OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

The Speech & OT Centre is a child and family centered service that aims to empower children and their families to nurture their development across childhood.

When to refer for occupational therapy in Sydney ?

Occupational Therapists can support children who need support in a range of different areas. These are some of things to look out for:

Self Care

• Difficulty with buttons, zippers, shoelaces
• Difficulty with opening and closing your lunchbox , or unscrewing your water bottle
• Trouble ‘orienting’ clothing
• Poor sequencing within tasks (dressing or packing bag)
• Trouble with skills such as brushing hair or teeth, toileting, bathing or using a knife & fork

Sensory Processing

• Sensitivity to certain auditory input (sounds), tactile input (touch – textures, temperatures, pressure), visual input or vestibular input (movement)
• Seeks some sensations (e.g. deep pressure, vibration, spinning or light touch)
• Easily overstimulated, or generally low level arousal (flat affect, hard to engage)

Clumsy or awkward movements: 

• Falling or tripping over
• Bumping into people or objects

Poor postural control

• Resting head in hand when writing
• Slouching when standing or sitting at a desk
• Leaning on furniture, walls or other people

Social, play and Emotional skills

• Making friends
• initiating interactions and responding appropriately with others
• Taking turns with other
• Sharing
• Separating from parents
• Managing and regulating emotions and feelings
• Sequencing in play, and learning how to play appropriately with toys

Drawing & Handwriting:

• Difficulty tracing over lines
• Difficulty drawing shapes
• Immature or restrictive pencil grip
• Poor letter formation
• Reversals
• Poor spatial organisation/setting out or neatness
• Reduced writing speed
• Experiencing pain when writing

Poor coordination

• Difficulty throwing or catching a ball
• Difficulty climbing, riding a bike and/or coordinating movements of arms and legs

Poor balance: 

• Difficulty with steps, walking on a line or balance beam
• Standing on one leg
• Hopping

Copying

• Trouble copying from the board or text books
• Omitting letters or words
• Poor spatial organisation
• Reduced speed (difficulty ‘keeping up’ in class)

Cutting Skills

• Holding scissors awkwardly
• Tense or asymmetrical posture
• Decreased accuracy and neatness
• Poor planning
• Swapping hands
• Changing direction when cutting