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<\/h3>\nBy: Victoria Wood, OTR\/L<\/strong><\/h3>\n <\/p>\n
To celebrate World Occupational Therapy Day, a definition is in order.\u00a0 When the word \u201coccupation\u201d is mentioned, people commonly think about jobs.\u00a0 However, the meaning of occupation is: any activity in which a person is engaged.<\/p>\n
A person\u2019s occupation could be play, self-care, working, socializing, running, crafts, building, or any other activity done throughout the day.\u00a0 Thus, occupational therapy (OT) is the profession of helping people with their daily occupation or activities.\u00a0 OT\u2019s help people of all ages become more independent and functional.<\/p>\n
As a long time pediatric occupational therapist, I have seen a shift in our roles during \u00a0the past 20 years.\u00a0 In the 90\u2019s, pediatric OT did more rehabilitation.\u00a0 Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorder, broken\u00a0 bones, hand injuries, low tone, genetic abnormalities, and birth defects were the types of conditions treated.<\/p>\n
Today, with the diagnosis of Autism almost at epidemic proportions, a good amount of therapy is focused on this spectrum disorder, attention deficits, as well as sensory processing disorders.<\/p>\n
Why the rise in cases of these diagnoses?\u00a0 There are theories, but no definite answers yet.\u00a0 Chemicals, processed foods, genetics, parenting, and toxins play a large part.<\/p>\n
I feel the biggest factor impacting young people is ENVIRONMENT.\u00a0 Not only the toxins in our environment and all of the processed or genetically modified foods, but a lack of being out in our environment.\u00a0 Sunshine, heavy work, fresh air, and play are missing from many modern children\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n
Do you want to know why there are zero, or very few cases of autism in the Amish community?\u00a0 Environment<\/u>.\u00a0 Children in this lifestyle do heavy work.\u00a0 They walk instead of driving everywhere.\u00a0 They do chores, play outside, run, read, work together, eat home cooked natural foods, chat with friends, use their minds for creativity and imagination, and explore their environment.\u00a0 Notice the words, watch television, text, video games, Snapchat, Facebook, Minecraft, and Fortnite were not mentioned in the above activity list?\u00a0 This is because the Amish generally live a life free of the intrusion of electronics.<\/p>\n
There are new diagnoses being coined, such as virtual autism and gaming addiction affecting young people. \u00a0I have seen children in our clinic who want to die at age five, or tried to stab their mother with a knife, because they saw it in a video game and do not understand the consequences of their actions.\u00a0 Social skills are dwindling due to the lack of face-to-face interaction.\u00a0 Children feel as if they are interacting when they are screaming into their headsets over the internet, or \u00a0texting a friend.\u00a0 This cannot replace real interaction.\u00a0 Technology has its place in limited doses, with correct supervision.<\/p>\n
Without the correct environmental stimulation, the body is seeking or avoiding sensory input.\u00a0 This leads to increased behavioral\/discipline problems, acting out, lack of focus\/memory, pickiness, processing delays, and learning difficulties to name a few of the symptoms therapists are seeing. How can a child get the heavy work he needs from walking 10 feet to the bus stop, a 20 minute recess, lack of chores, no imaginative play, disinterest in crafts or reading, and being glued to the screen half of the day?\u00a0 He can\u2019t, so the body over reacts.\u00a0 The result?\u00a0 Sensory processing disorders.<\/p>\n
If you have a child struggling, are working with difficult children, or you yourself find you are \u201ctoo sensitive,\u201d my Summit class Practical Treatment Strategies for Children with Sensory Processing Disorders<\/a>,<\/em> \u00a0gives an in depth look at sensory processing disorder.\u00a0 I discuss the theories behind this condition, what it feels like to have sensory processing disorder, how to understand and talk about sensory issues, treating\/working with children effectively, as well as dealing with the difficult behaviors that come about as a result of difficulty processing sensory input.<\/p>\nI am passionate about helping children and their caregivers to overcome or deal with their sensory issues, so learning and interacting with their environment will be easier. This class has helped numerous teachers go back to their classrooms with a fresh perspective and more confidence.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To celebrate World Occupational Therapy Day, a definition is in order.\u00a0 When the word \u201coccupation\u201d is mentioned, people commonly think about jobs.\u00a0 However, the meaning of occupation is: any activity in which a person is engaged.<\/p>\n
