Often referred to as a well kept secret of the Allied Health world, Occupational Therapy (OT) is a health profession that focuses on promoting, maintaining, and developing the skills needed to participate in your everyday activities. These activities can range from your self-care, school/work, and leisure!
Sometimes, we find it difficult to do the things we want to do or the things we have to do. This could be due to physical, mental or social difficulties (e.g. illness, accident, aging, or difficulties from birth). An OT can help you with this! They will help you build up your skills needed or find new ways of doing things.
An Occupational Therapist will:
1) Complete a comprehensive, holistic assessment,
2) Formulate goals that are SMART and client driven,
3) Carry out interventions that are holistic and evidence based to help clients reach their goals
4) Ensure goals are being met by using outcome measures that can help direct and change interventions as needed.
Occupational Therapists work with people at every stage of life; from a newborn baby to elderly individuals. They work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and community based, school based, aged care, private practice, and government organizations.
In a pediatric setting, Occupational Therapists focus on bringing the child to the best level of functional performance in both home and school settings. Occupational Therapy can help in improving gross and fine motor skills, sensory processing, postural control, balancing responses, executive functioning skills, visual-motor integration, handwriting, and activities of daily living. Intervention starts with an assessment using clinical observations and standardized testing. Occupational Therapists also ensure to keep things fun as children learn and develop best through play based activities!
References:
https://www.aota.org/Conference-Events/OTMonth/what-is-OT.aspx
What is Occupational Therapy?
https://www.otaus.com.au/about/about-ot
Author: Laikien Daggett, Occupational Therapist
