Paediatrics
(0-18 years)

Does my child need an OT? Listed below are some of the areas/reasons why a child may be referred to an Occupational Therapist. If you identify any of the following for your child, contact Encompass OT for further information or complete & submit a referral form.

Developmental Delay

Developmental delay occurs when a child is not meeting their milestones within the expected time frames. Examples of developmental delays include:

• Not reaching developmental milestones of sitting, crawling, and walking
• Not learning at an age appropriate level e.g. not responding to their name, not tracking items with their eyes around the room
• Not developing age appropriate play and social skills e.g. dislikes being with other children, does not engage with others, prefers to play alone

Play Skills

Play skills are skills that can help a child make sense of the world around them. A child can gain self-confidence, learn problem solving, and develop social skills through play. Children with delayed play skills may:

• Need adult guidance to initiate play
• Not engage in imaginative play
• Wander aimlessly without purposeful play
• Move quickly from one activity to the next - poor attention & concentration
• Not explore toys appropriately
• Participate in repetitive play for hours (e.g., lining up toys)
• Not join in with peers/siblings when playing
• Have difficulty understanding the concepts of sharing and turn taking

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the hand and wrist. They are essential for everyday activities such as dressing, feeding and writing. If your child has poor fine motor skills they may have difficulty with the following:

• Manipulating toys and puzzles
• Holding a pencil to write, trace or draw
• Using scissors
• Using zippers, buttons, shoelaces
• Deciding on a hand preference

Children with delayed fine motor skills will often fatigue quickly and avoid tasks which are difficult for them.

Gross Motor Skills (Strength, Movement, Balance)

Gross motor skills involve whole-body movement and large muscle groups to help control our body. Gross motor skills are essential for all areas of a child's development. A child who has poor gross motor skills may appear clumsy or uncoordinated. They may also present in the following ways:

• Unable to coordinating both sides of the body
• Difficulty understanding where their body is in space
• Poor ball skills
• Poor balance & control
• Fatigue quickly

Children with delayed gross motor skills often have associated low muscle tone (weak muscles). This may result in them:

• Being fearful of feet leaving the ground or any large movements
• Not being able to cross the midline of their body
• Avoiding tasks and games that require gross motor skills
• Rushing or being silly during gross motor activities to mask fatigue & poor skills

Visual Processing

Visual processing is how we make sense of what we see. It is a process in our brain that interprets visual information (visual perception). If your child has difficulty with any of these things, they may have poor visual perceptual skills:

• Difficulty with the spacing, sizes and orientation of letters
• Difficulty with recognizing letters, numbers, words
• Difficulty with copying shapes or letters from the board or other surfaces
• Difficulty with visual tracking and crossing midline
• Difficulty finding objects in busy environments or backgrounds

Sensory Processing

Sensory processing is making sense of information that we receive through our senses. Sensory processing is the foundation for development of all other areas. Many children have under-developed sensory systems and resultantly difficulty managing their days. Examples include:

• Overly sensitive or responsive to any of the senses
• Under-responsive to certain sensations (e.g., high pain tolerance, doesn't notice cuts/bruises)
• Constantly moving, jumping, crashing, bumping
• Easily distracted by visual or auditory stimuli
• Unable to appropriately control their emotions
• Difficulty coping with change and/or transitioning
• Inability to calm themselves when upset

Learning Challenges

Learning challenges are often associated with developmental delay. They are most evident when the expectations and demands on a child increase above their capabilities. Children may experience the following if their learning is challenged and they are not equipped with the appropriate skills to manage each situation:

• Difficulty with attention and concentration at school - easily distracted, difficult to keep on task
• Difficulty following instructions and completing work
• Tires easily with school work
• Poor impulse control
• Hyperactivity or low energy
• Difficulty learning new material

Social Skills

Social interaction skills are skills that help us build relationships and understand those around us. They include verbal and non-verbal communication, such as speech, gesture, facial expression and body language. Children with poor social skills often:

• Have difficulty interacting socially and engaging with family and peers
• Have difficulty adapting to new environments, dislike changes in routine
• Have delayed language skills
• Can be overly focused on one subject (e.g., space, universe, dinosaurs, trains)
• Have difficulty coping in the school environment and may be isolated during break times