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Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy (OT) is a health profession devoted to helping people, with motor and other delays, learn how to perform purposeful activities. For a child, purposeful activities include making mud pies, climbing, jumping, buttoning, drawing and writing. Such activities are a Child’s “occupation”, because they learn and develop through play. In general, OT improves the function of a person’s nervous system, which may be damaged or insufficient.
What specific problems can be treated by Occupational therapy?
Development delay in babies and children.
Sensory motor problems e.g. low muscle tone difficulties with balance, co-ordination, midline crossing etc.
Visual perception problems e.g. letter and number reversal, losing one’s place while reading, copying incorrectly from the board etc.
Higher cognitive problems e.g. battles to concentrate, poor memory, short attention span, difficulty remembering phone numbers etc.
What are the causes?
Society has changed and children’s play is mostly dominated by play stations, computer games and television. It is, however, vital for children to engage in safe physical activities that are also fun and exciting. Providing more opportunities for exercise and less time in front of the TV would be extremely beneficial and would assist in general development. Get out with you children, get active, swing and sway, bounce an tumble and never mind the odd little bump and messed up hair.
Did you know that we offer a visiting Occupational therapist at school? For more information contact the school office.
Speech Therapy
Speech Therapy is the school setting focuses on problems with language, stuttering, articulation as well as auditory processing skills. We also focus on improvement of written language. As language is the medium through which education is taking place, it is very important for a child to have good language skills to ensure good understanding which leads to better academic progress. Research has shown that a child’s language abilities are in direct correlation to academic progress. Our speech therapist visits our school on a weekly basis and does individual therapy as well as group sessions. Therapy only starts once a comprehensive assessment has been done and parents have received a written report. Parents also meet with the therapist to discuss the problem areas. The speech therapy fees are covered by medical aid.
Psychometrist
Adele de Necker is a registered School Counsellor and Psychometrist . She is available at the school on Mondays and Fridays. This is a service provided to the parents by the school. This service provides support to children, parents and teachers.
What is a School Counsellor and Psychometrist
A School Counsellor is trained to work specifically with children in the school environment. The school counsellor provides basic short-term supportive counseling for emotional and behaviour difficulties and makes the appropriate recommendation where necessary.
A School Psychometrist does relevant testing to investigate barriers to learning and to make appropriate recommendations to negate these barriers to learning.
Why would a child need counseling?
The most common reasons are:
- behavioural difficulties
- emotional difficulties
- trauma, such as hijackings, robbery, loss of a parent or a sibling.
Why would a child need Psychometric testing?
A child would need testing to investigate scholastic or academic difficulties. In order to best assist the child the relevant testing will be done and appropriate recommendations will be made to ensure individual academic success. |
