Pediatric occupational therapists focus their efforts on helping children develop basic independent skills including dressing, eating, writing, exercising self-control, and learning proper use of their hands, arms, and legs.
Childhood is a time for development, exploration, and play. Some children may face obstacles that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
Your child may require a consultation with pediatric occupational therapist for one of the following reasons:
- Difficulty communicating and interacting with others
- Difficulty orienting themselves in time or space
- Difficulty eating
- Lack of coordination in sports activities (lack of balance, difficulty catching a ball, frequent falls)
- Difficulty handling small objects or using tools such as pencils and scissors
- Difficulty gaining independence in daily activities such as dressing, feeding, hygiene, and toilet training
- Difficulty recognizing or copying shapes, doing puzzles, building with blocks
- Difficulty with reading, math, writing, and pencil grip
- Difficulty making friends, functioning in a group, understanding social rules, etc.
If your child has difficulty with any of the above, our occupational therapists are here to help. Our clinics were designed with your child’s comfort in mind and staffed by a dedicated team of professionals with experience helping children develop the skills they need to grow.
What happens during a consultation with a pediatric occupational therapist?
First consultation
During the first consultation, you will fill out a questionnaire about your child’s history (pregnancy and delivery process, complications and associated illnesses, motor skills to date, habits, etc.) and another one about your child’s sensory system.
Your occupational therapist will assess your child to determine the problem. Once the evaluation is complete, your occupational therapist will explain the results and provide you with advice and exercises you can do at home. Your child’s treatment plan is a team effort, and your involvement is crucial.
At the end of your first session, we will establish the frequency and approximate duration of the prescribed treatment plan. On average, these appointments usually take about an hour.
Follow-up appointments
During follow-up visits, your occupational therapist will go over the exercises you have done at home and adjust them according to your child’s progress. If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to ask.
If necessary, the occupational therapist may refer your child to a physiotherapist, osteopath, pediatrician, orthopedist or another specialist on our multidisciplinary team.
