A physician may refer a child to occupational therapy for a number of reasons including premature birth, genetic disorder, conditions affecting the ability to eat and swallow, and head or spinal cord injuries. This therapy is referred to as “occupational” because a child’s “job” is to learn, play and gain skills that allow them to take care of themselves.
Occupational therapy focuses on helping children of all ages overcome developmental delays by helping them achieve the highest level of function and independence. Occupational therapy includes developing fine motor skills, upper extremity functionality, visual perception, oral motor skills (eating and swallowing) and activities of daily living skills such as bathing, dressing, and brushing teeth.
What Can a Child Expect During Occupational Therapy Sessions?A pediatric occupational therapist will work to provide a thorough evaluation of each child referred to the program and then develop an individualized treatment plan specifically tailored to their needs. The plan may involve activities such as hands-on play, sensory processing activities, fine motor exercises, gross motor activities and visual motor tasks.
Progress is monitored and treatment strategies are adjusted to make sure that the goals of the therapy are being achieved. Treatment sessions typically last for 30-60 minutes. Activities may also involve:
The occupational therapist will work closely with the child’s parents to ensure the home environment encourages growth and development as the child build confidence in their ability to perform various skills practiced in therapy.
An entire team of experienced professionals are dedicated to helping your child overcome the effects of a serious illness or injury that has impacted their ability to walk, to take care of themselves by feeding and grooming themselves or to speak.
CHRISTUS Children's offers three locations where children can receive outpatient rehabilitation services – two in San Antonio and one in New Braunfels. Dedicated teams of experienced professionals use their skills and knowledge to help maximize a child’s abilities and prepare them to be as independent as possible.
CHRISTUS Children's has a monthly Prader-Willi syndrome multidisciplinary clinic based in San Antonio, Texas. If you or your child has a confirmed diagnosis of Prader-Willi, you can be referred to the clinic to receive coordinated care from our experienced specialists, including geneticists, ENT doctors, endocrinologists, pulmonologists, sleep medicine specialists, psychologists, dietitians, social workers, and speech pathologists.
Visit CHRISTUS Genetics Clinic
