Examples of therapy in action

Below are examples of the some of the most common occupational therapy assessments I carry out, along with examples of the interventions I use to treat the conditions identified.

Sensory Assessment

This considers how your child processes and responds to sensory information, eg sight, sound, smell, touch, taste etc. Children overloaded with such information can find it difficult to focus on, and engage in, important daily activities.

The assessment consists of observations and home and school questionnaires. This will inform how your child perceives, processes and responds to their environment and the impact on their ability to take part in home, school and leisure activities.

Intervention
  • Education and provision of advice and strategies to support your child at home, school and other environments that they find challenging
  • Individual sensory play sessions to help your child process and respond to sensory information
  • Adaptive equipment

Co-ordination/Motor Skills Assessment

This considers the quality, control and fluency of your child’s gross and fine motor skills, their ability to plan and organise their movements, and if any difficulties are affecting home, school and leisure tasks. This could include getting dressed, cutlery skills, holding a pencil, cutting with scissors, riding a bike, swimming, catching a ball, running, jumping and climbing.

The assessment consists of observing your child completing everyday age-appropriate activities and identifying delays or impairments in motor development.

Intervention
  • One-to-one therapy using movement-based activities to develop fine and gross motor skills or motor planning skills
  • Therapy to improve your child’s ability to take part in everyday activities and help them feel more confident in their own ability
  • A problem-solving, performance-based approach to develop skills for home, school and leisure tasks, eg dressing, riding a bike and making a snack
  • Games, exercises and activities to develop motor planning, organisation and sequencing or memory
  • Environmental adaptation
  • Provision of advice and strategies to support your child at home and school

Handwriting Assessment

Assessment of handwriting includes analysis of pencil grasp, letter formation, handwriting speed, fine motor skills, co-ordination, postural control and visual perceptual skills .

Intervention
  • Postural stability exercises
  • Fine motor control activities
  • Developing correct pencil grip
  • Recommendation of assistive equipment or alternatives to handwriting