OCTH 644: Occupational Therapy with Children
Prerequisite: Successful completion of OCTH 630, 632 and 634 or permission of the
Chair
Credit Hours: (6)
Develops knowledge and skills for clinical practice with infants and children whose
occupational performance is disrupted by illness or disability. Applies the Person-Environment-Occupation-Performance
model, and introduces other theoretical models and frames of reference that inform
pediatric occupational therapy.
Detailed Description of Content of the Course
Topics include:
- The knowledge base of occupational therapy in pediatrics
- Common conditions that influence children's participation in occupations
- Occupational therapy evaluation in pediatrics
- Development of and intervention for postural control
- Development of and intervention for hand skills
- Sensory integration
- Visual perception
- Psychosocial issues affecting social participation
- Feeding intervention
- Activities of daily living and adaptations for independent living
- Play
- Prewriting and handwriting skills
- Introduction to assistive technology for children
- Use of splints with children
- Mobility
- Hospital-based pediatric occupational therapy services
- Community-based occupational therapy services for children: early intervention and
school therapy
- Transition to adult life
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Material introduced in course readings and lectures will be illustrated through audiovisuals
and visits by families/children with special needs and professionals who work with
children. Students will practice in pairs and small groups with assessment and intervention
techniques. They will analyze print and/or videotaped case studies, and develop intervention
plans for the cases presented.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
At completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Differentiate among health-care, educational and community contexts for the provision
of occupational therapy services to children and families;
- Discuss trends in models of service delivery to children, and their effects on pediatric
occupational therapy practice;
- Analyze the effects of physical and mental health, genetic conditions, disease and
injury on the child and his/her occupational performance, within the cultural context
of family and society;
- Compare and contrast models of practice and frames of reference that are used in occupational
therapy with children;
- Discuss how theories, models of practice and frames of reference are used in occupational
therapy evaluation and intervention in pediatric settings;
- Select appropriate assessment tools based on the child's needs, contextual factors,
and psychometric properties of tests;
- Interpret evaluation data in relation to accepted terminology of the profession and
relevant theoretical frameworks;
- Given case studies of children with special needs, develop occupation-based intervention
plans based on the stated needs of the parent and child, as well as data gathered
during the evaluation process and an understanding of occupational therapy theory;
- Given case studies, select direct occupational therapy interventions and procedures
to enhance performance in ADLs, education, play and social participation;
- Discuss design, fitting and training issues in the use of splints and prosthetic limbs
with children;
- With a partner as "parent", train the parent in feeding techniques and precautions;
- Explain the importance of home and community programming to support performance in
the child's natural environment;
- Describe the role of the occupational therapist in transition planning services.
Assessment Measures
Participation in practice activities, tests, and graded intervention plans may be
used to evaluate the outcomes of the course.
Other Course Information
Review and Approval
Approved: April, 2010