A to Z of Therapies
Occupational Therapy
January 29th, 2008
Occupational therapists (OTs) help people improve their abilityto perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. Theywork with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically,developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They also help them todevelop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Occupationaltherapists help clients not only to improve their basic motor functionsand reasoning abilities, but also to compensate for permanent lossof function. Their goal is to help clients have independent, productive,and satisfying lives.
Occupational therapists assist clients in performing activities ofall types, ranging from using a computer to caring for daily needssuch as dressing, cooking, and eating. Physical exercises may be usedto increase strength and dexterity, while other activities may bechosen to improve visual acuity and the ability to discern patterns.Occupational therapists also use computer programs to help clientsimprove decision making, abstract-reasoning, problem-solving, andperceptual skills, as well as memory, sequencing, and coordination allof which are important for independent living.
Therapists instruct those with permanent disabilities, such as spinalcord injuries, cerebral palsy, or muscular dystrophy, in the use ofadaptive equipment, including wheelchairs, orthotics and aids foreating and dressing. They also design or make special equipment neededat home or at work. Therapists develop computer-aided adaptive equipmentand teach clients with severe limitations how to use that equipmentin order to communicate better and control various aspects of theirenvironment.
Some occupational therapists treat individuals whose ability to functionin a work environment has been impaired. These practitioners arrangeemployment, evaluate the work environment, plan work activities, andassess the client's progress. Therapists also may collaboratewith the client and the employer to modify the work environment sothat the work can be successfully completed.
Occupational therapists may work exclusively with individuals in aparticular age group or with particular disabilities. In schools,for example, they evaluate children's abilities, recommend andprovide therapy, modify classroom equipment, and help children participateas fully as possible in school programs and activities. A therapistmay work with children individually, lead small groups in the classroom,consult with a teacher, or serve on a curriculum or other administrativecommittee. Early intervention therapy services are provided to infantsand toddlers who have, or at the risking of having, developmentaldelays. Specific therapies may include facilitating the use of thehands, promoting skills for listening and following directions, fosteringsocial play skills, or teaching dressing and grooming skills.
Occupational therapy also is beneficial to the elderly population.Therapists help the elderly lead more productive, active, and independentlives through a variety of methods, including the use of adaptiveequipment. Therapists with specialized training in driver rehabilitationassess an individual's ability to drive using both clinicaland on-the-road tests. The evaluations allow the therapist to makerecommendations for adaptive equipment, training to prolong drivingindependence, and alternative transportation options. Occupationaltherapists also work with the client to asses the home for hazardsand to identify environmental factors that contribute to falls.
American Occupational Therapy Association
www.aota.org
SOURCE: US Bureau of Labor Statistics
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