Even though children are a blessing and a delight, sometimes they require assistance in achieving developmental and behavioral milestones and you may need occupational therapy pediatric near me. You may want to seek answers to some of those questions if your child could benefit from pediatric occupational therapy. Read on to find out more about what pediatric occupational therapist near me do.
As the name implies, pediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping babies, children, and teenagers to learn the activities of daily living that are necessary for independence or that need to be redeveloped after an injury or disease. These activities include eating, dressing, grooming, and bathing.
What Does a Pediatric Occupational Therapist Near Me Do?
As a result of injuries and developmental challenges, a child’s overall well-being, development, and ability to perform daily, routine tasks can be severely affected. As children progress through the social and cognitive stages of childhood, these challenges can also become overwhelming for them as they are going through these stages.
Children of all ages can achieve these critical milestones with the help of a pediatric occupational therapist who works to lock and step with them. The practices are focused on supporting young patients to develop the essential skills they need to reach healthy, independent adulthood while at the same time helping them to extend those skills. A pediatric occupational therapist assists children with developing the skills needed to brush their teeth, draw, color, and play with others.
A pediatric occupational therapist near me has several roles, ranging from identifying the beginnings of a child’s challenges to making a diagnosis and determining the best treatment for the child. All of these skills support children’s development as they grow into adults.
Pediatric occupational therapists encourage children to develop skills during therapy sessions by engaging them in motivating activities such as board games, crafts, and building obstacle courses that encourage them to build skills while having fun while doing so.
Children can also benefit from occupational therapy by learning how to respond to an environment rich in sensory input when playing with friends, in addition to developing these vital physical and cognitive skills.
Qualifications of a Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Pediatric occupational therapists support children ranging from babies to children in their late teens. They typically have an undergraduate degree and sometimes additional advanced degrees. Pediatric occupational therapists usually possess degrees in psychology, biology or kinesiology. Because not all universities offer pediatric occupational programs, a lot of pediatric occupational therapists have degrees in psychology, biology, or kinesiology.
The work of pediatric occupational therapists with mental disabilities is geared towards assisting young patients in gaining admission to specialized master’s degree programs such as occupational therapy, which can be a great benefit to them. In such programs, the study focuses on assessing a future patient’s ability to perform daily functions, critical reasoning skills, and anatomy.
As one of the last steps in the process of becoming a pediatric occupational therapist, they must complete the National Certification in Occupational Therapy examination, as well as meet any additional state requirements that may apply to their practice depending on where they are located.
How Do I know if My Child Needs a Pediatric Occupational Therapist?
It is very common for your child’s doctor to refer them to occupational therapy if they notice developmental delays. The case may also be that your child has been diagnosed with mental health conditions that have a high probability of causing delays. It is possible to improve your child’s motor skills along with their communication and play skills with occupational therapy.
How Do I Find an Excellent Pediatric Occupational Therapist?
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) provides a list of accredited university occupational therapy programs, which you can use as a guide to finding a pediatric occupational therapist near you if you do not receive a referral from your doctor. If you would like to find accredited university programs in your area, you can contact your local hospital or send an email to an occupational therapy program at a university in your area.
What Can I Expect from My First Session?
The pediatric occupational therapist you are working with will conduct an evaluation of your child during the first session, which will last between 30 and an hour. As a part of this session, the pediatric occupational therapist will assess the child’s motor skills, hand-eye coordination, handwriting, and sensory processing skills.
In order to ensure your child’s well-being, please ensure that he or she wears proper undergarments when attending an appointment with their therapy. The therapist will likely monitor your child’s muscles and joints.
It’s important that you give your full attention to your child, so make sure you arrange childcare for your other siblings. You might want to hire someone to look after them while you are away. Your pediatric occupational therapist may suggest fun, motivating activities for subsequent sessions. Your child will develop physical, cognitive and skills.
Questions You Should Ask Your Pediatric Occupational Therapist
A pediatric occupational therapist who is a good fit for you and your child is very important. Here are some questions to ask:
- What is the length of time you have been practicing your profession?
- What kind of specialized training do you have in the field(s) my child is diagnosed with?
- Do you have any experience working with children who have similar diagnoses as mine?
- How do you treat these children?
- Do you have any previous or current clients who have been successful with this approach?
Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you want, you’re your child’s best advocate, so don’t be shy to find yourself a pediatric occupational therapist.
How Do I Find Occupational Therapy Pediatric Near Me?
Are you looking for occupational therapy pediatric near me? If so, LA Speech Therapy Solutions can assist your child with overcoming developmental delays using a myriad of techniques. The amazing team at LA Speech Therapy Solutions is well-equipped to meet with your child and help you and your family understand what is going on with your child’s developmental behavior. Pick up the phone today to schedule a consultation.
