Occupational therapy helps children facing motor, physical, cognitive, and speech delays. Occupational therapists focus on making children overcome their disabilities, chronic illnesses and injuries, and live an independent life. They analyse the child’s unique developmental needs and design activities beneficial to them.
How does one identify if their child needs Occupational therapy? Look for these five signs:
Avoiding Eye-Contact: Avoiding eye contact may not be a sign of a serious developmental issue but it could be an indicator to see an Occupational Therapist to assess and determine if your child needs therapy.
Delayed or disturbed fine motor skills: Fine motor skills involve the small muscle movements. These are using hands for gripping, catching, grasping. If your child finds it difficult to use both hands while doing simple tasks or when playing, it may mean that they need support to develop their fine motor skills. While this can be due to a number of reasons, Occupational Therapy can help make significant improvements.
Sensory Processing Disorder: Does your child show signs of avoiding certain surfaces and/or textures? Or are they overly sensitive towards lights and sounds? This points towards Sensory Processing Disorder- which can be overcome in an easy way through activities designed by an Occupational Therapist.
Difficulty in completing mundane tasks: If you notice your child having difficulty completing mundane everyday tasks like dressing up, it could be a sign that their fine motor skills need some development. Instead of helping them finish faster, it is recommended that the parents show patience and let the child take the time to learn and develop. Speaking to an Occupational Therapist will help in an overall development.
Anxiety: If your child shows signs of anxiety and finds it difficult to self-soothe, it may be time to consult an Occupational Therapist. Instead of assuming a child is difficult, talking to an Occupational Therapist can teach them to take small steps to manage their emotions when they are overwhelmed.
It is important to understand the child and their needs before to a conclusion or a home remedy to treat their difficult situation. Occupational Therapy is not an overnight cure, however, the right way to move forward in the direction of improvement. Initially, start with an assessment, and help yourself understand your child’s abilities and strengths. These Occupational Therapy assessments helps identify your child’s developmental issues and create a bespoke learning track for them.
Speak to our experts, if you feel your child is showing signs of slow development and they can direct you to the right realm of developmental therapy or you can even book a free assessment, to begin with.
