Understanding the benefits of paediatric Occupational Therapy

What does an Occupational Therapist do?

Occupational Therapists play a crucial role in promoting the health and wellbeing of their clients, by enabling them to participate in activities (or ‘occupations’) they find meaningful.

At Northcott, we have over 25 incredible Occupational Therapists working across our seven service centres. Northcott Occupational Therapists specialise in supporting young people living with disability to engage with daily activities. They are experienced in a range of conditions, including physical disabilities, neuromuscular conditions, developmental delay, intellectual disability and autism.

What are the benefits of paediatric Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapists help children gain the skills and tools to participate in school, play and self-care. Having these skills helps to build confidence, independence and social skills — all essential elements of a happy and fulfilled life.

Here are some ways Occupational Therapists can help children and their families:

Reaching Age-Appropriate Milestones for Children

Northcott Occupational Therapists are trained to track developmental milestones and support clients with reaching these milestones when required. Occupational Therapists specialise in fine motor, self-care and visual motor skills, and sensory processing.

At Northcott, our Occupational Therapists work in a multi-disciplinary environment alongside Physiotherapists and Speech Pathologists which provides a more holistic approach. For example, an Occupational Therapist might collaborate with a Speech Pathologist to address feeding concerns, or a Physiotherapist for prescribing suitable Assistive Technology.

Assistive Technology and Modifications

There is a huge range of Assistive Technology (equipment) on the market. Some examples of this equipment are eating aids, hoists, shower commodes and pressure mattresses. While it is great to have options, for some the selection and assessment process can seem overwhelming. Occupational Therapists can use their paediatric disability knowledge to support their clients with accessing the most beneficial equipment. Occupational Therapists can also support clients to access vehicle and environment modifications, such as ramps  and swivel car seats.

Daily Living

Daily living skills are essential for an independent life. While all children go through the process of learning daily living and self-care skills such as showering, toileting and dressing, Occupational Therapists can support children living with disability with modifications and techniques to participate in these activities. For example, a child with Arthrogryposis (which affects the mobility of joints), may need additional support to complete his dressing routine, so an Occupational Therapist would simplify the task by introducing modified clothing.

Getting the Sensory Regulation Right

Atypical sensory processing is considered a common feature of Autism. While each one of us has a unique sensory profile, atypical sensory processing means people with Autism can experience many elements of day-to-day life in different and sometimes unexpected ways. There are many strategies used by Occupational Therapists to assist with sensory regulation, including sensory toys such as chewable jewelry or weighted animals. Occupational Therapists may also provide support to create routines which accommodate for sensory needs, for example going on a swing before sitting in a car.