Occupational Therapy

• Neurodevelopment: A developmental assessment will look at a child's muscle tone, movement patterns, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, sensory skills (visual, auditory, tactile, vestibular), language, adaptive skills and personal social skills in the context of their diagnosis.  Based on the initial assessment, and in collaboration with the patient/caregiver, the OT will determine the intervention required. This may include education, referral to occupational therapy services in the community and/or treatment during prolonged hospitalizations.   

• Feeding/Swallowing: OTs assess oral feeding and swallowing safety in order to provide recommendations and feeding interventions. A feeding assessment can occur in the hospital room. If medically necessary, a feeding study can be conducted in conjunction with a radiologist to do a video x-ray of a child’s swallowing. 

• Cognition (or thinking skills): Thinking skills including memory, attention, awareness, sensation, perception, executive function, etc. These are the building blocks for school performance and develop over our lifetime. Some children have changes in their thinking skills while in hospital due to illness or injury. OTs can assess and provide intervention and recommendations for cognition. 

• Upper extremity/Fine motor skills: OTs assess upper extremity function and fine motor skills. OTs can provide intervention or recommendations for adaptive techniques to optimize upper extremity skills performance.  

• Splint fabrication: OTs fabricate splints to support and position joints safely to promote healing recovery and function. 

• Burn intervention and Scar management: OTs are skilled in the assessment of scars and able to provide scar management strategies.  

• Equipment/Assistive devices: OT may assess and coordinate proper assistive devices to optimize independence with meaningful activities of daily living.  

• Discharge from hospital: If a child is transitioning home, OT will help make referrals to local community therapists (e.g. infant and child development programs, children’s treatment centres, in home therapy or school health). In collaboration with the physiotherapist, OTs provide recommendations for safety at home based on an assessment in hospital. 

The primary focus of Occupational Therapy at SickKids is the assessment and treatment of acute events resulting in changes of function. Outpatient occupational therapy at SickKids plays a vital role in supporting and informing medical and surgical management, optimizing surgical outcomes, and providing essential education to improve safety throughout the acute phase of care. 

There may be cases in which OT is involved with your child’s care on an outpatient basis at SickKids: 

1. OT Consultation in clinics – OTs may be available for consultation though some specialized clinics. You may inquire about an OT consult with your health care team (Doctor, Nurse Practitioner) if your child is not receiving similar services within the community. Consultation may include assessment of needs, consultation, and initiation of treatment and/or referrals to local providers. 
2. OT Assessment and Treatment in Rehabilitation Department – OTs at SickKids provide limited outpatient assessment-based feeding/swallowing, neurocognitive and upper extremity services to infants and children/youth with new or acute deterioration in function within these areas AND who are not adequately followed in the community. In the next section, please see additional outpatient referral guidelines for further details.