When does a child need Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapists create opportunities for children to master developmental tasks and achieve independence in their home, school, and community.

We provide support in the child’s familiar environment as well as providing support to the child’s carers and teachers.

A few reasons for referral for evaluation and treatment include difficulties with fine motor and gross motor skills, difficulty playing or socialising effectively and sensory integration challenges.

Sensory integration provides a foundation for complex learning and behaviour. For some individuals, sensory integration does not develop as efficiently as it should. Sensory integration dysfunction can result in motor development difficulties, learning difficulties, or behavioural concerns. As efficient organization of sensory information provides the foundation for the development of functional skills, there can be many potential outcomes that might cause a parent concern.

A disruption in sensory processing can result in sensory defensiveness (sensory seeking or sensory avoiding behaviours), problems in self-regulation (activity levels too high or too low, not matched for the task at hand), and difficulties with praxis. Disruptions in processing sensory information can interfere with self-care skills, language skills, motor skills, academic skills, and social/emotional skills.

Occupational therapy can help you when you

• take a long time to learn a new task/skill
• seem clumsy, too many accidents
• are not keeping up with peers
• present as a behaviour problem at school
• demonstrate unpredictable behaviour in social situations, especially new or highly stimulating ones
• act restless/fussy when held
• display a short attention span and/or is easily distracted
• seem overly dependent on routine or schedules and/or easily upset with minor changes
• act impulsively or explosively
• anger easily or frequently accused of fighting, acting out or “bullying” others
• appear overly colicky or fussy
• exhibit “picky” eating behaviour
• have trouble with handwriting
• over-responsivity or heightened reactivity to sound, touch or movement
• appear controlling OR overly compliant
• difficulty interacting socially with peers
• poor impulse control
• tire easily
• visual perceptual or oculo-motor deficits
• difficulty completing homework in a timely manner due to poor organization, poor time management skills, etc
• behavioural disregulation, i.e. frequent tantrums, aggressive outburst
• sleep disregulation, i.e. difficulties falling or staying asleep

Are you looking for professional, friendly occupational therapy in the Penrith or Blue Mountains area? We have both clinic-based and mobile therapy (in your home or school). Please contact us to find out how we can help.

Get in touch!