Roy Utah Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy

Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy

LAYTON

801.876.1676

SYRACUSE

801.528.3028

FARMINGTON

801.290.8443

ROY

801.829.9249
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How Can Occupational Therapy Help Those With Autism?

Home/Archives forOccupational Therapy

Occupational therapy helps people with autism learn the necessary skills in order to lead a more independent lifestyle. People on the autism spectrum may struggle with sensory modulation difficulties, which can cause them to struggle in their life. Since occupational therapy focuses on motor, social, physical, and cognitive skills, it can help autistic people improve their quality of life. 

Depending on where they are on the spectrum, an autistic person may be fully capable of living an independent lifestyle or they may be nonverbal and need a lot of help in their life. Here’s what you need to know about how occupational therapy can help those with autism.

What Is Autism?

autism occupational therapy

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability. It is caused by differences in the brain, not by vaccines. It is a lifelong condition that results in challenges with social interaction, repetitive behavior, and restrictive interests. Autistic people may pay attention, learn, and move in different ways than others. 

The Spectrum

As the name implies, ASD is a spectrum. It can be classified in three levels, which range from least to most severe. These are not inclusive of all autistic people and their symptoms and needs, but it is helpful in diagnosing the severity of the condition. 

Level 1

Some autistic people are very high-functioning. They may not say the right thing at the right time, have organizational issues, and may have trouble making friends. While they may have difficulty with social interactions and struggle to move from one activity to another, they can live independently and benefit from support.

Level 2

People with moderate autism have more obvious issues than those on the mild end on the spectrum. They tend to struggle with nonverbal communication and speak in more simple sentences. They usually have narrow interests and have difficulty moving from one activity to the next. They can engage in repetitive behaviors, such as saying the same time over and over. 

People on the moderate part of the spectrum need substantial support.

Level 3

This is the most severe form of ASD. Like people with Level 1 or Level 2 ASD, they struggle with social interactions, hyper-fixations, and repetitive behaviors, but to the most extreme degree. They tend to struggle to speak clearly and rarely interact with others. They can find it very hard to function on their own and need a significant amount of support. 

The type of support an autistic person needs very much depends on their specific circumstances and can change with time, as their skills either improve or their symptoms worsen. 

autism occupational therapy

What Is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy helps people improve their everyday skills with the goal of increasing independence. Occupational therapists help people with their physical, cognitive, and sensory abilities. They can help those recovering from injuries and those with disorders, such as Parkinson’s or ASD. 

This is a very individualized treatment plan. Occupational therapists evaluate the needs of the individual in order to best determine how to help them. This can range from working on key skills so that one can dress oneself or being able to regulate emotions and participate in social interactions.

How Can Occupational Therapy Help Those With Autism?

Occupational therapists use screening tools and diagnostic criteria in order to evaluate an autistic person’s needs. They’ll look at social, communication, sensory, cognitive, and motor skills. Once they know the person’s developmental needs, they’ll be able to come up with a treatment plan to address them. 

Occupational therapy helps both children and adults with ASD. Early treatment can help autistic people live a more independent lifestyle by helping them become more organized and regulated. They can help with issues such as sensory overload and social interactions. 

Occupational therapy works on developing skills needed for daily living, as well as removing barriers to learning by targeting sensory processing differences. This helps autistic people become more focused and calm. 

Occupational therapists can help people successfully participate in their communities and are suitable for any stage of life.

Types Of Therapies For ASD

Some of the interventions occupational therapists use include:

autism occupational therapy
  • Motor development
  • Sensory integration
  • Self-regulation strategies
  • Social participation activities
  • Cognitive-behavioral approach
  • Visual supports
  • Strategies for personal responsibility
  • And more

Given that autistic people’s needs vary a great deal, it’s helpful to have a type of therapy that is so individualized. 

Occupational Therapists In Layton

Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy provides occupational therapy services in Layton. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you and your loved ones improve your quality of life.

Filed Under: Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy helps people to learn and regain the abilities that they need in order to go about their daily lives, such as eating, getting dressed, and more. Both inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy work to help you regain your independence so that you can live a healthier and safer life. Some people may be unsure whether they would benefit more from inpatient or outpatient occupational therapy. Both inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy can enable you to recover the abilities needed to live independently, but there are some key differences between the two.

Here is what you need to know about the differences between inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy so that you can know more about which option might be best for you or one of your loved ones. 

The Goals Of Occupational Therapy

difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy

Both inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy work to help you adapt to your condition and develop strength so that everyday tasks are easier to conduct. Occupational therapy can greatly improve both your quality of life and your mental health, as it grants you the independence that you may have lost as a result of your condition. 

Some of the things that occupational therapy can help you do include:

  • How you perform daily tasks, such as brushing your teeth, feeding yourself, walking, getting dressed, and more.
  • Improved confidence in how you carry out day-to-day activities.
  • Endurance for carrying out movements.
  • Improved self-esteem through gaining more confidence and independence. 
  • Increased safety and comfort in your day-to-day life. 

Occupational therapy does this by focusing on:

  • Fine-motor skills
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Focus and attention
  • Social skills
  • Self-care tasks

Both inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy improve how you perform your daily tasks. Injury, illness, and the development of certain conditions can impact your ability to live independently. Occupational therapy works to help you recover said abilities. If you need assistive devices in order to do so, your occupational therapist will recommend some to you.

What Is Inpatient Occupational Therapy?

Inpatient occupational therapy is for those who have been hospitalized, have chronic conditions, or have severe illnesses. When you are in an inpatient setting, your occupational therapist is there to help you adapt and develop strength while forming long-term goals. 

