Paediatric Occupational Therapy
SA PAEDIATRICS AND NEWBORNS ( SAPAN)
What is Paediatric Occupational Therapy?
Paediatric occupational therapists work with children from birth to adolescence to help them develop the skills needed to perform daily activities, including self-care, play, socialisation and learning.
Therapists work with children who have a range of physical, cognitive, sensory or emotional challenges that impact their ability to participate in daily activities. They use a variety of strategies and techniques, such as play-based therapy, sensory integration therapy and developmental approaches to help children overcome these challenges and improve their functional abilities.
Some common goals of therapy include improving fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, sensory processing and integration, visual perception, self-care skills, socialisation and academic performance.
Therapists work closely with families, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals to develop individual treatment plans that address each child’s unique needs and goals.
How do I know if my child would benefit from OT?
If you are concerned about your child’s development or ability to participate in daily activities, it may be helpful to consult with a paediatric occupational therapist. Some signs that your child may benefit from occupational therapy include:
Delays in reaching developmental milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, crawling or walking.
Difficulty with gross motor skills such as balance, coordination, or participating in sports or playground activities.
Challenges with self-care skills such as dressing, grooming, or toileting.
Difficulty with social skills such as interacting with peers, making friends or understanding social cues.
Difficulty with fine motor skills such as holding a pencil, using utensils, fastening buttons, or tying shoelaces.
Sensory processing difficulties such as being overly sensitive or under-responsive to sensory input, avoiding certain textures or smell, or seeking out sensory stimulation.
Difficulty with attention, organisation, or completing tasks in school or at home.
What will the sessions look like with my child?
Paediatric occupational therapists are trained to establish a strong connection with their young clients. Initially, the therapist may suggest a Parent Only session to discuss the child’s specific needs.
Assessments may be discussed and later administered to assist with concerns about the child’s development, behaviour or ability to participate in daily activities. This will be useful to develop specialised therapy sessions to better address and assist your child’s needs.
Subsequent sessions will be designed to incorporate enjoyable activities that address specific challenges faced by the child. To an outsider, these sessions may seem like playtime but a skilled paediatric occupational therapist ensures that each session is both entertaining and addressing your child’s specific needs. You will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly your child will build a positive relationship with your therapist and enjoy coming to each session.
How long will my child need OT for?
Our occupational therapist will assess your child’s progress regularly and provide you with an update as well as guidance on the duration and frequency of therapy sessions.
The duration of occupational therapy for your child will depend on their individual needs and progress, While come children may only require a few appointments together with home-based activities to improve their skills, others may require more regular, intensive therapy sessions to learn and master new skills before re-evaluation.
What if my child needs other therapies?
While each therapy is unique, they can also overlap and complement each other in addressing a child’s overall development. Working together, these therapies can provide a comprehensive and holistic approach to support a child’s physical, cognitive and emotional growth.
The need for additional services will depend on your child’s specific needs and progress and our occupational therapist can assist you with this.
How do I access Occupational Therapy for my child?
Caron Crundwell is our paediatric occupational therapist.
No referral is needed to book an occupational therapy appointment and Caron currently has availability for new clients and can work with self-managed and plan-managed NDIS clients.
To seek further information of our services or book an appointment please contact SA Paediatrics and Newborns on 08 7081 9819.
FIND OUT MORE
Contact SA Paediatrics and Newborns for more information or to book an appointment on 08 7081 9819.
