Occupational Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy (OT) is a profession devoted to enabling participation in daily living skills. Areas of self-care, leisure, and productivity may be addressed as part of an OT treatment plan. Optimizing function is a key element to successful therapy, whereby goals pertain to practical skills and activities that are performed on a daily basis.

Conditions We Can Support

OT can support children and youth of all abilities. Common conditions we see in our practice, but are not limited to, are:

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Cerebral Palsy
• Developmental Coordination Disorder
• Down Syndrome
• Learning Disabilities
• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Developmental Delay
• Sensory Processing Disorder
• Dyspraxia

Signs That OT May Be Appropriate

When a child is having difficulty with:

• FINE MOTOR skills (i.e. not using both hands together, poor pencil grasp, illegible handwriting, reversals)
• SELF HELP skills (i.e. cannot independently dress self, poor personal hygiene, messy when eating)
• ORGANIZATION (i.e. keeping track of their materials, unable to maintain a tidy locker or desk, organizing work on paper)
• FEEDING (i.e. cannot tolerate certain textures, picky eater, gastro esophageal reflux)
• SENSORY PROCESSING (i.e. avoids touching certain textures, bothered by loud noises)
• GROSS MOTOR skills (i.e. uncoordinated, does not want to participate in gym class, poor posture during seated activities)
• SELF-REGULATION (i.e. “explosive” reactions, unable to self-soothe or move on)
• MENTAL HEALTH (i.e. no longer able to complete activities they used to be passionate about due to symptoms of illness, self-perception or insight)
• EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING (i.e. cannot participate in seated activities due to attention, difficulty completing their work independently, seems to “procrastinate”)
• PLAY (i.e. not meeting milestones which is impacting their ability to play and explore their own environments)

Service Offerings

Occupational Therapy at Boomerang Health offers assessment, treatment and consultation in the following areas:

Play Development

We understand the importance of play in a child’s development. If you’ve noticed concerns with your child’s fine motor skills, gross motor skills, sensory processing, or visual-motor coordination affecting their ability to engage and interact with the world, we’re here to help. Our therapists can provide guidance and support to caregivers interested in learning how to create developmentally appropriate play opportunities for their children.

Executive Functioning Support

Is your child struggling with executive functioning skills? From difficulty paying attention in class to challenges with organization and time management, our therapists can assist children who have trouble “getting things done.” We provide strategies and interventions to help children improve their focus, follow instructions, manage their time effectively, and overcome obstacles to productivity and success.

Mental Health Strategies

We offer functional strategies to support children of all ages who are facing mental health difficulties that impact their daily lives. Whether it’s managing fears, coping with anxiety, or navigating emotions, our therapists provide personalized support to help children live life to the fullest. We also offer caregiver coaching to assist families in supporting their child’s emotional regulation and well-being.

Self-Care Independence

Building independence in daily activities is essential for a child’s growth and development. Our therapists can support children in developing skills related to personal hygiene routines, sleep habits, and eating behaviors. Whether your child needs assistance with toilet training, utensil use, or toothbrushing, we’re here to help them gain confidence and independence.

School-Related Skills

We specialize in supporting children with school-related skills, including printing, scissor skills, and using technology for writing. Our therapists work with children to enhance their hand function and fine motor skills, enabling them to excel in academic tasks and creative activities both at school and at home.

Leisure Pursuits

We believe in the importance of leisure activities for a child’s overall well-being. Our therapists can support children in expanding their repertoire of extracurricular activities, building confidence, coordination, and accessibility to hobbies. Whether it’s joining sports teams, engaging in crafts, or exploring new interests, we’re here to help children thrive in their leisure pursuits.

Sensory and Self-Regulation Skills

Our therapists specialize in supporting children in building self-regulation skills, often with a sensory focus. We provide strategies to help children manage big emotional moments and adjust sensory input to support increased attention and calmness. Whether it’s teaching coping strategies or environmental modifications, we’re dedicated to helping children achieve greater self-regulation and emotional well-being.

Feeding

With a focus on nurturing development and fostering healthy eating habits, our clinic offers a safe and supportive environment for children to thrive. From assessing feeding challenges to implementing personalized strategies, we are committed to empowering both children and their families on their journey towards successful feeding experiences.

Prices

Rehabilitation services, including occupational therapy, are not covered by OHIP, but may be covered under your extended health insurance benefits.  Check with your insurance provider for details.  Appointments with our physicians are covered by OHIP.

Initial Assessment (Includes Summary Report): $200.00

Initial Feeding Assessment Including Preliminary Treatment and Summary Report: $230.00

Consultation/Treatment Session:

• $145.00/45 minutes
• $85.00/25 minutes

About Kids Health

For more information related to the above categories, visit the following pages on AboutKidsHealth, SickKids’ trusted health education website for children, youth, and their caregivers:

Writing disabilities: Overview (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Tummy time: Helping your baby (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Organized sports: A winning formula for children (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Sensitive gag reflex: Transition to textured foods (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Visuomotor skills (aboutkidshealth.ca)

How a child becomes more independent (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Feeding your toddler or preschooler (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Coping with your child’s illness as a parent (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Sensory development and activities for children older than 2 years (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Sleep: Benefits and recommended amounts for children (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Social and emotional development in school-age children (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Physical development in school-age children (aboutkidshealth.ca)

How to become more resilient (aboutkidshealth.ca)