Pediatric Occupational Therapy at Children’s Hospital New Orleans

One-on-one attention from trained occupational therapists

An Occupational Therapist provides evaluations and therapy to help children gain independence and promote the development of skills that children need to function and socialize in their home, school, play and community environments. Pediatric therapists make use of purposeful activity and or play to maximize independence and promote development with children who are limited by physical injury, illness, psychosocial dysfunction, developmental, or learning disabilities. Occupational therapists work to develop, improve, sustain, or restore the child’s abilities and function.

Occupational therapists assess and work on:

• Upper extremity strength and motion
• Fine motor and visual motor skills
• Sensory integration and processing skills
• Positioning
• Splinting
• Activities of daily living
• Feeding and oral motor skills, oral aversion
• Age appropriate developmental skills.

Occupational therapists provide services in acute care, are a core team member for patients in the inpatient rehabilitation center, and offer outpatient services. A physician referral or prescription is required for all patients.