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Pediatric Occupational Therapy at City Hospital

Pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) is a health-care profession in which intervention and treatment is provided to individuals from infancy to adolescents. Occupational Therapy is a form of intervention in which the therapist and child work together to develop or improve the necessary skills for daily living through activity and "play"-the child's main "occupation." Occupational Therapy can target skills needed for coordination, school readiness and performance, self-care help such as self-feeding, dressing and grooming, focus and attention, play/social interaction, eye-hand coordination, regulatory behaviors, and more. Pediatric Occupational therapy aims to promote function and engagement in meaningful occupations, remediate disability, provide support and education to families, and collaborate with other disciplines such as Physical therapy, Speech therapy, special educators, teachers, and medical personnel to improve the overall functioning and quality of life of your child.

What conditions can benefit from Pediatric Occupational Therapy?

• Cerebral Palsy
  
• Orthopedic Injury or Issues
  
• Neurological Disorders (Congenital or Post-traumatic)
  
• Spinal Cord Injury
  
• Failure to Thrive
  
• Prematurity
  
• Sensory Integration Disorders
  
• Autism
• Genetic/Metabolic Disorders
• Muscular Dystrophy
  
• Spina Bifida
  
• Developmental Delay
  
• Learning Disability
  
• Feeding/Eating Disorders
  
• Perceptual/Motor Disturbances
  

RED FLAGS which may warrant an Occupational Therapy Evaluation:

• Coordination Difficulties
  
• Clumsiness, Frequent falls, bumping into people or objects
  
• Frequent fatigue or apparent weakness as compared to peers
  
• Difficulty with fine motor skills/handwriting
  
• Difficulty manipulating small toys
  
• Difficulty with dressing, using utensils, or grooming activities
  
• Difficulty with transitions or adjusting to changes in routine
  
• Limited play skills
  
• Limited Social interaction
  
• Tendency to become overwhelmed easily
  
• Frequent tantrums
  
• Avoidance of playground or motor activities with peers
  

Krista D. Kendall, BS, MOT, OTR/L graduated from West Virginia University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Performance and Exercise Physiology and a Master of Occupational Therapy. Krista currently works within the following settings: pediatrics, outpatient hands and upper extremity injuries, and some inpatient care including stroke and orthopedics. Krista has had specialized training in Low Vision Rehabilitation, Muscle Energy therapy and positional release, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and specialized Dementia training. In the future, Krista would like to obtain her Sensory Integration and Praxis Testing (SIPT) Certification to utilize with her pediatric clients and possibly become certified in hand therapy.