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What Types of Conditions Benefit From Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is used to help improve attention, memory, impulse control, and planning. It has also been used to treat conditions that affect motor skills, such as Parkinson’s disease. If you think you would benefit from occupational therapy, you should read on to discover how it can help you.

Occupational therapy improves attention

Children need to develop adequate attention skills to succeed in daily life. This skill promotes the ability to ignore immaterial information and follow through on tasks. It is a skill that impacts self-esteem, motivation, sensory processing, and language development. Different types of attention contribute to various aspects of a child’s function, but it is essential for learning and social interaction.

Occupational therapy aims to improve a child’s attention and concentration. It is also a helpful tool to help a child learn self-regulation. Before initiating treatment, an OT will likely assess executive functioning, sensory processing, and self-regulation. This information can guide the treatment process.

In addition to improving attention and memory, occupational therapy also helps students improve their fine and gross motor skills, which can help them complete tasks and do better in school. Some children with ADHD find it difficult to sit still for long periods, so that an OT may recommend active seating or incorporate movement into lesson plans. In addition, OTs will help students improve social interactions. Students with ADHD often have difficulty making friends, understanding peers, or interpreting social cues.

Impulse control

Impulse control is a crucial skill that helps us manage our behaviour. Without it, we risk doing things that may result in negative consequences. Impulsivity is often associated with several mental health conditions. Though not every person who shows this symptom is diagnosed, those affected by it should be seen as a cause for concern.

The treatment of impulse control disorders is often based on dopaminergic drugs, including dopamine agonists. Although most research on this topic has been conducted on Parkinson’s disease, it has also been studied in restless leg syndrome and other atypical Parkinsonian syndromes. The risk factors for developing impulse control disorders are younger age, male sex, and depression. Many screening tools are available to help identify people at risk for impulse control disorders.

Impulse control conditions are challenging to manage and can be highly taxing for those who suffer from them. They each have their unique challenges, but they all cannot control behavioural impulses in common. 

It helps with mental illness

Occupational therapy is a valuable tool for helping people with mental illnesses manage their condition. With a wide range of skill sets, occupational therapists help their clients regain their ability to perform activities of daily living. These techniques help patients improve their quality of life and relationships with others. These therapies can also help people learn to regulate their emotions.

Patients can be treated through outpatient services, which consist of supportive therapy, rehabilitative therapy, and pharmacological treatment. They are assigned a case manager and psychiatrist, and treatment is often family-centred. Alternatively, clients can attend a day program that provides a more intensive treatment. In the day program, patients participate in various groups and are taught skills that will allow them to return to daily life independently. In addition to providing therapy for patients, occupational therapists supervise OT students.

Occupational therapists also consider the physical environment and social situation of the patient. For example, they consider the person’s past and present relationships, their work tasks, and their interactions with colleagues. The occupational therapist then processed the information from these consultations and used it to formulate an intervention plan.

It helps with injuries

Occupational therapy benefits injured workers by helping them regain function and return to work safely. It can also help those injured learn how to deal with flare-ups and accept limitations. Occupational therapists treat common work-related injuries, including tendon inflammation, nerve disorders, and sprains. This therapy can help injured workers return to work confidently and maintain their bodies for years.

It helps with ageing

Occupational therapy from Physio Inq is a vital part of healthcare for older people, who are likely to face increasing physical challenges as they age. This treatment can help older adults stay independent in their homes. Occupational therapists work with other health professionals to provide comprehensive care. They can help assess various health conditions and provide solutions to overcome barriers to daily activities.

Occupational therapists help elderly people deal with physical, mental, and cognitive changes. They also recommend interventions to combat personality and behavioural changes. Memory loss can happen at any age but is especially common in the elderly. This condition affects the patient’s short-term, long-term, and sensory memories. Occupational therapists can help the elderly improve their memory by providing cognitive stimulation and modifying the environment

An occupational therapist can evaluate the specific needs of elderly patients and develop an action plan to improve daily activities and reach desired goals. With this, the elderly can regain some of their independence and begin to engage in their favourite activities.