A Paediatric Occupational Therapist is a health care professional who works closely with children experiencing difficulties in their everyday life which may impact on their learning and development. They develop programs to help children improve their skills, independence and promote confidence in a positive and fun environment. They use assessment tools, treatment plans and evaluation in their interventions and work closely with families, teachers and other health care professionals involved in the child's life.
You do not need a referral from your doctor to access services. Simply call and make an appointment to discuss your concerns.
If you feel that your child is not making their milestones or if you have any concerns about their development, you should make an enquiry with an Occupational Therapist.
Some common areas of difficulty:
Everyday living skills such as dressing, using a knife and fork, organising self.
School tasks such as reading, writing, spelling, drawing, cutting, keeping up in class.
Participating in sports
If your child appears clumsy, falls easily or often bumps into things
Playing with toys such as lego, puzzles, board games, building blocks or beading
Poor balance and coordination
Unable to sit still, fidgety
Remembering a message or set of instructions
Easily distracted, poor attention and concentration
Does not enjoy or is afraid of motion activity or playground equipment i.e. swings, jumping, climbing
Sensitive to noise, smell, touch or taste
Doesn't react or is slow to react to pain
OT's also work with children who have specific diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Sensory Processing Disorders, ADHD and Global Developmental Delay.
Prior to the initial assessment, a phone conversation between the parent and therapist will occur. The therapist will request any relevant reports from other health professionals and teachers and work samples may also be gathered. The assessment is conducted at the child's home and takes approximately 1.5 hours. Based on the assessment results , the therapist will suggest the therapy frequency options ( certain number of blocks or ongoing until the child achieves the goal), depending on the needs of the individual child .If therapy is recommended and parents want to pursue, then a suitable time will be organised with the parent. If the therapy sessions are to take place within the child's school then a time is organised with the teacher.
There is no set time frame for seeing an Occupational Therapist. We can advise once the initial assessment has been conducted but generally we see children up until they have achieved their goals. Every child is different and achieves their goals within different timeframes. A child's progress is monitored and reviewed regularly and frequent discussions with parents and teachers are conducted to track progress.