FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Occupational Therapy (OT)?
Occupational Therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that helps individuals develop, recover, or improve the skills needed for everyday life and meaningful activities. Paediatric occupational therapists work with children who may experience developmental delays, autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, sensory processing differences, fine and gross motor difficulties, cerebral palsy, and juvenile arthritis. They also support neurodivergent children, teens, and adults, including those with autism and ADHD.
Therapy sessions often involve play-based and structured activities to help individuals develop coordination, strength, attention, and independence in daily routines, ensuring they can participate fully in home, school, and social environments.
- For children, OT focuses on their daily “occupations”, which include essential activities such as:
- Playing with friends and social interactions
- Handwriting and other school-related tasks
- Eating and using cutlery
- Toileting and personal hygiene
- Getting dressed and tying shoelaces
- Completing household chores
- Organising belongings and following routines
- Engaging in play, including pretend play and independent play
- Managing emotions and self-regulation
- Developing attention and focus for learning
- Using scissors and fine motor activities
- Climbing, running, and other gross motor skills
- Coping with sensory challenges (e.g., loud noises, textures, movement)
- Building independence in daily tasks
- Transitioning between activities and adapting to change
How Do I Know If My Child Needs OT?
- A recommendation for occupational therapy from a paediatrician, teacher, speech therapist, key worker, support coordinator, or other health professionals.
- If your child is experiencing any of these difficulties, an occupational therapist can assess their needs and provide strategies to support their development and independence.You may consider occupational therapy for your child if they experience challenges in any of the following areas:
- Difficulty completing self-care tasks such as dressing, washing, or brushing their teeth compared to their peers.
- Struggles with handwriting, avoids writing tasks, or has received concerns from their school about their handwriting skills.
- Difficulty engaging in play, either independently or with others.
- Challenges using utensils, holding a pencil, fastening buttons, or using zippers.
- Trouble with whole-body movements such as climbing, jumping, skipping, or running.
- Difficulty regulating their emotions and managing frustration.
- Challenges with making friends or getting along with peers.
- Unusual sensitivity to sensory experiences, appearing either overly sensitive, less responsive, or constantly seeking different sensations.
Can Occupational Therapists Provide Assessments for Children?
- Yes, occupational therapists can provide a range of assessments to support children’s development and help identify their strengths and areas of need. Assessments are used to guide therapy, support school and home interventions, and assist with funding applications such as the NDIS.
- We offer a variety of assessments, including:
- The Very Early Years Assessments - We provide early years developmental assessments for babies, and toddlers. Using the Bayley Scales, helps identify where specific concerns are and recommendations for intervention.
- Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA) for NDIS – A comprehensive evaluation to determine a child’s functional abilities and support needs for NDIS funding.
- NDIS Review Reports – Detailed reports to support NDIS plan reviews, ensuring children receive appropriate supports.
- Gross & Fine Motor Assessments – Assessments that evaluate a child’s fine and gross motor skills, coordination, and overall movement abilities.
- Sensory Profile Assessments** – Used to understand how a child processes sensory information and how it impacts their daily activities, behaviour, and engagement.
- ADOS Assessment – A structured observation used to assess autism traits and support diagnostic processes. We provide this service when a Paediatrician has recommended this as part of their comprehensive assessment of autism.
- Handwriting Assessments – Evaluations to identify difficulties with letter formation, pencil grip, writing speed, and endurance, helping to develop strategies to improve handwriting skills.
- Assessment of Everyday Living Skills – Evaluates a child’s ability to complete essential daily tasks such as dressing, toileting, eating, personal hygiene, organising belongings, and following routines. This helps identify areas where support or skill development is needed.