WHAT IS PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY?
PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IS THE USE OF THERAPEUTIC PLAY TO ADDRESS AREAS OF DELAYED DEVELOPMENT. THESE AREAS INCLUDE FINE-MOTOR SKILLS (I.E. BUTTONING, HOLDING A PENCIL PROPERLY), GROSS-MOTOR SKILLS (I.E. KICKING A BALL, HOPPING ON ONE LEG), AGE APPROPRIATE SELF-CARE SKILLS (I.E. GETTING DRESSED, TYING SHOES), CORE/TRUNK STRENGTH, VISUAL PERCEPTUAL AND MOTOR SKILLS (I.E. COPYING FROM THE CHALK BOARD, PUTTING TOGETHER A PUZZLE), GENERAL VISUAL SKILLS SUCH AS TRACKING ISSUES OR LOSING HIS/HER PLACE WHEN READING, SENSORY INTEGRATION (I.E. THE ABILITY TO ORGANIZE THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE FROM OUR SENSES IN A FUNCTIONAL WAY), RETAINED NEONATAL REFLEXES, GENERAL COORDINATION, TIMING, SEQUENCING, ORGANIZATION, AND ATTENTION.
INDICATORS THAT YOUR CHILD MAY NEED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY:
INFANTS: WEAK OR STIFF MUSCLES, AVOIDS USING ONE OR BOTH ARMS, HAS TROUBLE GRASPING TOYS, UNABLE TO FOLLOW AN OBJECT WITH EYES, RESISTS CUDDLING, OR APPEARS STRESSED WITH MOVEMENT.
PRESCHOOLER/TODDLER: DIFFICULTY WITH SELF-HELP SKILLS, HOLDS CRAYON OR SCISSORS AWKWARDLY, DOES NOT LIKE MESSY ACTIVITIES, SHOWS ANXIETY WITH MOVEMENT, USES REPETITIVE PLAY RATHER THAN CREATIVE PLAY, OR WOULD RATHER PLAY ALONE THAN WITH PEERS. HAVING TROUBLE WITH LEFT/RIGHT ORIENTATION, SPATIAL RELATIONS, OR VISUAL ISSUES.
SCHOOL-AGE: SEEMS CLUMSY, HAS POOR BALANCE, RESISTS BEING TOUCHED (I.E. DOES NOT LIKE BATHING OR HAIR BRUSHED), SHOWS POOR ATTENTION, HOLDS PENCIL TOO TIGHT OR TOO LOOSE, HAVING ISSUES WITH HANDWRITING, OR STILL LACKS HAND PREFERENCE AFTER THE AGE OF 6. HAS TROUBLE COPYING OFF OF THE BOARD OR APPEARS TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH READING, EYE TRACKING, OR GENERAL VISUAL COMPLAINTS.
SOME GENERAL QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF ABOUT YOUR CHILD:
-DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC CONCERNS IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS? ☐HANDWRITING (INCLUDING PENCIL GRIP)
☐ATTENTION IN THE CLASSROOM OR AT HOME
☐FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS
☐COORDINATION OR CLUMSINESS
☐EYE CONTACT
☐INTERACTING WITH OTHER CHILDREN
☐SITTING STILL
☐CHANGING ROUTINES OR ACTIVITIES
☐REFUSING TO WEAR CERTAIN CLOTHING
☐TROUBLE ESTABLISHING A HAND DOMINANCE
☐GETTING DRESSED
☐OVERLY PICKY EATER
________________________________________________________
HOW DO I GET MY CHILD STARTED WITH OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES?
-IN ORDER TO USE YOUR INSURANCE, YOU WILL NEED A REFERRAL FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES FROM YOUR CHILD'S MEDICAL DOCTOR.
-ONCE THIS IS OBTAINED, CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME FOR AN INITIAL EVALUATION.
-AFTER THE EVALUATION IS SCORED, WE WILL DETERMINE WHAT YOUR CHILD'S NEEDS ARE AND GO FROM THERE.
