Occupational Therapy & Sensory Integration
At a glance
– Pediatric occupational therapy is used to improve your child’s motor skills, hand-eye coordination, eye contact, balance, as well as writing skills.
– Sensory integration therapy helps address sensory challenges that a child may have.
– Sensory integration therapy is given by an occupational therapist who is Sensory Integration Certified (SI-certified) .
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is an evidence-based treatment that helps with developing activities of daily living, including
- Fine motor skills (small-muscle movements made with the hands, fingers, and toes, such as grasping)
- Handwriting
- Gross motor skills (whole body movements, including hand-eye coordination etc.)
- Visual-perceptual skills
- Cognitive (thinking) skills
- Sensory-processing challenges
Motor skills are pre-requisites for school activities as well – such as writing, zipping up their jacket, opening their water bottle, or typing.
Occupational therapy helps children improve their ability to do basic & academic tasks, which can greatly improve their confidence and self-esteem.
An Occupational therapist may be able to help your child if you notice any of the following
Occupational Therapy at BE
Occupational therapy at BE is carried out by DHA-licensed, experienced occupational therapists (OT) with minimum 8+ years’ experience. Our Occupational therapy room is equipped with the latest equipment, including swings, obstacles & fine motor tools to help our children learn in a stimulating environment.
The therapy is tailored to a child’s specific needs. Our OTs will first assess the child’s strengths and challenges, before designing the activities that will be followed.
As a parent or caregiver, you will also be encouraged to follow certain activities in a home setting as well to gain better, consistent results.
Sensory Integration at BE
In some children, the brain has trouble organizing and responding to information from the senses. Certain sounds, sights, smells, textures, and tastes can create a feeling of “sensory overload.” Bright or flickering lights, loud noises, certain textures of food, and scratchy clothing are just some of the triggers that can make kids feel overwhelmed and upset.
When children struggle to process sensory information, they may overreact or underreact to things they hear, see, taste, touch, or smell. This can lead kids to have meltdowns or become hyperactive.
Sensory integration therapy helps children with sensory processing issues by exposing them to sensory stimulation in a structured, repetitive way. The theory behind it is that over time, the brain will adapt and allow kids to process and react to sensations more efficiently (Source: Understood.org). Our occupational therapists at BE are all Sensory Integration Certified (SI-certified) from the University of Southern California. They have several years’ experience working with sensory processing challenges.
Age: 18 months – 18 years
Class size: 1:1
Lead by: Occupational Therapist
Schedule:
- 3-5 hours per week, based on assessment findings
- Delivered at the centre or school, depending on child’s needs
Price*:
Centre-based services:
- AED 250 per hour
- Discounted packages available for payment made in blocks of 10/20/30 sessions
School-based services:
- AED 330/hour
- Travel costs – maybe applicable depending on school’s location
*Price is based on services at the centre, on a private pay basis. Please contact us for insurance rates.