Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy presents the skills for the job of living. It addresses the problems that interfere with an individual’s ability to engage in the activities or occupations that are important to him or her.
Occupational Therapists are regulated health-care professionals who are experts in the analysis, adaptation, and therapeutic use of occupation. They work with patients and their families/caregivers to maximize freedom. Occupational Therapists counsel patients to regain and maintain function in daily activities, as well as to prevent dysfunction and promote healthy living.
Occupational Therapists focus mainly on the evaluation and treatment of physical, cognitive, perceptual, and psychosocial functions. Persistent activity is used in their assessment and treatment. Occupational Therapists may prescribe adapted devices or recommend techniques to promote service or minimize discomfort. Guidance is provided on an individual basis, for example, by providing information to promote safety at home.
Sensory Integration is an important application of physiotherapy for special children. . The goal of occupational therapy in the school system is to maximize the occupational performance of the student with special needs and inculcate the skills required for successful functioning in school. School performance in the areas of reading, writing, mathematics, manipulation of tools, physical education, independence with self-care tasks, and social integration are dependent on gross motor and fine motor abilities, visual motor integration, and visual perceptual skills.
Occupational therapy is provided to improve performance in the following areas:
- Gross and fine motor skills
- Cognitive perceptual skills
- Visual motor skills
- Sensory integration
- Motor planning skills
- Activities of daily living (ADL Training)
- Play skills
- Socio-emotional skills
This is achieved by training in the following areas:
- Behavior modification
- Perceptual training
- Pre-vocational training
- Fine and gross motor areas
- Social skills training
- Computer training
Dr. Neha Kamble MOT