Enhancing Child Development Through Occupational Therapy Activities for Children and Pre-Teens with Down Syndrome
Occupational therapy plays a crucial role in promoting the development and participation of children and pre-teens with Down syndrome. By utilizing the power of play, occupational therapists can facilitate motor, cognitive, sensory, perceptual, and communication skills, tailored to the unique needs of each child
Enhancing Communication Skills in Children with Autism: Insights from a Joint Attention-Based Occupational Therapy Intervention
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face challenges in joint attention, which significantly impact their social and communication abilities. Occupational therapy interventions focusing on joint attention strategies have shown promising results in improving social interaction and language skills in children with ASD
Occupational Therapy for Autistic Preschoolers: A Parent-Mediated Anxiety Intervention
As an occupational therapist specializing in pediatric care, you play a crucial role in supporting autistic children and their families. Anxiety is a common challenge faced by autistic preschoolers, significantly impacting their participation in daily activities.
Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Autistic Children: The Role of Pediatric Occupational Therapy Clinics
Early intervention for autism is crucial in ensuring better mental health outcomes for children. Pediatric occupational therapists have a critical role in addressing the mental health requirements of autistic children.
Collaborative Problem-Solving: Using the Engineering Design Process to Boost Executive Function Skills in Autistic Adolescents
As therapists, there is an understanding of the difficulties that autistic adolescents face when it comes to executive function (EF) skills. These skills are essential for academic and non-academic occupations and integrating into school communities. However, cognitive flexibility, working memory, and emotional control can be challenging for many autistic individuals. One problem-solving approach that occupational therapists can use to improve EFs in autistic adolescents is the Engineering Design Process (EDP).
Collaboration Between School Speech Therapists and General Education Teachers
Collaboration between school speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and general education teachers is crucial for the success of students with communication disorders. By working together, SLPs and teachers can create a more supportive learning environment and help students reach their full potential.
Aided Communication
Aided language modeling or stimulation is a language intervention technique that uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices to facilitate communication in children with limited or no functional communication. SLPs can use this aided communication technique in therapy, or parents can implement this in day-to-day life. Aided communication is demonstrated in context to present an augmented interaction model using the AAC device as the main mode of communication for the child.
Working with Teachers as an In-School Therapist
Communication and collaboration may seem complicated, as therapists and teachers may be busy and overwhelmed. Communication and collaboration can become even more complicated when a therapist treats in multiple schools. However, working with teachers inside and outside the classroom should be considered part of a child's treatment and a crucial one at that.
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Reflex Integration
Primitive reflexes are those reflexes that develop in a newborn to help a child survive and develop. These primitive reflexes integrate at a certain period in a child’s development as they no longer need to automatically turn their head towards a food source or startle and hold on to their mother, for example. When the reflexes do not integrate, they can, in some cases, significantly affect a child's motor skills and cause sensory sensitivity.
Snowman Craft
What better way to prep for the holidays than by sitting down and doing a craft together as a family? This craft is not only adorable, it also targets some key fine motor skills! Enjoy this fun winter or Christmas craft with your family this weekend.
Utilizing Sensory Books for Feeding Therapy
Feeding therapy has many pieces to it. Occupational therapists deal with the sensory component of feeding therapy, while a speech language pathologist will look at the oral-motor component. Feeding is an important occupation in the daily lives of children, and thus it is important for OTs to work on a child’s self-feeding and food acceptance.
Utilizing the Complexity Approach in Speech Therapy
The complexity approach is a method of choosing treatment targets to make therapy more efficient by promoting system-wide change or phonological learning on a broader scale. It is used to treat phonological disorders.
The Intensity of Treatment for Articulation
The intensity of treatment is an essential aspect of pediatric speech therapy. A child may be unable to handle long treatment sessions many days in a row. This post pulls evidence-based research as to how the intensity of treatment is recommended to be handled.
Hippotherapy as part of Physical Therapy Treatment
Hippotherapy is the use of equine movement as part of physical, occupational, or speech therapy. It is a strategy or tool to incorporate within traditional PT, OT, or Speech treatment; it is not a standalone treatment. It is beneficial to both pediatric and adult patients. Hippotherapy involves cooperation from the therapist, horse handlers, and even volunteers. It is even possible to cotreat during hippotherapy. Regardless of how hippotherapy is conducted, it will not be just the therapist and child; it will be an operation calling for teamwork.
Effectiveness of Art Interventions for Children with ASD
Art interventions are effective for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Creative arts interventions target behavioral, sensory processing, communication, and social skills.
Obstacle Crossing as an Indicator of Dynamic Balance in Children with CP
Obstacle crossing is a part of daily life. A child may be walking and has to step over a stick or manipulate around objects, like desks or toys. This requires dynamic balance. Obstacle crossing requires trunk control and stability in the lower limbs to maintain a center of mass.
Evidence-Based OT Interventions for Fine Motor Skills
The American Journal of Occupational Therapy released a study to show that common occupational therapy interventions effectively address fine motor problems and define the most common interventions used. The multisensory and motor development approaches were the most common and effective interventions.
Gesture Milestones as an Indicator of Language Development
Gestures are a precursor to speech and language, so looking at a child's gesture development is a good indicator of how a child’s speech and language will develop. If a child is not reaching typical gesture milestones, early intervention is crucial to help facilitate development.
Walker Type Recommendations for Children with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a common motor disability encountered in pediatric physical therapy. Depending on the GMFCS Level, a child may benefit from a walker to help ease the strain of walking, increase stability and posture, and reduce energy costs.
Handwriting Interventions for Occupational Therapists
The American Journal of Occupational Therapy published “Interventions Within the Scope of Occupational Therapy to Improve Children’s Academic Participation: A Systematic Review.” This systematic review looked at OT interventions to improve components, including educational participation, literacy participation, and handwriting. Since occupational therapy interventions often target handwriting, it is crucial to use evidence-based and best-practice interventions.