Occupational Therapy
Many children diagnosed with autism have a difficult time performing primary daily functions like dressing themselves, eating, and playing. In some cases having trouble communicating can be a concern as well. When this is the case, our occupational therapy program can help address these issues.
Occupational therapy can also be a valuable tool in reducing the problematic behaviors that often accompany being diagnosed with autism. By teaching coping and problem-solving skills, our occupational therapists can help to reduce meltdowns, tantrums, and self-injurious behaviors.
What Is Occupational Therapy for Children Diagnosed with Autism?
Occupational therapy is a type of therapy that helps children with physical, developmental, and mental health conditions. It can allow them to more effectively participate in daily activities and interact socially. Additionally, occupational therapy combined with ABA therapy can help your child develop the necessary skills to navigate elementary school and their future lives successfully.
An occupational therapy program can help your child with many different skills, including:
- Communication
- Social skills
- Play
- Motor skills
- Sensory processing
- Activities of daily living (e.g., dressing, eating, toileting, grooming)
What Can My Child Gain from a Telehealth Occupational Therapy Program?
Occupational therapy can be an essential part of treatment for children with ASD for many reasons. It can help them to:
- Develop skills that are important for everyday life
- Participate in activities that they enjoy
- Feel more independent
- Improve their ability to communicate with others
- Reduce challenging behaviors
These benefits can positively influence your child’s performance in other areas. Children who have developed coping skills and feel more confident can form more lasting social bonds and perform better in an elementary school program and life.
There are particular advantages associated with our telehealth occupational therapy program.
- It can be more flexible than other programs, accommodating each child’s unique needs.
- Because your ABA therapist comes to your home, they get to know your family while understanding your child’s particular strengths and weaknesses, to help support each telehealth occupational therapy session.
In-home autism therapy ultimately leads to a better treatment solution, allowing for a highly individualized program to meet your child’s needs.
The Importance of Early Intervention
The earlier a child diagnosed with autism begins occupational therapy, the better. This is because the brain is most malleable in early childhood, and early intervention has been shown to improve outcomes for children with ASD. In addition, starting therapy early can help to prevent or reduce the development of secondary problems, such as anxiety and depression.
Because one of the central focuses at Opya is to ensure your child can be integrated into an elementary school program when the time is right, we design our in-home therapy programs with this long-term goal in mind. We work with you and your child to create a curriculum that will not only help your child to develop the skills they need for success in school, but that will also be enjoyable and engaging.
Learn More About Our Telehealth Occupational Therapy Program
Occupational therapy is an essential part of autism treatment because it can help children develop the skills they need to participate in activities of daily living and reduce problem behaviors. At Opya, our occupational therapy program for autism is delivered in tandem with our speech therapy and ABA programs to give the child in your care the foundation they need to succeed.
To learn more about telehealth occupational therapy in Northern California (Sacramento Area, Central Valley, San Francisco Bay Area) or Southern California (Orange County), or about any of our customizable in-home therapy programs, reach out to our expert team today at (888) 300-6792. We would be happy to answer any questions you have or provide you with more information about our services.
