Tustin Speech & Language Center ...
offers a Occupational Therapy program
designed to assist infants and toddlers who have been diagnosed with developmental
delays or disabilities.
Occupational Therapy in
Early Intervention
Infants and toddlers who have been diagnosed with developmental delays or disabilities and those at risk for such problems may be eligible for early intervention services. Occupational therapy practitioners are primary providers of these services. Using purposeful activity, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants seek to prevent disability or developmental delay and to improve functional sills, particularly those used in daily living.
In early intervention, occupational therapy practitioners are usually part of an interdisciplinary team that includes the family and focuses on family needs and resources related to the role of the primary caregiver. Practitioners collaborate with parents of children with special needs to adapt caregiving, to provide learning environments, and to promote the children's overall development. Early intervention generally refers to services for children up to the age of three.
Occupational therapy may be required for young children with:
- premature birth - before 32 weeks gestational age
- low birth weight - below 1500 grams;
- congenital anomalies
- genetic disorders
- neurological insult occurring before, during, or after birth
- delays in sensory motor skills
- poor behavior-state regulation
- neuromuscular disease
- an adolescent mother
- a mother with a history of substance abuse
- a family living in extreme poverty
- parents with a developmental delay
Occupational Therapy goals for young children receiving early intervention services include facilitation of:
- Feeding Skills
- adaptation to sensory experiences
- sensory motor skills
- parental adaptation of daily living skills to infants
- variety and quality in play skills
Occupational Therapy benefits young children at risk for developmental delay by:
- improving the children's ability to respond to and interact with objects in the environment
- supporting parents in their roles as caretaker for a child who has special needs
- recommending adapted methods for feeding, dressing and play
- Engaging the children in activities to improve motor skills and play abilities
- proving appropriate sensation to facilitate movement and desirable behavior
Occupational Therapy service include:
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- evaluating, screening, and assessing the young child's developmental skills
- monitoring the child's developmental status
- providing activities to improve adaptive responses to sensory experiences
Information provided by
The American Occupational
Therapy Association, Inc.
Last Update
9/23/03
Adult Programs Accent-Reduction Children Programs Family Education Fast ForWord Occupational Therapy
Tustin
Speech & Language Center • 661 West First Street,
Suite E • Tustin, CA 92780 • Phone:(714)-838-2853
• Fax:(714)-838-4533
Info@TustinSpeech.com
