Incorporating Assistive Technology in Occupational Therapy
Assistive technology (AT) is anything that helps a person function in their daily lives. Perhaps technology isn’t immediately associated with occupational therapy, but it is in fact a core part of helping people, both young and old, live their most functional lives.
Occupational therapy involves making daily occupations, or activities, manageable, and technology can be a huge part of that. Technology doesn’t have to be anything fancy; it can be a white noise machine, sound-blocking headphones, or window covers to prevent intense brightness in a room. In fact, a lot of therapists utilize what would be considered assistive technology every day. It’s important to recognize that this is a part of occupational therapy and be able to incorporate technology in treatment, especially in cases where more advanced devices need to be utilized, such as AAC tablets.
Assistive technology in OT goes far beyond just being able to use whatever piece of equipment or system. Therapists should be prepared to problem-solve with any assistive devices or systems, such as how to help acquire and customize, assist with any technical issues, and actually incorporate the device throughout therapy.
This doesn’t mean that an OT needs to be able to do all this by themselves. When it comes to more advanced technology, utilizing and acquiring the equipment is going to involve the help of office staff, educators, parents, other disciplines, and the manufacturer. For example, a child that is nonverbal and utilizes a speech tablet would incorporate collaboration between an occupational and speech therapist during therapy, but the OTs job is to help the child be able to functionally use the device.
Using Assistive Technology to Aid with Sensory Processing
Sensory processing issues are something that is often encountered in pediatric occupational therapy. There are a lot of ATs that can be used to help lessen the external stimuli, which will calm a child down, allowing them to focus on therapy. This can then be transferred into other environments, such as home and school life.
Multisensory environments (MSEs) are spaces modified to create calm, productive surroundings. This can be different depending on the individual. For example, a space can be created with dimmable lights, a bean bag chair, a weighted blanket, and a white noise machine. There could be limited decorations to prevent distractions. Environments can play a huge role in a child’s functionality and productivity, especially if overstimulation is common. If MSEs are effective for the child, they can be advocated for in other environments such as the school and home.
Apps are another great piece of assistive technology. Many people have smartphones and tablets nowadays making apps readily available and cost-effective.
Some great app examples include: Fluidity, Calm, White Noise Lite, BrainWorks, Sensory Treat, and Zones of Regulation.1
BrainWorks and Sensory Treat have a lot of different exercises and activities broken down by environments (school, home, etc.) that can then be added into different routines. These are great tools to find new sensory activities for therapists. A routine can then be built for a child depending on what type of sensory stimulation they need to calm down, and this routine can then be given to a parent. Alternatively, the parent can have the app and the routine can be input right into the app.
These are all only some examples of how technology can be applied in the occupational therapy setting. With constant advancements in technology, it’s important for OTs to be aware of the different tools they have available to help promote the most functionality in a child’s life.
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1. Piller et al., 2.
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Goodrich, Beth and Eileen Garza. “Occupational Therapy’s Role with Providing Assistive Technology Devices and Services,” AOTA, accessed 17 June 2022, https://www.aota.org/-/media/corporate/files/aboutot/professionals/whatisot/rdp/facts/at-fact-sheet.pdf.
Piller, A., Del Pilar Saa, M., Tremino, I., Koester, A. C., & Duker, L. S. “Using technology to enhance sensory-based interventions,” SIS Quarterly Practice Connections. 6, no. 1 (2021), 2–4. https://www.aota.org/publications/sis-quarterly/sensory-integration-processing-sis/sipsis-2-21/