What is it?

Primary occupations of children are Play, Academics and Self-care and the role of an occupational therapist is to make the child independent in their self-care activities such as eating, brushing, dressing and toileting. Where in play; improving play participation and different types of play based on their developmental age. In Academics, classroom readiness like sitting in the class without disturbing anyone, sitting at one place, following teacher’s command and responding to the same etc.

How will a child benefit through this therapy ?

• For a child with Autism, ADHD or learning disabilities, a multidisciplinary team works to achieve all these goals.
• Different intervention approaches like sensory integration approach, Bio mechanical Frame of references, Neuro-developmental approach or Behavioral approaches etc. used to achieve goals.
• Through proper occupational therapy assessments, the therapist identifies the problem areas of the child and  based on that by using these approaches expected goals can be achieved.  Example – If a child is running continuously and  not ready to sit at one place for having his / her food or in classroom then the occupational therapist will take a sensory profile, based on that if they find that the child is hyperactive then by using sensory integration approach we will help the child to channelize his / her energy so that child can participate in the desired occupations.

Steps taken

• Identification of the problem areas through different assessments and profiles
• Goal setting based on the priorities of the family and the child
• Intervention plan by using different approaches
• Home program as well as structured routine has been provided to the parents
• Parental education and family counselling has been done by the occupational therapist

Case study

Suri (name changed because of the confidentiality ) is a 3 year child diagnosed with ASD came to us with the complainants of toe walking, no eye contact, excessive crying, absent of social smile and excessive screen time before two months. First history was taken from the family, to assure the diagnosis a diagnostic assessment was done then a detailed assessment was done to see the child’s developmental stages in motor areas, sensory areas and processing as well. After the identification of the problem areas, intervention was planned everyday for 45 minutes to 1 hour OT session was conducted for him by using sensory integration approach and reinforcement and by providing a secure and happy environment to the child . After two months of therapy program the toe walking has reduced 10%, Crying is fully reduced and child is getting along with all the therapists, giving eye contact and social smile most of the times and no screen time at all. Still working with the child to achieve the desired goals. As we used family centered approach for both our goal setting and intervention plan.