FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?
Occupational therapy, otherwise known as “OT” is a holistic profession that helps people, across all ages, achieve independence in their daily life activities or occupations. As therapists we make use of these occupations as both the intervention and outcome of therapy, hence the name occupational therapy.
In the paediatric setting, therapists make use of and engage a child in their primary childhood occupation – PLAY. Through the use of play, therapists are able to use their expertise to help children prepare for and perform important skills needed for learning, social interaction and functional activities such as tying shoelaces, eating and dressing. Thus they would look for an activity that is meaningful to that child and use that to develop the skills needed.
Typically, this includes strengthening and mobilising various muscle groups on a Gross- and Fine-motor level, the development of bilateral coordination, praxis (motor planning), visual perception and visual-motor skills. Therapists also take into account the effect of the physical and social environment on a child’s performance.
2. What is Sensory Integration (SI)?
Sensory Integration stems from a body of theory originally formulated by visionary occupational therapist Dr A. Jean Ayres. Put simply, it is the “organisation of sensations for use”. It is a neurological process whereby sensory information flows into the brain, the brain then has to organise them so that we can move, learn and behave appropriately and effectively within our environment.
This process of organisation (select, enhance, inhibit and compare) gives meaning to what we have experienced. Thus, our senses tell us information about our body as well as the world around us constantly. Adequate sensory integration from all of the senses is necessary to support optimal function. These senses include vision, hearing, taste, smell and touch, as well as the sense of movement (vestibular) and body position (proprioception). Thus it forms the underlying foundation for academic learning and social behaviour.
3. Who can benefit from OT?
Parents know and understand their children better than anyone else. Therefore as parents, you would be the first to know when your child is struggling or simply not performing optimally in the daily activities expected of them.
This may present itself in any of the following ways:
* Movement and Coordination (reduced muscle strength, balance and ball skills etc)
* Planning and organisational skills at home or school (executive functioning, problem solving and ideation)
* Self-Care (dressing, toileting, feeding)
* Sensory Processing and Modulation Disorders
* Fine-Motor Skills (manipulating the hands for functional use in buttoning, tying shoelaces, handwriting, colouring, cutting etc)
*Visual-Motor and Perceptual (reading, writing, spatial difficulties)
4. How long is the OT process?
This is a question that I am asked daily by parents and is one of the most difficult to answer! The reality is that each child responds differently to the therapy process. Whilst some children only require a short stint in OT due to a limited number of goals (E.g. Pencil grip) others require a more lengthy approach. This goal setting process is a vital part of the assessment and is done in collaboration with parents.
5. Do you submit to Medical Aid on my behalf?
Unfortunately we are not contracted to any medical aid and therefore do not submit accounts on your behalf. It is your responsibility to ensure that your medical aid claims are made and received.