What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy is the scientific branch that aims to improve the functionality and individual skills of the child through activities. In essence, occupational therapy represents a form of treatment that utilizes ‘occupation’.
We primarily view play as an “occupation” for children, because through it they learn, imitate and socialize. The activities employed in occupational therapy are carefully and strategically planned to address specific goals. These include:
- Addressing weaknesses or difficulties in various developmental areas such as sensory, motor, social, or cognitive functions.
- Tackling challenges in performing simple, everyday tasks, including difficulties with dressing, eating, using the toilet, or maintaining personal hygiene.
A child may require occupational therapy if they exhibit the following signs:
- Difficulty in self-care.
- Reduced muscle tone, appearing lethargic and weak.
- Easily fatigued during schoolwork.
- Prone to falling, often labeled as a “clumsy child.”
- Challenges in spatial awareness, frequently bumping into others or furniture.
- Struggles with using materials and tools effectively.
- Doesn’t play with toys for their age or frequently breaks toys.
- Difficulty in following verbal instructions.
- Struggles with drawing, gripping markers, or cutting with scissors.
- Exhibits hyperactivity and cannot stay seated.
- Inability to focus, or overly focusing on a single activity to the extent of not switching to others.
- Reverses letters and numbers, and leaves no space between letters and words, leading to poor handwriting.
- Difficulty understanding concepts of space and time.
Children diagnosed with learning difficulties, psychomotor retardation, ADHD, pervasive developmental disorders, various syndromes, as well as those experiencing specific, minor challenges, can greatly benefit from occupational therapy interventions.
Occupational therapy involves a variety of activities and techniques such as:
- Educational and board games.
- Crafts, utilizing materials like paints, clay, plaster, etc.
- Drama and theatrical activities.
- Music-related exercises.
- Motor and physical games.
- Graphokinetic exercises.
- Sensory integration activities.
At Speech & Communication, we are equipped with extensive resources for both assessment and intervention. Our team of occupational therapists, led by an experienced supervisor, regularly meets to share insights and enhance our intervention strategies.
In our location near the Anthoupoli metro station in Peristeri, we possess all the essential assessment tools, including the Miller Assessment for Preschoolers and the Visual Perception Test. Our facility is specially designed with areas for sensory integration exercises, featuring swings, a ball pool, special seesaws, lycra, and more. We are also well-acquainted with methods like the Wilbarger protocol, among others.
For each child, we selectively utilize therapeutic tools and methods that we believe will yield the best results in the shortest time. This process is conducted in close cooperation with parents to ensure that the benefits of occupational therapy are quickly generalized at home.
The success of our occupational therapy department at Speech & Communication is evident, earning a strong reputation in Peristeri, Petroupoli, Ilio, Chaidari, Aigaleo, and across western Athens.
Our guiding principle is clear: “Your development is our measure!”
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