How occupational therapy can help children with sensory processing challenges?

Rachel Cohen, OTR/L

Many children have sensory processing challenges. Often parents don’t know what to do when their children struggle with sensory preferences, especially when they are showing big emotions because their sensory needs are not being met. Read below to find out what the role of an occupational therapist is in helping to meet the needs of the child.

Occupational therapist’s identify and implement intervention approaches to meet the needs of each child. A sensory-based intervention is often used to help children with decreased sensory processing skills. This involves activities that target multiple senses (ie. proprioceptive, visual, vestibular, auditory, etc.), which are believed to help organize the sensory systems. OT’s use fun and motivating activities to help stimulate the brain and improve a child’s processing of and reactions to his/her senses. 

Participation in meaningful daily activities is a key component of occupational therapy. OT’s identify how sensory processing challenges impact a child’s ability to participate in activities such as bathing, tying shoes, and handwriting. Interventions are provided to improve performance of activities and skills important to the child and their family. 

Occupational therapist’s also collaborate with parents and make suggestions to improve performance outside of therapy. Examples include adapting the environment (ie. reducing visual clutter, creating quiet spaces), sensory items (ie. weighted vests, fidget toys), and daily sensory activities (ie. jumping, carrying heavy objects). The goal is to improve the processing of and responses to sensory input to help the child function more effectively in daily life.