Post by MTHC

Many professionals aren’t sure when OT is the right referral for a child. These are some of the things families say, or that you might observe, that often signal OT is the right next step. ·        She gets upset every time we go somewhere busy ·        He just won't write, he says it’s too hard ·        Getting dressed in the morning takes forever and she needs my help ·        His teacher says he can't stay focused or get organised ·        She doesn't really know how to play with other kids ·        He seems to avoid anything physical and gets tired so quickly ·        Transitions between activities are really hard for him ·        She's struggling with eating, sleep or toileting A referral is worth considering when these challenges are affecting a child's participation at home, at school or in the community, regardless of whether a diagnosis is in place. It might help you to think of occupational therapy supporting children across five key areas: 1.      Everyday self-care and routines 2.      School participation and learning 3.      Sensory processing and regulation 4.      Social engagement and play 5.      Fine and gross motor development OT works well alongside speech pathology, psychology and other allied health, and MTHC is set up for integrated and multidisciplinary care. No formal referral is required, though a GP management plan can help families with the cost of getting started. Our OT Ben Ho has written a practical guide to what paediatric OT supports and how families can access care. Worth sharing with families who are asking questions: https://lnkd.in/g7cSyrwB #PaediatricOT #OccupationalTherapy #AlliedHealth #ChildDevelopment #MTHC