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Most Frequently asked Questions:

 

     What is Occupational Therapy?     

     What is Sensory Integration?

     What is Therapeutic Listening?      

     What is Physical Therapy?

     General Inquiries Form

 

 

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy is a health profession that helps people to participate in meaningful daily roles and activities. For children this is play, self care (feeding, eating dressing, safety…), school, and social interactions. An occupational therapist studies anatomy, neurology, development, and is able to analyze activities for functional outcomes. The occupational therapist assesses the whole person while assisting him or her to find and perform activities that are meaningful to their lives, enabling the person to increase function that may be delayed or declined as a result of a developmental disability, accident, medical or mental condition. The occupation of childhood is to develop skills necessary to become a functional and independent adult. These skills include: regulation and arousal level to attend and participate, sensory discrimination and processing, refinement of motor and visual processing skills, effective social interaction and communication skills, cognitive skills, age appropriate self care skills, and self concept. Adaptive equipment (such as switches, adapted tools, and splints), sensory integration techniques, and assistive technology may be implemented by the occupational therapist to achieve specific goals.

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What is sensory integration?

Sensory integration is an innate neurobiological process and refers to the integration and interpretation of sensory stimulation from the environment by the brain. Sensory integration is the brain’s ability to interpret and organize information from sensation for use. Sensation includes: vision, hearing, taste, small, touch, balance, gravity, position and movement. In contrast, sensory integrative dysfunction is a disorder in which sensory input is not integrated or organized appropriately in the brain and may produce varying degrees of problems in development, information processing, and behavior. Problems in sensory integration may result in learning problems, distractibility, hyperactivity, under-responsiveness to stimuli, poor coordination and balance, and contribute to difficulties at home work and play. The theory of sensory integration and treatment has been developed by Dr. A. Jean Ayres from studies in the neurosciences and those pertaining to physical development and neuromuscular function. Extensive training and testing is required to become certified to provide the Sensory Integration and praxis test.

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What is Therapeutic Listening?

Therapeutic Listening® is an evidence-backed protocol that combines a sound-based intervention with sensory integrative activities which emphasize vestibular stimulation and postural movement strategies. Occupational Therapists and other professionals now incorporate sound based technologies using sophisticated sound technology and music. This specially modified and filtered music produces specific effects allowing therapists to approach the auditory and vestibular system directly, having a tremendous effect on total brain functioning. Therapeutic Listening® is a structured program in which the child listens to a series of specifically designed music planned for each individual’s evaluated needs. The child may be engaged in particular activities to further enhance the treatment while listening to the portable CD’s twice a day for 30 minute sessions. There are 4 main areas of treatment response:

      1. Orientation and Regulation

                                              2. Space/Time

                                              3. Core Movement Patterns

                                              4. Connection and Communication

Many areas of change have been noted with therapeutic listening including: arousal and attention, receptive and expressive language, speed of processing, social language and social-emotional maturity, balance and coordination, praxis (motor planning), motivation, affect, awareness of environment, improved sensory modulation, organization, feeding and sleeping skills, gravitational security, eye control, and improved awareness and regulation of hunger and thirst patterns.

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What is physical therapy?

Physical Therapy is a health care profession concerned with prevention and management of movement disorders arising from conditions and diseases occurring throughout the lifespan.  A physical therapist is trained in anatomy, neuroanatomy, physiology, and kinesiology.  Specifically to pediatrics, a physical therapist studies childhood development of gross motor movement.  A physical therapist will evaluate a patient, then create goals, develop and facilitate a treatment plan.  With very young children, treatment is centered mostly around developmental and age appropriate play activities, which could include gross motor movement training, enhancing motor control and motor planning, therapeutic exercise, balance facilitation, training with mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers, or braces and consultation with parents and educators.

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