A person\u2019s occupation could be play, self-care, working, socializing, running, crafts, building, or any other activity done throughout the day.\u00a0 Thus, occupational therapy (OT) is the profession of helping people with their daily occupation or activities.\u00a0 OT\u2019s help people of all ages become more independent and functional.<\/p>\n
As a long time pediatric occupational therapist, I have seen a shift in our roles during \u00a0the past 20 years.\u00a0 In the 90\u2019s, pediatric OT did more rehabilitation.\u00a0 Brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorder, broken\u00a0 bones, hand injuries, low tone, genetic abnormalities, and birth defects were the types of conditions treated.<\/p>\n
Today, with the diagnosis of Autism almost at epidemic proportions, a good amount of therapy is focused on this spectrum disorder, attention deficits, as well as sensory processing disorders.<\/p>\n
Why the rise in cases of these diagnoses?\u00a0 There are theories, but no definite answers yet.\u00a0 Chemicals, processed foods, genetics, parenting, and toxins play a large part.<\/p>\n
I feel the biggest factor impacting young people is ENVIRONMENT.\u00a0 Not only the toxins in our environment and all of the processed or genetically modified foods, but a lack of being out in our environment.\u00a0 Sunshine, heavy work, fresh air, and play are missing from many modern children\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n
Do you want to know why there are zero, or very few cases of autism in the Amish community?\u00a0 Environment<\/u>.\u00a0 Children in this lifestyle do heavy work.\u00a0 They walk instead of driving everywhere.\u00a0 They do chores, play outside, run, read, work together, eat home cooked natural foods, chat with friends, use their minds for creativity and imagination, and explore their environment.\u00a0 Notice the words, watch television, text, video games, Snapchat, Facebook, Minecraft, and Fortnite were not mentioned in the above activity list?\u00a0 This is because the Amish generally live a life free of the intrusion of electronics.<\/p>\n
There are new diagnoses being coined, such as virtual autism and gaming addiction affecting young people. \u00a0I have seen children in our clinic who want to die at age five, or tried to stab their mother with a knife, because they saw it in a video game and do not understand the consequences of their actions.\u00a0 Social skills are dwindling due to the lack of face-to-face interaction.\u00a0 Children feel as if they are interacting when they are screaming into their headsets over the internet, or \u00a0texting a friend.\u00a0 This cannot replace real interaction.\u00a0 Technology has its place in limited doses, with correct supervision.<\/p>\n
Without the correct environmental stimulation, the body is seeking or avoiding sensory input.\u00a0 This leads to increased behavioral\/discipline problems, acting out, lack of focus\/memory, pickiness, processing delays, and learning difficulties to name a few of the symptoms therapists are seeing. How can a child get the heavy work he needs from walking 10 feet to the bus stop, a 20 minute recess, lack of chores, no imaginative play, disinterest in crafts or reading, and being glued to the screen half of the day?\u00a0 He can\u2019t, so the body over reacts.\u00a0 The result?\u00a0 Sensory processing disorders.<\/p>\n
If you have a child struggling, are working with difficult children, or you yourself find you are \u201ctoo sensitive,\u201d my Summit class Practical Treatment Strategies for Children with Sensory Processing Disorders<\/a>,<\/em> \u00a0gives an in depth look at sensory processing disorder.\u00a0 I discuss the theories behind this condition, what it feels like to have sensory processing disorder, how to understand and talk about sensory issues, treating\/working with children effectively, as well as dealing with the difficult behaviors that come about as a result of difficulty processing sensory input.<\/p>\n I am passionate about helping children and their caregivers to overcome or deal with their sensory issues, so learning and interacting with their environment will be easier. This class has helped numerous teachers go back to their classrooms with a fresh perspective and more confidence.<\/p>\n