What Do OTs Do?

Pediatric occupational therapists (OTs) help children develop fine motor skills and abilities (reach & grasp, writing, cutting, clothing management, feeding, etc.) for children from birth to adulthood. Many pediatric OTs may address the sensory needs of your child, providing strategies and tools to function and grow. Pediatric OTs can assess and provide interventions to focus on strength, cognition, motor control, hand-eye coordination, and motor planning – with emphasis on function, activities of daily living (ADLs) and participation.

Pediatric OTs work with individuals with a number of conditions, including:

• Developmental delays
• Sensory processing difficulties and disorders
• Feeding difficulties and disorders
• Neurological conditions (Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Muscular dystrophies, etc.)
• Genetic conditions (Down syndrome, Charcot-Marie Tooth, etc.)
• Complex medical needs