Our children are precious to us. As parents, we bear the responsibility to help them develop their skills, assist them with their challenges, aid them in honing their talents and nurture them as they navigate through childhood, puberty, and adolescence.
Being a parent for a child with special needs is a challenge and one that requires patience and dedication. Although it may be tough, several therapeutic interventions can help in parenting special children, especially Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD; one of which is occupational therapy.
Children with ASD require special attention as they differ in processing sensory information compared to others. They may find it difficult to interact and communicate with their surroundings and their social skills may also be limited. Occupational therapy involves activities that will enable children with ASD to achieve their full potential.
In this blog, we will be discussing how occupational therapy can benefit your child with ASD and empower them to be the best they can be.
Role of Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals dedicated to understanding human growth, development, and how different people’s daily activities affect their interaction with their environment. They are also experts in the effects of illnesses and trauma in an individual’s social, emotional and physiological aspects.
Occupational therapy doesn’t just involve a healthcare professional and your child, it’s a holistic approach wherein therapists work as a team with parents, guardians, and teachers in assisting children with ASD gain skills, improve their abilities and minimize the limitations of their disability.
Each child with ASD is unique and therapists, create intervention plans that are specific for each patient. They customize each therapy by observing your child’s behavior and evaluating his/her interaction with the people closest to them. With this information, therapists can identify the best activities that can help in reaching your child’s goals. To ensure its effectiveness, therapists conduct assessments to determine if the intervention plan should be changed or improved.
Occupational Therapy and your Child
When it comes to Autism, occupational therapists’ main challenge is assessing your child’s sensory processing disorder and come up with activities that will eliminate barriers to learning, and help your child maintain focus.
A therapist’s intervention plan may involve a combination of several activities that will aid your child to react better to his or her surroundings. This may include physical activities that can help your child develop coordination and play activities to improve communication and social interaction.
Occupational therapy also helps foster your child’s skills such as daily living skills which include toilet training, brushing teeth, dressing, etc. Fine motor skills needed for holding objects while handwriting or combing are also taught. Therapists also help your child develop better gross motor skills needed for balance and coordination. Perceptual skills such as distinguishing colors, shapes, and sizes of objects are given importance as well. Most importantly, problem-solving skills are also inculcated by occupational therapists to your child.
Final Words
Through the efforts of occupational therapists in improving the skills essential to achieving your child’s potential and easing their disabilities, your child with autism will be able to learn how to focus on tasks. Apart from this, your child will be able to express their feelings in a much better way as well. Additionally, the skills that your child will learn during therapy can help them form positive relationships and engage with their peers.
For your child’s well being, it is always better to start therapeutic intervention during their early stages. At Pulse Center, we do not only have experts in occupational therapy but provide the right counsel for your child’s autism as well. Reach out to us anytime and let us work together in improving the quality of life for your child.