**I ACCEPT BCBS, ALLKIDS, UHC, TRICARE, AETNA, AND PRIVATE PAY.
PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IS THE USE OF THERAPEUTIC PLAY TO ADDRESS AREAS OF DELAYED DEVELOPMENT. THESE AREAS INCLUDE FINE-MOTOR SKILLS (I.E. BUTTONING, HOLDING A PENCIL PROPERLY), GROSS-MOTOR SKILLS (I.E. KICKING A BALL, HOPPING ON ONE LEG), AGE APPROPRIATE SELF-CARE SKILLS (I.E. GETTING DRESSED, TYING SHOES), CORE/TRUNK STRENGTH, VISUAL PERCEPTUAL AND MOTOR SKILLS (I.E. COPYING FROM THE CHALK BOARD, PUTTING TOGETHER A PUZZLE), GENERAL VISUAL SKILLS SUCH AS TRACKING ISSUES OR LOSING HIS/HER PLACE WHEN READING, SENSORY INTEGRATION (I.E. THE ABILITY TO ORGANIZE THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVE FROM OUR SENSES IN A FUNCTIONAL WAY), RETAINED NEONATAL REFLEXES, GENERAL COORDINATION, TIMING, SEQUENCING, ORGANIZATION, AND ATTENTION.
INDICATORS THAT YOUR CHILD MAY NEED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY:
INFANTS: WEAK OR STIFF MUSCLES, AVOIDS USING ONE OR BOTH ARMS, HAS TROUBLE GRASPING TOYS, UNABLE TO FOLLOW AN OBJECT WITH EYES, RESISTS CUDDLING, OR APPEARS STRESSED WITH MOVEMENT.
PRESCHOOLER/TODDLER: DIFFICULTY WITH SELF-HELP SKILLS, HOLDS CRAYON OR SCISSORS AWKWARDLY, DOES NOT LIKE MESSY ACTIVITIES, SHOWS ANXIETY WITH MOVEMENT, USES REPETITIVE PLAY RATHER THAN CREATIVE PLAY, OR WOULD RATHER PLAY ALONE THAN WITH PEERS. HAVING TROUBLE WITH LEFT/RIGHT ORIENTATION, SPATIAL RELATIONS, OR VISUAL ISSUES.
SCHOOL-AGE: SEEMS CLUMSY, HAS POOR BALANCE, RESISTS BEING TOUCHED (I.E. DOES NOT LIKE BATHING OR HAIR BRUSHED), SHOWS POOR ATTENTION, HOLDS PENCIL TOO TIGHT OR TOO LOOSE, HAVING ISSUES WITH HANDWRITING, OR STILL LACKS HAND PREFERENCE AFTER THE AGE OF 6. HAS TROUBLE COPYING OFF OF THE BOARD OR APPEARS TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH READING, EYE TRACKING, OR GENERAL VISUAL COMPLAINTS.
SOME GENERAL QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF ABOUT YOUR CHILD:
-DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC CONCERNS IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING AREAS? ☐HANDWRITING (INCLUDING PENCIL GRIP)
☐ATTENTION IN THE CLASSROOM OR AT HOME
☐FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS
☐COORDINATION OR CLUMSINESS
☐EYE CONTACT
☐INTERACTING WITH OTHER CHILDREN
☐SITTING STILL
☐CHANGING ROUTINES OR ACTIVITIES
☐REFUSING TO WEAR CERTAIN CLOTHING
☐TROUBLE ESTABLISHING A HAND DOMINANCE
☐GETTING DRESSED
☐OVERLY PICKY EATER
________________________________________________________
HOW DO I GET MY CHILD STARTED WITH OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES?
-IN ORDER TO USE YOUR INSURANCE, YOU WILL NEED A REFERRAL FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES FROM YOUR CHILD'S MEDICAL DOCTOR.
-ONCE THIS IS OBTAINED, CALL AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME FOR AN INITIAL EVALUATION.
-AFTER THE EVALUATION IS SCORED, WE WILL DETERMINE WHAT YOUR CHILD'S NEEDS ARE AND GO FROM THERE.
**I ACCEPT BCBS, ALLKIDS, UHC, TRICARE, AETNA, AND PRIVATE PAY.
