Occupational therapy

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy is the science of looking and treating a child as a total entity by means of appropriate and graded activities, to ensure optimal functioning in the following areas:

  1. Activities of daily living e.g. self care, life skills, leisure time, play.
  2. Gross motor performance e.g. posture, balance, bilateral integration and motor planning
  3. Fine motor skills e.g. writing, use of scissors, eating utencils, etc.
  4. Visual perceptual skills

Which services are rendered at Paarl School by Occupational Therapy?

  1. Occupational therapy evaluations and treatment
  2. Designing assistive devices and adaptations to enable child to function as independantly as possible in daily life.
  3. Designing hand splints
  4. The following treatment is rendered:
    • Pediatrics – Pre-primary to Gr. 4
    • Work orientations – Practical phase until 18 years old.

Who is the person receiving Occupational Therapy?

  1. The physical disabled learner e.g. spina bifida, head injuries, muscular dystrophies
  2. Cerebral palsied children e.g. hemiplegia, ataxia, athetoids, diplegia
  3. The specific learning disabled child with an average or above average intellectual ability

Risk factors that might indicate possible Occupational Therapy treatment in future

  1. Premature birth
  2. Traumatic pregnancy / birth
  3. Allergies
  4. History of learning disabilities in the family
  5. Milestone development slow / lacking
  6. Genetic predisposition
  7. Physical disabilities

What signs might be indicative that a child needs Occupational Therapy?

  1. Signs up to 5 years of age:
    • Hypotonic child
    • Poor posture in sitting, standing or walking
    • Difficulty learning new tasks
    • Developmental delays
    • Problems related to self care
    • Avoidance of certain activities e.g. writing, jungle gym, cutting
    • Sensitivity to odour, texture, height, movement etc.
  2. Signs for the child older than 5 years:
    • Poor posture in sit, stand, walking
    • Fine motor problems e.g. writing. colouring in, fastening buttons, using scissors
    • Poor concentration
    • Poor memory
    • Hyperactive behaviour
    • Under achievement at school
    • Poor following of instructions
    • Poor task completion
    • Dependant on others for self care
    • Avoidance of certain activities e.g. movement, dirty hands (glue, paint), etc.
    • Hand dominance has not developed
    • Seeking behaviour eg. fidgets, struggles to sit still, touches people / objects.
The following treatment is rendered: