areas:

*Difficulty with coordination either gross motor, fine
motor or visual motor (for instance difficulty holding and
controlling a pencil), as well as with other children their
age.

*The child is overly sensitive to touch, movement, sights
or sounds. Difficulty tolerating touch sensations may be
exhibited in a child having difficulty sitting close to peers
in circle time or standing in line at school.

*Under reactivity to sensory stimulation, this may be
exhibited by children who are constantly seeking input
of various types.

*Activity level that is unusually high or unusually low.

*Increasing frustration or feelings of failure.

*Difficulty with learning self care skills: dressing,
fastening clothing or independent feeding.

*Poor organization of behavior.

*Difficulty making and keeping friends.

*Difficulty learning new and unfamiliar tasks.

*Difficulty with learning to write or complete school work
or household chores in a timely manner


My child’s teacher said my child may have
sensory integration dysfunction, what does that
mean?

Sensory integration is a specialty area of practice
within the field of occupational therapy. When we think
of the senses we generally think of sight, sound, smell
and taste. In addition to these senses, occupational
therapists are concerned with the senses of touch,
movement and postural responses to the sensation of
gravity and movement. Just as the eyes detect visual
information and relay it to the brain for interpretation
and action, other sensory receptors pick up and relay
information to the brain for interpretation and purposeful
response. Many of our sensory processes take play
within the nervous system at an unconscious level. Cells
within the skin send information about light touch, pain,
temperature and pressure to the brain. Structures in the
inner ear along with our eyes detect movement and
changes in position of the head. The vestibular system
allows us to maintain our balance while engaged in
physical activity. The proprioceptive system gives us a
sense of where we are in apace and allows us to move
our arms and legs in a guided and controlled fashion.
An adequately functioning sensory system is crucial to
helping us interact with others and the environment. This
interaction between the senses and higher cortical
functions is complex and necessary in order for a
person to interpret a situation accurately and make an
appropriate response. It is this organization of the
senses that is termed sensory integration. Pediatric
occupational therapists work with infants and young
children to facilitate an adequately functioning feedback
loop between the sensory systems and the brain
allowing for the development of appropriate skills and
self-regulation.

Why does my child need to have an evaluation
and treatment plan?

The evaluation determines your child’s strengths and
weakness in various areas of development We use the
information gathered in the evaluation to determine the
nature of services needed and to write specific
treatment goals, as well as, to measure your child’s
progress. Most insurance companies require an
evaluation and treatment plan to consider
reimbursement for services rendered. Depending on
the age of the child and reason for referral, the
evaluation usually takes from 1-2 hours. For families
coming to pursue work in the DIR/Floortime Model an
additional session may need to be scheduled. The
recommendations for treatment and the written
treatment plan are based on the results of the
evaluation and the concerns of the parents.

If my child needs occupational therapy how long
does it last?

Each child is very different and courses of therapy can
range from 3-6 months to more typically 18-24 months
depending on the severity of issues. We have found that
children who come regularly to their scheduled
appointments and follow home programs make the
most progress.

After I schedule the evaluation what should I tell
my child?

If your child is old enough to have a conversation
chances are he/she has already told you some things
are difficult for them or they don’t like school. A
conversation noting these concerns: “I know you don’t
like writing, dressing or feel uncomfortable with
standing in line with your friends (or whatever the
presenting problem may be) etc. We are going to see a
special teacher to see if she can make some of these
things easier for you. She is going to play some games
with you to see what can help you and help me learn to
help you too.” Most children are relieved to hear that
their parents understand that some things are hard for
them and that they are going to get some special help.
The evaluation is done in a fun way and is like playing
games at a table and playing on an indoor playground.
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