Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy minimises the impact of disease and disability through the use of purposeful activity. As a member of the multi-disciplinary team, the occupational therapist will assess your child's abilities and potential within the context of your family's physical and psychosocial environment.
Areas assessed may include:
- motor skills (hand function in particular)
- seating and postural management
- self-care skills
- visual perceptual skills
- access to home and school environment
- home equipment needs
- pain and sensory issues.
Alongside these, other areas which will be assessed include:
- problem solving barriers to enable participation in daily activities
- using activity as a therapeutic tool
- adapting the environment to maximise your child's ability to engage in activities
- adapting the activity to permit your child to participate.
Intervention may include loaning your child a seating system or wheelchair while they are an inpatient, providing hand splints to prevent contractures and advising on maximizing your child's ability to participate in daily activities.