Today On 27th October world ‘OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DAY’ is celebrated therefore on this day I Dr. Pranita Nitnaware (practising paediatrics occupational therapist)feels glad to share my knowledge about
What exactly occupational means, role of peadiatric occupational therapist and what are the common parental complains as an Occupational Therapist I am coming across
Occupational therapy is an allied health care profession which helps the individual at different age to develop, recover and to maintain the acquired skills.
Role of Occupational therapy in Pediatric field
Pediatric occupational therapist observe and evaluate the child’s conditions and concerns via subjective and objective analysis to ensure that exactly in which area the child is facing difficulties, areas such as
• Developmental milestone.
• Sensory challenges.
• Activities of daily living.
• Gross motor and fine motor skills.
• Pre-academics and academic skills and concept.
• Play pattern.
• Social skills.
• Developing cognitive aspects. etc
Some of the common challenges and concers which parents are complaining now a days
0-4years–
• No social smile development.
• Ignoring or not giving response to their name in 1 go.
• No sustenance of eye contact while play or communication.
• Crawling & Walking independently within age.
• Hypersensitive to loud noises.
• Difficult to adjust in new environment / social gatherings/ if routine is disturbed.
• Affected recognisation to care takers.
• Unable to identify day to day objects/ place/ person.
• Limited Copying skills by looking parents /other kids and near by persons etc.
• No development of Toileting skills.
• Throwing objects and not playing meaningfully or wanted to play similar pattern of play.
• No 1-2- word verbal sentences for appropriate communication and expressions.
• Affected Pre-academic skill development (ex- scribbling/ speaking ABC/ rhymes etc)
4year-9years
• Affected Speaking in sentence formation.
• Difficulty in informing referred commands.
• Not able to hold pencil/ crayon/ pen with 3 fingers.
• Coloring/ Reading and writing concept.
• Affected basic calculations.
• Cannot come home independently from short distance.
• Not able to buy their favorite snacks.
• Affected sitting in class with the given time span without disturbing teachers and other children.
• Playing with peer group by following basic rules.
9years and above
• Unable to understand the concept of day/ date and time.
• Not able to apply learnt skills (using math’s calculations for exchange of money)
• Depending on others to complete their daily chores.
• Importance of relationships.
• Difficulty in accepting failures held in academics/ while playing or in relations
• Rejections of values and ideas.
• More of Risk taking factors.
• Lots of mood swings
• Difficulty in shopping for themselves or purchasing any grocery/ food items.
• Affected analytical thinking and decision making.
These are few of the red flags which can be observed in day to day functions by grandparents /parents/ teachers/ care takers and our near and dear once, if any of these red flags is noticed than it is high time for your child to consult occupational therapist.
Dr.Pranita H. Nitnaware
(B.O.Th)GMCH, Nagpur
(M.D) Raising Child Development Centre
(Centre for early intervention, Assessment & over all child Development)
Email: raisingcdc@gmail.com
For more Information Or Consultation
Contact :- 98345 60740/85309 66133