With all the different types of therapy programs that are available today, many families are not sure which best fits their child’s needs. Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy have a great deal of general overlap and both be beneficial for one child. Some children often need both speech and occupational therapy because the outcomes of each can be very dependent on each other and each can lead to positive outcomes in your child’s life!
Speech Therapy involves treatments with trained specialist who work towards the improvement of everyday speech. These therapeutic specialists are educated in focusing on the different processes of speech and language development and focus on the success of core goals throughout the sessions of treatment. Occupational therapy is also performed by trained specialists, however, they focus on improving physical disabilities that affect school involvement and social situations. Occupational therapy also works towards the recovery of injury and the adaptation to physical changes that can accompany an injury.
Improvement Personal Expression
Strong communication between parent and child directs the understanding of the child’s needs and feelings, both verbally and physically. Misunderstanding or miscommunication between the parent and child commonly occurs when the child has difficulty understanding what exactly he or she is expressing. Program sessions can lead to improved communication at home by helping to improve vocabulary and language functions. This ultimately leads to the child having a stronger capability communicating their personal needs or demands. In conjunction, occupational therapy allows children to gain the physical and mental strength needed for communication, which will help them to succeed in activities for everyday life. The marriage of speech and occupational therapy for expression and communication is vital to the overall development of a child. Many therapeutic programs can be structured to directly fit the child’s needs, such as overcoming their communication barriers.
The Social Improvement
Children who often struggle with speech processes tend to be timider and shy to meet new friends or involve themselves in classroom social activities. Many types therapy can often involve the improvement of social interaction! Through speech therapy, the child can gain stronger communication skills, which will often accompany a greater sense of confidence when it comes to social activities. Likewise, helping a child orientate their self in spacial awareness and understanding appropriate physical interaction is critical to social skill development. Improved physical skill will allow for the child to partake in many activities, which often lead to meeting new friends and building new relationships! Your child would be more apt to meeting new friends and take part in games they were not likely to prior to therapy, which can ultimately lead to a greater quality of life and higher self-esteem. Group therapy programs, such as a therapeutic day school, are wonderful ways to get similarly skilled children interacting and practicing these social improvement steps.
Better Academic Success
A child with a language setback can often be hesitant to involve themselves in school and have a lower motivation to learn. Low motivation is often attributed to a fear of failing, lack of understanding, and a low desire to pay attention. Speech therapy focuses not only one the use of language but also the understanding, which can help a child improve in the academic world. Better academic success is also achieved upon greater physical involvement. Grasping a pencil, developing handwriting skills, and learning on how to orientate themselves within a classroom environment help to minimize the distractions and frustrations within academic systems. This leads the child to take part in classroom lessons and other learning situations, helping academic development!
These are only a few examples of the positive benefit both speech and occupational therapeutic programs have a positive impact on a developing child’s life. Language delays are common in many developing children, and the impact of therapeutic programs are countless not only for the child but for the family also.
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