Have you observed your child struggling to crawl, walk and jump as expected or having trouble using a fork when eating or writing their name? This could be an indication that they require occupational therapy (OT).
Occupational therapy for speech disorders Adelaide collaborates with people of all ages to strengthen various aspects of life skills, including sensory integration which affects oral motor and feeding abilities, visual motor development which facilitates speech growth, and self-regulation for an emotionally stable body.
Motor Skills
OTs may use speech therapy sessions to address motor skills in order to enhance performance and participation. For instance, children suffering from oral motor issues might have trouble chewing and swallowing food without coughing, gagging, or choking; therefore, OTs could work with the child to establish more efficient chewing and swallowing habits, improve tongue movement so it enables easier chewing/eating processes, as well as learn to use their hands more efficiently for self-care activities and play activities.
Occupational therapists might also focus on gross and fine motor skills related to speech and communication. Children need to be able to control their bodies and sit still in order to engage in speech and language activities; additionally, they need to be able to screen sensory input while attending to tasks. If a child easily becomes distracted and struggles to follow instructions, occupational therapists might use exercises that enable him/her to practice sitting quietly for longer periods.
OTs work closely with children to help develop physical skills necessary for speech and language development, in addition to improving sensory processing, regulating emotions, improving visual perceptual skills and strengthening learning and memory – essential skills needed for reaching appropriate developmental milestones and becoming independent adults.
Sensory Integration
Occupational therapy for speech disorders Adelaide employ treatments designed to foster sensory integration in children, which is a foundational skill of speech and language development. Your child might participate in sensory-based activities such as jumping on a trampoline, swinging, playing with shaving cream, smelling flowers or using shaving foam; during these sessions they should likely feel engaged and motivated as they’re working on something they enjoy doing.
Pioneering occupational therapist Ayres likened disordered sensory processing to a neurological “traffic jam.” Individuals suffering from this condition have difficulty understanding or responding to information received from their bodies and the environment – including visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory and vestibular signals.
Children with sensory issues can benefit from working with an occupational therapist on postural stability skills to enhance their ability to hold their head up during speech therapy sessions and follow directions more easily. They also perform brushing – using a special type of brush in a specific way to apply pressure and joint compressions – which Jarrow cites as being particularly effective treatment option for children who demonstrate distinct tactile defensiveness.
An occupational therapist (OT) can help children who struggle to eat overcome sensory-based feeding challenges. An OT may address hypo- and hypersensitive eating, where kids may overfill their mouths or stuff food into pockets in their cheeks respectively, as well as gag-gag responses when certain textures come into their bodies.
Self-Regulation
Occupational therapy for speech disorders Adelaide employ self-regulation techniques to assist children in controlling their emotions, behaviours and energy levels to better focus on tasks. It’s an invaluable skill for all children but especially for those living with speech disorders or having other disabilities that impact executive functions such as ADHD.
Some children may struggle to adapt to changes to their routine or transition between activities, accepting others’ expectations, or managing rapid fluctuations in emotion levels – all signs of poor self-regulation.
Occupational Therapists can not only address physical aspects of self-regulation such as movement, balance and sensory processing but can also teach strategies to reduce anxiety and improve focus by employing role playing, visual supports and problem-solving in a safe environment.
Therapists can assist children in exploring how they processed information or details surrounding an incident and what might change next time. Emotional regulation techniques include breaking down an event into smaller parts in order to identify triggers and coping techniques; Mightier provides games-based support so children can practice their coping mechanisms as they become more proficient.