If you’ve been in parenting social circles and virtual groups for long enough, you’ve probably heard of developmental delays.
But if you’re unfamiliar with the term, developmental delays, or sometimes simply called ‘delays’ are areas in a child’s growth where they are a bit behind compared to their peers.
These areas can include motor function, speech and language, cognitive, play, and social skills.
For instance, a normal 2-year-old child may already be speaking in 2- or 3-word sentences.
But a 2-year-old child with speech delay may not be speaking at all, or are still in the babble stage.
Developmental delays can present unique challenges for children. They can affect a child’s ability to participate in everyday activities as well as prevent them from reach important milestones.
However, there is a way to curtail delays, through what is known as occupational therapy.
What Is Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy or OT for short is a form of rehabilitative healthcare focused on helping disabled or special needs individual a way to lead a normal life.
The practice provides patients with coping mechanisms and tools designed to help speed their recovery or development in certain areas.
Fortunately, occupational therapy offers a stepping stone for children with developmental delays to catch up with their normal growth and development.
Occupational therapists are trained professionals who specialise in helping people, both young and old, overcome physical, cognitive, and sensory challenges that affect their daily lives.
When OT is applied to children, it becomes a form of early intervention.
Purpose of Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy for kids with developmental delays focuses on addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by each child.
These delays can manifest in various areas, such as motor skills, language and speech and social interaction.
Occupational therapists work close with the child, their family, and other healthcare professionals.
This is so they can create a custom treatment plan to promote the child’s functional skills.
Some children for instance have a speech delay, others may have a movement delay.
So, a therapist has to customise a treatment plan to accommodate the different types of delays.
This is done in the hopes of improving their overall quality of life. Allowing them to learn, play and make friends like other children.
Here are some of the elements of occupational therapy and what they encompass.
Speech and Language
Children who have a speech delay tend to miss milestones that other children their age have achieved.
They may not be able to speak as fluently as their peers or have trouble forming complex sentences or understanding when someone speaks to them.
The treatment is usually speech therapy where therapists may engage in pronunciation activities, vocal cord exercises and collaborative storytelling.
It is not unlike normal language lessons except therapists will usually pay much closer attention to each child’s progress.
Motor Skills
Enhancing a child’s fine and gross motor skills is one of the goals of OT.
Fine motor control is the coordination of small muscles and precise movements such as writing with a pencil or using scissors.
Examples of exercises to improve are playing with blocks, manipulating small objects, drawing, and engaging in arts and crafts.
As a child’s fine motor skills improve, they are able to function much better in daily tasks such as writing (when doing homework, etc.), feeding themselves such as with a fork and spoon, and getting dressed (buttoning up shirts and dresses).
On the other hand, gross motor skills involve the coordination and movement of large muscles of the body.
Think walking, running, and other types of physical activity, etc.
Examples of exercises that can help improve gross motor skills can include playing sports, rock-climbing, rope-jumping, trampolining, and engaging in outdoor activities.
Sensory Processing
Sensory processing refers to how our bodies naturally respond to outside stimuli through our five main senses: touch, smell, sight, sound and taste.
Many children with developmental delays in this rea experience difficulties in processing and responding to sensory information from their environment.
They may be overstimulated or under-stimulated, have trouble feeling pain or be extra sensitive to touch, tend to make a lot of noise or hide away from loud noises, and many more.
Social Interaction
Some delays don’t come in the form of poor motor control, speech disorders or sensory issues but in social interaction.
This does not only involve interactions with friends, families, and teachers.
Through play-learning and intervention activities therapists can help children who are delayed in this area, build relationships, express themselves authentically, and become more independent in their daily routines.
Dealing with Developmental Delays
Occupational therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Each child has different needs.
Therefore, treatment plans need to meet specific needs and abilities.
It is also crucial for parents and caregivers is to ensure that therapy goals and strategies continue to be observed and practiced at home.
This is to ensure the child has plenty of opportunities to catch up with their milestones.
With the right intervention and the right therapist, a delayed child can their shortcomings and emerge the other side fully prepared to face whatever curveball life throws at them.
You’ve got this, parents!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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