How Can an Occupational Therapist Help with My Child's Speech?

So your kid can run and jump.

Maybe he can even ride a bike.

And he uses forks and spoons just fine.

He’s even starting to write his name.

Putting on his shoes by himself… #nailedit

Perhaps he acquired all these skills on his own at the time that he needed to…

If so, that’s great!

One thing to check off the good ol’ developmental milestones list.

And if you’ve got a kiddo who still struggles with these skills, you’re not alone.

There is help out there.

An occupational therapist, aka OT, would be a great resource to seek out. Don’t worry, we’ll get into more details about that in a sec…

But an OT works on so much more!

There are a treasure trove of foundational skills that your little one needs to succeed.

Wonder why she throws a fit every time there’s a change in routine?

Curious as to why she HATES stepping in sand or grass or washing her hair?

Does she seem more clumsy than other kids at the playground?

Tired of her only eating goldfish and french fries?

An OT could help with some of those areas as well!

And if you’re thinking to yourself, hold on a second… I just need my kid to start talking.

Don’t worry, an Occupational Therapist might be able to help with that as well.

So who is this unicorn of a professional?

Let’s get down to brass tacks here…

An occupational therapist (OT) is a professional who works on the skills people need to succeed in the activities of their daily lives. WOAH, if that’s not a broad umbrella of things, I don’t know what is!

While OTs work with individuals of all ages, let’s narrow it down to just children, since that’s why we’re all here anyways. Here’s what they can target:

• Sensory processing 
• Gross motor skills
• Fine motor skills
• Emotional regulation
• Self-help skills
• Picky eating
• Motor planning skills
• Handwriting
• Play skills
• Social engagement
  

Ok, but what does this have to do with speech???

Speech is a combination of a lot of the foundation skills that OTs address. Let’s look at a couple different situations…

Possibility #1: Maybe your little one is always on the go, seeming to “ping-pong” back and forth, having a hard time sitting still. He loves tickles and rough-housing, often spinning in circles but never getting dizzy. He bumps into things and doesn’t even seem to notice, shoot… you’ve even stepped on his fingers by accident and he didn’t even flinch.

If this sounds familiar, your child may benefit from occupational therapy to work on sensory processing skills. He may not be processing the internal and external sensations in his body and environment. When he is in this dysregulated state, he may not be processing what you are telling him, which makes it even more difficult for him to follow directions. He may not be able to maintain his attention long enough to have a conversation with you if he’s constantly trying to process the sensations in his environment.

Think of it like a time you’ve been in a loud restaurant, with overwhelming smells and sounds and lights, people are close to you…all the while you’re trying to have an important conversation with your friend. It’s tough! That may be what your little guy is experiencing constantly throughout the day. If this sounds familiar, check out this symptoms checklist to get even more examples.

Possibility #2: Your child is one clumsy kid! She trips over things, bumps into tables (I mean, it’s like they just jumped right out in front of her!), and falls multiple times a day. Maybe she barely says any words or she talks in a very monotone voice, making lots of mistakes on the pronunciation. At school she has a hard time with sports and art projects are definitely NOT her favorite.

If this rings true for your kiddo, she may be having difficulties with motor planning, coordination, and/or balance. The technical term is dyspraxia, and it can look a little different at all ages. When we think of speech, it’s actually a process of complex and coordinated motor skills. So, if your child struggles with gross motor (large body) movements, fine motor (small muscle) movements, or coordination of both types of movements, likely she will struggle with speech.

These are just two common examples, but there is a plethora of others out there.

So Now What??

If it seems like your child could benefit from occupational therapy, or maybe you’re still on the fence, check out this resource on steps you could take to get in touch with an Occupational Therapist. Like we said, occupational therapy covers a wide range of skills, so be sure you find one that specializes in the area in which you know or suspect your child has difficulty. Also, don’t be afraid to ask around, interview therapists you are considering working with, and get second opinions. Therapy is an investment of your time, energy, and finances, so it’s important that you’re comfortable with the therapist, and even more important, your child is benefiting from their treatment.