What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a profession that aims to enable individuals of all ages to engage in meaningful and purposeful activities, also known as occupations. Occupational therapy practitioners take a holistic approach, considering the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of a person.
The core philosophy of occupational therapy revolves around the belief that engagement in meaningful activities is essential for promoting health, well-being, and overall quality of life. Occupational therapists work closely with individuals to identify their unique goals, needs, and challenges. By understanding the person's abilities and limitations, occupational therapists develop customized interventions that address specific barriers to participation.
When does my child need Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy can address difficulties in completing daily self-care tasks, participating in play, and engaging in school-related activities. Here are some specific areas where a child may benefit from occupational therapy:
Difficulty completing self care tasks:
Occupational therapists can work with children to develop the necessary cognitive skills, motor skills, coordination, and independence to perform self-care tasks such as dressing, eating and brushing teeth.
Challenges in processing sound, texture, taste and movement:
Occupational therapists can address sensory processing challenges or preferences that may affect a child's ability to effectively process and respond to sensory information. Through sensory integration techniques and sensory-based interventions, occupational therapists can help children develop sensory responses and regulate their sensory experiences, as well as adapt their environment to their sensory preferences.
Refusal to eat most food or limited food repertoire:
Occupational therapists specializing in feeding therapy can help children who have difficulties with food aversions, limited food preferences, or challenges with oral motor skills. They work collaboratively with families and other professionals to assess and address the underlying factors contributing to feeding difficulties, while gradually expanding the child's food repertoire and improving their oral motor abilities.
Challenges in fine motor skills:
Occupational therapists can work on improving hand coordination, strength, and dexterity, which are essential for tasks like feeding, writing, and using scissors. They may provide therapeutic exercises, adaptive techniques, and strategies to enhance fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and bilateral coordination.
Difficulty with handwriting:
Occupational therapists can assess and address handwriting difficulties, including issues with letter formation, spacing, sizing, and legibility. They provide interventions to improve handwriting skills through various techniques, such as multi-sensory approaches, fine motor exercises, and proper positioning.
Global developmental delay:
Occupational therapists play a vital role in supporting children with developmental delays. They assess the child's overall development, identify areas of delay, and provide individualized interventions to promote skill development across various domains, including fine motor skills, sensory processing, self-care, play, and social participation.
Most common conditions for referral are:
Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD/ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Coordination Disorder/Dyspraxia, Developmental Delay, Developmental Disability, Down’s Syndrome, Fine Motor Delay, Handwriting Concerns, Intellectual Disability, Learning Disorder, Sensory Processing Concerns
What is “Mobile Occupational Therapy”?
Mobile Occupational Therapy is an outpatient occupational therapy services that is done in the client’s home or a location of your choosing such as school or daycares, instead of an outpatient clinic. Mobile therapy is for kiddos and families who have preference for in home services or may have limitations to go in the clinic, such as transportation issues. We bring OT to you, eliminating travel time and expenses to go to clinics. This also provides opportunity for your kiddos to develop skills and abilities where they are actually utilized.
How do I start with OT services?
The process is initiated when we receive a Physician’s order to perform an Occupational evaluation and treatment. Please have them fax this to us at 832-323-2514.
If you use BCBSTX insurance, we kindly request that you verify the coverage for Occupational Therapy services. We will need you to fax us a copy of your driver's license and your insurance card (front and back).
During your child's initial session, we will conduct an evaluation to assess their strengths and challenges. Based on this assessment, we will determine goals and create a personalized plan of care. Our Occupational Therapy services can be provided on a weekly basis or through consultations, depending on your specific goals.
What insurance and payments do you accept?
We offer self-pay options for our services. To inquire about our schedule of fees, you can reach out to us via phone, text, or email. We are also in-network with BCBSTX (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas) and an approved provider for SSES (Supplemental Special Education Services). If you have other insurance coverage, we can provide you with documentation known as a superbill, which you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or require additional information.