According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), occupational therapy is the therapeutic treatment aimed at helping people recover, develop, or retain their day to day skills. These professional treatment centers assist those categories of people in strengthening their independence and in boosting their self-esteem.
People of all ages can benefit from occupational therapy. Furthermore, it comes in handy for impaired children, the aged with limited muscle function as well as soldiers who sustain various injuries,and many others. The beauty of occupational therapy is that it addresses not only the patient’s physical wellbeing but also their social and psychological health. As such, it is essential for the best physical and mental health.
Here are some of the conditions that occupational therapy can help with:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Children with ADHD may have problems with schooling and even doing home activities as well as having social interactions. This is because they are easily distracted and experience difficulties controlling, prioritizing, and switching attention.
The occupational therapists employ special techniques like sensory integration therapy, to develop the kid’s sensory integration abilities and reorganize their sensory systems in entirety. The specialists also use other approaches to strengthen their senses.
Amputations
Having a limb removed may be a difficult thing to live with more so if the affected person starts having ghost limb experiences. The patient cannot carry on with their daily tasks, and this can have adverse effects on their mental health. The occupational therapists step in to offer the patients critical assistance, identify their goals, take an in-depth look at the tasks, and avail the relevant modifications to assist in accomplishing those goals. Besides, the therapists provide prosthetic training so the patients can have a more comfortable and close-to-normal life.
Depression and anxiety
Although all humans experience instances of lows in their lives, at times, the low feelings can prolong or become extremely intense, causing life-altering effects. Such are typically classified as clinical depression. On the other hand, anxiety manifests through constant experiencing fear or low-level pain, and in extreme cases, a negative effect on all spheres of a person’s life.
Occupational therapists can help those with depression and anxiety by teaching them self-awareness skills, targeted exercises, among others. The professionals offer guidance and support those with anxiety to lessen the negative effect on their daily lives and to get the optimum from their day to day activities.