How Occupational Therapy Works

Find out more about occupational therapists, their patients and treatment plans.

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Occupational Therapy Helps a Variety of Patients

occupational therapist with elderly woman

"Dedicate your professional life to helping people with physical, emotional and cognitive limitations lead productive, independent lives." It's an inspiring job description, to say the least, and one that calls to the compassionate individuals who belong to the occupational therapy profession.

Using observation and assessment, practitioners implement occupational therapy plans. This could mean helping a young child master the art of holding a pencil or recommending adaptive occupational therapy equipment to assist an adult with multiple sclerosis.

Stroke Survivors

According to the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) describes how occupational therapy treatment plans play a vital role in helping stroke survivors regain their ability to engage in life's daily activities:

Establishing goals for rehabilitation and supporting patients and their families through times of frustration and discouragement

Helping patients regain skills necessary for day-to-day activities, such as bathing, dressing, cooking and driving a car

Recommending occupational therapy equipment for the home that compensates for a survivor's loss of vision or memory, rebuilds physical strength, and inspires self-confidence

Teach family members techniques for assisting a patient during the course of therapy

Adults and Children With Visual Impairment

Occupational therapists understand what AOTA calls the "multiple dimensions" of a disability such as visual impairment—from physical limitations to psychosocial factors. People suffering from vision loss endure challenges when it comes to everyday activities. For children, visual impairment can mean delayed development of fine and gross motor abilities, difficulty with spatial awareness, and lack of engagement in play.

When it comes to helping adults and children suffering from visual impairment, occupational therapy aims to achieve these goals:

Modifying the patient's environment to accommodate vision loss

Teaching patients to use what remains of their vision as efficiently as possible

Helping patients relearn activities so that they can be done with less vision

Training patients on adaptive occupational therapy equipment that can compensate for vision loss, such as audiotapes, talking devices, computer technology and special writing materials

Children with Autism

According to the AOTA, early intervention and a supportive family make a world of difference to children dealing with autism. In collaboration with families, occupational therapists play a pivotal role in teaching autistic children skills and strategies that enhance their participation in everyday life, from dressing themselves to completing school work to socializing at an age-appropriate level.

Occupational therapy for an autistic child may involve several treatment activities, including these:

Adapting a child's environment to minimize sensory distractions

Using specially-designed computer software to ease or improve communication

Devising strategies to help a child transition from one setting to another, such as from home to school

Facilitating play that instructs and assists a child in learning how to interact and communicate with others in social situations