Mercy Kids Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Developing Life Skills and Independence

Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) helps kids learn or regain essential skills for daily living, such as moving from place to place, dressing, eating, bathing and toileting. The occupational therapy team at Mercy Kids Center for Neurodevelopment works with children of all ages who have physical challenges, injuries or developmental issues, helping them engage in normal life to the fullest extent possible.

Our occupational therapists work with a team of specialists to create a customized program that addresses your child’s specific needs. This begins with an initial evaluation that assesses your child’s current level of function. Following this evaluation, the therapist develops a personalized treatment plan for your child based on the skills they need to develop. 

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills are small movements made with the fingers, toes, lips and tongue. Examples of these skills in children are handwriting, using scissors, drawing, and manipulating toys and puzzles.

Sensory Processing Abilities

Sensory processing is making sense of information that we receive through our senses, such as sound and smell. Children with sensory processing issues may be overly sensitive to sound or touch, unable to calm themselves when upset, or easily distracted by things they see and hear.

Visual Motor Skills

Visual motor skills help us make sense of what we see when our brain interprets visual information. Children with difficulty in this area may have challenges with recognizing letters, copying shapes, focusing on objects or following moving objects (visual tracking).

Oral Motor and Feeding Skills

Oral motor skills involve controlling muscles in the face or oral area, such as the lips, jaw, tongue and soft palate. Oral motor issues can appear as excessive drooling, bottle or breast feeding for long time periods, or losing foods and liquids from the mouth when eating or drinking.

Self-Help Skills

Self-help skills are the everyday tasks children perform to participate in life activities. They include feeding, dressing, hygiene and toileting. As a child increases their self-help skills, they grow in independence and confidence, which helps them develop a personal identity.

Adaptive Equipment Training

Adaptive equipment refers to a variety of devices and tools kids can use to assist with daily living. Examples include wheelchairs, assistive learning devices, orthotic devices, non-slip mats and other items.