Children with special needs have impairments in different areas of functioning. Children with special needs can be classified into four categories physical, sensory, developmental, and behavioral or emotional.Children with special needs have impairments in different areas of functioning. Children with special needs can be classified into four categories physical, sensory, developmental, and behavioral or emotional.
Conditions that fall under physical, developmental and behavioural, and emotional are cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, Autism spectrum disorder, Down Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Primary interventions prescribed in these conditions are occupational therapy, physiotherapy, play therapy, speech therapy, special education, behavior modification strategies, and parent counseling. Some more supportive therapies are adjunctive therapies like music therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, and psychotherapies.
With increased demands, Occupational therapy is being needed in child therapy clinics these days. Occupational therapy being a old practice, faces lot of challenges in gaining confidence. Many of the times it is wrongly perceived as physiotherapy or speech therapy.
Let’s clear some of the misconceptions which parents have developed about occupational therapy
Myth 1- Occupational therapy is some activity class
As occupational therapists, we use activities as modalities. Teaching a child that activity is never a goal or outcome. Using activities, we take children through a therapeutic process which happens to be in a structured environment and designated goals. Mostly by buying equipment like gym ball, setting up a swing, or getting those puzzle trays or shape sorters, don’t consider that you doing therapies at home.
Myth 2- Anyone can do occupational therapy.
Clinics, centers, or schools which states that they provide occupational therapy, should have at least one licensed professional who have degree and experience in Occupational Therapy. Even parents can do therapy-based activities at home but only under the guidance of occupational therapist. By guidance it doesn’t means that therapist has given you a list of activities and parent is doing by own. Therapist supervised session is that which is been directly observed by therapist virtually and he is guiding you through the modifications done according to the child.
Myth 3- Occupational and Physical Therapy are the same thing
Both therapies are movement therapies but the modalities that they use are different. Sometimes the goals which are framed by occupational therapist and physical therapist are different. For example a child with physical disability is receiving occupational therapy and physical therapy, goal of PT can be child’s hand should reach a certain height , can hold object with certain weight but goal of OT goes a little further that child can comb the hair in two movements, wear a shirt raising hand, or hold a plate to eat.
Myth 4- Occupational therapy can be done at home
Occupational therapy-based activities prescribed as a home plan only can be done at home. Only in special cases the place is remote, services are not readily available, child has multiple disabilities that he cannot be moved out of the home, parents or caregivers can practice occupational therapy in an online guided session.
Myth 5- Occupational Therapy is expensive
Occupational therapy is a one-on-one session practiced by a certified and trained professional for 45-60 minutes. For obvious reasons in due course of time with increased material cost, land and electricity charges and consistent raises in salaries there will be some hike in fees charges depending on service provider organisation and structure. To resolve issues of cost-effectiveness, consider on availing packages or schemes that clinics or centres offer, NGOs and government facilities are also a solution to this. Like if knee surgeries or brain surgeries are expensive, should we start doing them at home by taking some 10 YouTube classes?
The only goal of occupational therapy practitioners is to enhance the development of each child through a collaborative approach. To achieve children's greatest potential by thriving them in custom tailored activities and going through well-positioned learning process which will help the maximum population.
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