Occupational Therapy in Early Intervention

Children with autism often experience difficulties in participating fully in daily activities and achieving their goals due to various issues, such as impaired social interaction, language delay, behavioural problems, and sensory processing disorders. Occupational therapy (OT) is a type of therapy that aims to support and enhance an individual's overall performance in their daily activities, including those with special needs like autism spectrum disorder.

Occupational therapy for children with autism typically focuses on improving sensory integration, motor skills, handwriting, and self-regulation, which are essential skills for daily living and independence. Sensory integration is a crucial component of learning readiness, and it involves the ability to internally process and integrate bodily sensory information and the environment. Early intervention in occupational therapy sessions are designed to develop and maintain these skills, prevent regression, and address social, behavioural, and attention problems that children with sensory issues may experience.

The three main areas of early intervention programmes in occupational therapy for children with autism are sensory integration, gross motor skills, and fine motor skills. Sensory integration involves custom activities that challenge and improve sensory processing and motor planning, while gross motor skills focus on large movements that require coordination, stability, balance, and awareness of space and body. Fine motor skills, on the other hand, involve arm and hand movements that require control of the torso, shoulders, arms, hands, and oculomotor skills.

Occupational therapy sessions usually last for 45 to 60 minutes, and they take a holistic approach to interventions, addressing various skills that the child needs to develop. Olive Tree Development Center offers early intervention programmes and occupational therapy in Singapore, and sessions can be done one-on-one or in a group setting. OT activities must be engaging and effective, targeting the child's underlying conditions while also being creative and fun. Some examples of OT activities include play dough for building fine motor skills, obstacle courses for practising multiple skills, and pencil control exercises for improving pencil control and dexterity.

The main objective of occupational therapy for children with autism is to improve their quality of life by developing their social, behavioural, and academic skills, as well as their ability to express emotions and foster relationships. OT provides a foundation for improving overall well-being beyond just motor skills, and consistent occupational therapy sessions can lead to better focus, communication, and self-confidence.

For inquiries about your child’s developmental needs, you may reach:

• Olive Tree Development Center 179A, 179B, and 181A Thomson Road, Goldhill Shopping Center, Singapore / 6252 5200
• 1 Marine Parade Central #13-09 Parkway Centre Singapore 449408 / 6252 5200