What Is Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Pediatric occupational therapy is a form of therapy that focuses on the development and growth of children. It’s typically used to treat children with physical disabilities or developmental delays, but it can also be used for other types of childhood disorders.
Pediatric occupational therapists provide services tailored to each child’s unique needs and goals, including:
- Planning activities and play sessions at home or in school settings
- Designing equipment that allows patients to perform tasks they can’t do alone (such as wheelchairs)
What Does A pediatric Occupational Therapist Do?
A pediatric occupational therapist helps children with physical, cognitive, and sensory challenges. They also work with parents to help them understand what their children can and cannot do.
After graduation from an accredited school of PT/OT, you will spend at least one year working as a certified assistant or volunteer with an adult OT in order to gain experience in the field before applying for licensure. The average time it takes for a licensed professional to receive state certification varies by state.
How Do I Know If I Need A Pediatric Occupational Therapist?
If you have a child who is 6 years old or younger, then they may be eligible for pediatric occupational therapy services. Occupational therapy help children learn how to do things by using their sensory systems and helping them develop motor skills. They can also be instrumental in teaching problems with fine motor skills, such as writing and drawing.
The benefits of using a pediatric occupational therapist include:
- Improves functional abilities (e.g., walking)
- Decreases the number of falls from stairs or other places where the child could hurt themselves badly from hitting the floor too hard (e.g., breaking their ankle)
- Improves school performance even though it may seem like it’s not going well because there are so many other things happening around them all at once like being sick or having something else happen that makes it hard for them to learn how much harder than usual due to these distractions interfering with their ability/interest level.
How Do I Find A Good Pediatric Occupational Therapist?
You can find a good pediatric occupational therapist by asking for recommendations from friends and family or you can also check it online. If you don’t know anyone with a child who needs an OT, look at the following:
- The National Association of Occupational Therapists (NAOT) website has an online directory of certified professionals available in your area.
- Check the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook to see which occupations have the highest demand for workers with certain degrees or certifications—and crosscheck them against what would interest your child’s condition or interests when it comes to career options!
- Look at organizations like The Arc which provide resources on how people with intellectual disabilities live successful lives; they also offer workshops on topics like job hunting strategies, self-advocacy skills training, and more.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Pediatric Occupational Therapist
When choosing a pediatric occupational therapist, there are several factors to consider. The first is experience: how long have they been practising? How many years did they complete their degree and how long were they working before starting at the clinic?
The second factor is education: what type of school did your therapist graduate from? Did he/she attend a four-year institution or was he/she self-taught (i.e., taking courses online)? Did she/he take any additional courses after graduating from college that may benefit him/her in his/her career as an OT?
Another important aspect of choosing an OT is certification. There are several certifications available for OTs and most states require that therapists have completed specific training programs before being allowed to practice in those states’ medical facilities; however, some states do not require this level of training so it’s important for families considering hiring someone new at home if there are any questions about whether or not their chosen provider has met certain requirements required by law prior.
How Do I Find An Occupational Therapist For My Child?
- Look for a pediatric occupational therapist.
- Make sure the therapist has experience with your child’s condition.
- It’s important that you find a therapist who is familiar with your child’s school, community, and insurance company so they can work with them effectively on their treatment plan.
Qualifications Of A Pediatric Occupational Therapist
The qualifications of a pediatric occupational therapist include:
- Credentials. A graduate degree in occupational therapy is required, but you can also get your certifications through the American Occupational Therapy Association or other organizations.
- Education and experience. You must have at least an undergraduate degree in an allied health field (such as biology, chemistry, or psychology) before working as an occupational therapist. In addition to completing 1500 hours of clinical practice with children under 18 years old over a minimum period of three years, it’s also recommended that you complete 200 hours of advanced training each year for five years after graduating from school—and pass certification exams based on those courses.
If you’re interested in applying for this position but don’t currently possess these credentials–or even if your resume doesn’t quite fit into this category–you may still find success pursuing similar career paths within healthcare settings; however, certain training programs may require additional steps first before allowing entry into their workforce ranks.
Questions You Should Ask Your Pediatric Occupational Therapist
- What is the therapy?
- How long will it take?
- What is the cost?
- What is the insurance coverage?
- Are there any side effects or risks associated with this treatment?
- How long will it take to see results when using this treatment method and what are they like compared to other treatments available in your area (if any)?
Conclusion
This is a great checklist to use when you want to find a pediatric occupational therapist. You can use this list as a reference when looking for the right therapist for your child and make sure they have all of their qualifications before starting therapy. For More Detail Contact Us or you can also visit our website www.iconiccare.com.au.
