Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy helps children develop the skills they need to be successful during play, socialization, activities of daily living, and learning experiences. By using purposeful and motivating activities, occupational therapists help children develop enhanced sensory processing skills, organizational skills, motor planning, visual motor skills and adaptive play skills. Occupational therapy promotes the skills needed to perform important day-to-day activities at home, in school, and in other social environments.
The Following Are General Indicators That A Child May Benefit From An OT Evaluation:
- Difficulty tolerating touch, such as brushing hair or brushing teeth
- Difficulties in sports, such as catching or throwing a ball
- Unable to ride a bicycle independently by age 8
- Poor organizational skills
- Difficulty regulating activity level
- Frequent emotional outburst or “meltdowns” in behavior
- Lack of age appropriate play skills
- Weak, stiff or uncoordinated movements
- Awkward grasp or clumsy use of crayons, pencils, scissors or other tools and utensils
- Excessive seeking or avoidance of movement or touch
- Absence of hand preference after age 6
- Difficulty with age appropriate self-help skills such as dressing and toileting
- Attention and organizational problems with school tasks
- Difficulties with social interaction
- Difficulties with feeding, food aversions or a very limited diet
- Poor balance skills
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy helps children gain critical skills related to independent mobility and gross motor functioning. Through the use of handling techniques, sensory stimulation, play, and parent-child interaction, physical therapy helps children accomplish goals related to range of motion, muscle strength, posture, joint mobility, gait, and higher level gross motor development.
The Following Are General Indicators That A Child May Benefit From A Physical Therapy Evaluation:
- Increased muscle stiffness and tightness
- Limitations in range of motion
- Delays in developmental milestones
- Muscle weakness
- Postural abnormalities/ asymmetries
- Poor balance skills
- Uncoordinated movements
- Difficulty in sports activities such as catching, throwing and kicking
- Delays in age-appropriate gross motor skills
Wheelchair Seating Clinic
The Wheelchair Seating Clinic at Chatterbox evaluates mobility equipment for children, teens and young adults, from birth to age twenty-one. The therapist and venders assess your child’sindividual positioning and equipment needs including but not limited to adaptive strollers and wheelchairs. This team approach ensures that the child receives the most appropriate equipment for his or her individual needs. The selection of the correct size and style of
equipment is critical for proper positioning, digestion, breathing, efficient mobility and prevention of skin problems. A child usually qualifies for a new wheelchair every five years therefore the chair must be able to grow with the child.
Wheelchair Seating Clinic Includes:
- Adaptive strollers, manual, and power wheelchairs
- Seating products (cushions, back supports, trunk and extremity support)
- lternative ways to drive a power wheelchair (breath support, head control, speciality switches)
- Individualized fitting to ensure fit, function, and satisfaction with fit and function with delivery of mobility device.
- Client and caregiver training and education in technology use, maintenance and warranty coverage
- Vender contact information provided for warranty service and follow up questions
Schedule An Evaluation
If you have concerns regarding your child’s gross motor, fine motor or sensory integration skills, contact Chatterbox Pediatric Therapy to schedule an evaluation.