Does My Child Need Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy helps children develop the skills they need to be successful during play, socialization, activities of daily living, and learning experiences. By using purposeful and motivating activities, occupational therapists help children develop enhanced sensory processing skills, organizational skills, motor planning, visual-motor skills, and adaptive play skills. Occupational therapy promotes the skills needed to perform important day-to-day activities at home, in school, and in other social environments.

The Following Are General Indicators That A Child May Benefit From An OT Evaluation:

• Difficulty tolerating touch, such as brushing hair or brushing teeth
• Difficulties in sports, such as catching or throwing a ball
• Unable to ride a bicycle independently by age 8
• Poor organizational skills
• Difficulty regulating activity level
• Frequent emotional outburst or “meltdowns” in behavior
• Lack of age-appropriate play skills
• Weak, stiff, or uncoordinated movements
• Awkward grasp or clumsy use of crayons, pencils, scissors, or other tools and utensils
• Excessive seeking or avoidance of movement or touch
• Absence of hand preference after age 6
• Difficulty with age-appropriate self-help skills such as dressing and toileting
• Attention and organizational problems with school tasks
• Difficulties with social interaction
• Difficulties with feeding, food aversions, or a very limited diet
• Poor balance skills

If you have concerns regarding your child’s gross motor, fine motor, or sensory integration skills, contact us to schedule an evaluation.