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StoreySmith Pediatric Clinic

StoreySmith Pediatric Clinic

SSPC Maine

  • Physical Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Speech & Language
  • Summer Groups

Falmouth, Maine • 207-781-0022

Does My Child Need OT?

Signs To Look For

If your child is experiencing 3 or more problems on the checklist, Occupational Therapy intervention may be helpful.

Infant & Toddler

  • Has low muscle tone; seems weak or floppy
  • Difficulty consoling self, unusually fussy
  • Unable to bring hands together with toys
  • Slow to rollover, creep, sit or stand
  • Failure to explore environments
  • Unable to build tower with blocks after age 2 years
  • Frequent fisting of hands after six months of age
  • Difficulty tolerating prone (on stomach) position
  • Dislikes baths, being washed, certain textures
  • Becomes tense when held, dislikes being cuddled
  • Unable to settle down, sleep difficulties
  • Over-reacts to sounds, may become fearful or disorganized in loud or chaotic environment

Preschool (3-5 years)

  • Says “I can’t” or “I won’t” to age appropriate self-care or play activities
  • Has low muscle tone; seems weak or floppy; difficulty sitting upright at circle
  • Avoids or dislikes hair combing, face washing, nail cutting, certain clothing, textures or temperatures
  • Bumps into furniture or people, has trouble with body awareness or judging space around him/her
  • Breaks toys or crayons easily; uses too much force in interactions with others
  • Does not enjoy jumping, swings or having feet off of the ground
  • Dislikes or has trouble coloring inside the lines, doing puzzles or cutting with scissors
  • Appears clumsy, falls frequently
  • Tends to be overly active, has difficulty slowing down, may demonstrate short attention span by moving quickly from one toy to another
  • Demonstrates difficulty with transitions or changes in routine/plans. Prefers very set routines and can be rigid or controlling
  • Has eating difficulties; may be a picky or sloppy, clumsy eater
  • Over-reacts to sounds, may become fearful or disorganized in loud or chaotic environments
  • Avoids playground activities; seems fearful or coming up or down the stairs
  • Unable to settle down, may have sleep difficulties
  • Needs more practice than other children to learn new skills
  • Has more difficulty than expected separating from care-takers; may be clingy

School-Aged

  • Tends to be clumsier than other children (trips, falls, bumps into people or things, injury prone)
  • Has low muscle tone; tends to lean on arms or slumps at desk
  • Avoids or dislikes hair combing, face washing, nail cutting, certain clothing, textures or temperatures
  • Reverses letters such as b and d; can’t space letters on the lines
  • Needs more practice than other children to learn new skills
  • Does not enjoy jumping, swings or having feet off of the ground
  • Dislikes or struggles with fine motor activities or handwriting
  • Uses either too much or too little force (while writing, giving hugs, holding a paper cup, petting a cat)
  • Tends to be overly active, has difficulty slowing down
  • Has poor self-esteem, lack of confidence, can be emotionally labile, poor social skills
  • Has difficulty with motor activities that involve coordinating both sides of the body together(shoe tying, swimming, bicycle riding)
  • Over-reacts to touch, tastes, sounds, movement, or odors; may become fearful or disorganized in loud or chaotic environments; self-injurious behaviors
  • Avoids physical education class, sports or playground activities
  • Has difficulty focusing attention or gets over-focused and is unable to shift to the next task
  • Struggles with motor tasks that have several steps

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