Ten-year-old Jason was in an accident while riding on his bicycle. Although he survived the accident, it left him with a brain injury. To improve some of his cognitive (thinking) skills, comprehension skills, and coordination, Jason's doctors recommended that he receive occupational therapy (OT).

At first, his parents were slightly skeptical about whether occupational therapy could benefit their son. They had never heard of OT and wondered if it was more appropriate for adults. But after watching the activities and Jason's improvements, his parents felt hopeful that Jason was on the road to recovery.

What Is Occupational Therapy and Who Might Need It?

Occupational therapy — a treatment that focuses on helping people achieve independence in all areas of their lives — can offer kids with various needs positive, fun activities to improve their cognitive, physical, and motor skills and enhance their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.

Some people may think that occupational therapy is only for adults; children, after all, do not have occupations. But a child's main job is playing and learning, and an occupational therapist can evaluate a child's skills for play activities, school performance, and activities of daily living and compare them with what is developmentally appropriate for that age group.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), in addition to dealing with an individual's physical well-being, OT practitioners address psychological, social, and environmental factors that may hinder an individual's functioning in different ways. This unique approach makes occupational therapy a vital part of health care for some kids.

So who might use an occupational therapy practitioner? According to AOTA, kids with the following medical problems may benefit from OT:

birth injuries or birth defects
sensory processing/integrative disorders
traumatic injuries (brain or spinal cord)
learning problems
autism
pervasive developmental disorders
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
mental health or behavioral problems
broken bones or other orthopedic injuries
developmental delays
post-surgical conditions
burns
spina bifida
traumatic amputations
cancer
severe hand injuries
multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and other chronic illnesses

One of the activities that occupational therapists can address to meet children's needs is working on fine motor skills so that kids can grasp and release toys and develop good handwriting skills. Occupational therapists also address hand–eye coordination to improve play skills, such as hitting a target, batting a ball, or copying from a blackboard.

An occupational therapist can also:

help kids with severe developmental delays learn some basic tasks, such as bathing, getting dressed, brushing their teeth, and feeding themselves
help kids with behavioral disorders learn anger-management techniques (i.e., instead of hitting others or acting out, the children would learn positive ways to deal with anger, such as writing about feelings or participating in a physical activity)
teach kids with physical disabilities the coordination skills required to feed themselves, use a computer, or increase the speed and legibility of their handwriting
evaluate each child's needs for specialized equipment, such as wheelchairs, splints, bathing equipment, dressing devices, or communication aids
work with kids who have sensory and attentional issues to improve focus and social skills

Are Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy the Same?

Although both types of therapy help kids improve the quality of their lives, there are differences. Physical therapy deals with the issues of pain, strength, joint range of motion, endurance, and gross motor functioning, whereas occupational therapy deals more with fine motor skills, visual-perceptual skills, cognitive skills, and sensory-processing deficits.

Who Are Occupational Therapy Practitioners?

There are two professional levels of occupational practice — occupational therapist (OT) and occupational therapist assistant (OTA). Since 2007, an occupational therapist (OT) is required to complete a master's degree program. Before 2007, only a bachelor's degree was required. An occupational therapist assistant is only required to complete an associate's degree program. OTAs are able to carry out treatment plans developed by the occupational therapist but can't complete evaluations.

All occupational therapy practitioners must complete supervised fieldwork programs and pass a national certification examination. Most states also require a license to practice and require occupational therapy practitioners to take continuing education classes throughout their careers to maintain that licensure.

Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, including:

hospitals
schools
rehabilitation centers
mental health facilities
private practices
children's clinics
nursing homes

How Can I Find Care for My Child?

If you think your child may benefit from occupational therapy, talk to your doctor, who can usually refer you to individual specialists who are best suited to your child's condition. The school nurse or guidance counselor also may be able to recommend specialists based on your child's academic or social performance.

You can also consult your local yellow pages or contact a nearby hospital or rehabilitation center for referrals. A list of specialists may also be available through your state's occupational therapy association.

However you find an occupational therapist for your child, make sure that your health insurance company covers the program you select.

Reviewed by: Kimberly S. Pierson, OTR/L
Date reviewed: October 2007