People who obtain inpatient occupational therapy typically have one or more of the following conditions:

  • Recovering from surgery
  • Having difficulty completing daily tasks as they used to
  • Are receiving care for a traumatic injury or illness
  • Are at risk for developmental delay due to prolonged hospitalization (as can happen with children)
  • Are experiencing changes in functional ability
  • Are undergoing treatment for acute, chronic, or complex medical conditions

What Is Outpatient Occupational Therapy?

inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy

Outpatient occupational therapy is for more manageable conditions and smaller injuries. You will go see your occupational therapist in their clinic however often you need according to your specific condition. Your occupational therapy treatment plan will be customized to your specific needs and may be adjusted in order to better suit you.

People who obtain outpatient occupational therapy typically have one or more of the following conditions:

  • Having suffered an injury, illness, or other condition that limits their physical abilities
  • Having a chronic health condition that impacts your functionality, such as Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, and more

If you are able to get transportation to your clinic and can live outside of an inpatient setting, outpatient occupational therapy can help you regain the abilities needed to go about your day-to-day life.

Should You Get Inpatient Or Outpatient Occupational Therapy?

Both inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy can greatly improve your ability to participate in the normal activities of your daily therapy. There are some key differences between inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy that can impact which is right for you.

Inpatient occupational therapy is good for those who have more intensive conditions. As your occupational therapist is around more often, people often progress quicker in inpatient settings.

Outpatient occupational therapy is good for those with less intensive conditions who can live at home. People can progress slower in outpatient occupational therapy, as you need to do exercises at home in order to improve.

Whether you get inpatient or outpatient occupational therapy depends on your specific condition and your needs. 

Occupational therapy-wasatch peak physical therapy

Do You Need Occupational Therapy?

Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy provides outpatient occupational therapy services. In addition to helping you regain the abilities needed to gain independence, we can also help your family, employers, and teachers learn how to support you. Contact us today to learn more about our occupational therapy services.

Filed Under: Occupational Therapy

Many people don’t realize that there is a difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy since the two fields are so similar and often work in tandem, as they can here at Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy. The truth is that although occupational therapy and physical therapy both work to improve your life and have many similarities, they have different focuses and scopes. It’s said that physical therapy is what will help you go about your day-to-day life, while occupational therapy is what will help you accomplish your daily tasks. 

difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy

Here’s what you need to know about the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy, in what they are, in what they do, and when a medical professional would recommend you see one over the other – or work with both an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. Let’s dive in!

How Is Occupational Therapy Different From Physical Therapy?

It makes sense that people confuse these two practices and often don’t know that there’s a difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy. At their core, the goal of both occupational therapy and physical therapy is to help your quality of life. Both occupational therapy and physical therapy help people who have been injured or who have had their ability to move and go about their lives impacted. There is overlap between the two practices, hence how people can get them confused. 

The difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy can be simplified to: fine motor skills and gross motor skills. While a physical therapist can help you walk and move easier so that you could get to the store, an occupational therapist would help you with the tasks you’d need to get done once you’re there, such as making a grocery list, getting things off the shelves, and the like. 

The Goal Of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy Roy Utah

The goal of occupational therapy is to help a person live as independently as possible. Occupational therapists help patients with their ability to perform their day-to-day tasks. Typically, people who have developmental or cognitive disabilities, who have suffered from a stroke or an injury, or otherwise have had their fine motor skills affected and struggle to get dressed on their own, to take a shower, and to otherwise go about their daily life will see an occupational therapist. 

Occupational therapy helps people with all the various tasks that can “occupy” their lives. They help with the fine motor skills that affect how you handle and manipulate objects, improve your hand-eye coordination, learn basic tasks such as eating, emotional regulation and management, and more. 

The Goal Of Physical Therapy

difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy

The goal of physical therapy is to help a person manage their pain and improve their range of motion and how they move their bodies. Physical therapists also help people recover from injuries, but they focus moreso on gross motor skills, such as with actions that require full body movement or that need the big muscles of your body in order to go about daily functions, such as walking, sitting, and standing. 

Typically, people who have been injured, who have a disability, who have undergone surgery or childbirth, and other such conditions that impact how you move will see a physical therapist in order to recover. Physical therapists help with managing and regulating pain, improving muscular strength, increasing endurance, and improving your range of motion. 

Basically, the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy is that occupational therapy focuses on your ability to perform daily tasks while physical therapy focuses on your ability to move with ease.

Occupational Therapy Versus Physical Therapy: Which Is Right For You?

cardia rehab-wasatch peak physical therapy

Although there is overlap between the two, in how they both aim to improve your body’s overall functioning and your overall quality of life; in the conditions they treat; in their hands-on approach; in the fact that both of them use stretches and exercises; and in the fact that in both, you set goals and monitor your progress towards them, they’re not the same. Whether you see an occupational therapist or a physical therapist will ultimately depend on your specific conditions and concerns. 

If you’re struggling to perform your day-to-day tasks, occupational therapy could be the right choice for you. If you’re struggling to move without pain or strain, a physical therapist could help you. It’s important to consult with your doctor about your specific concerns so that they can advise you on the best type of therapy for your needs. 

Here at Wasatch Peak Physical Therapy, we offer both occupational therapy and physical therapy. We’re here to help you improve your quality of life, whether that be in recovering from an injury or in helping you develop the skills to bathe on your own. Contact us today to learn more about the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy and which one would be most beneficial for your specific needs. 

Filed Under: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy

Layton

1492 West Antelope Drive, Suite #100
Layton, UT 84041
Phone: 801.876.1676
Fax: 801.825.8142

Monday6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday6:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday6:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday6:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Syracuse

2019 W 1900 S, Suite #200
Syracuse, UT 84075
Phone: 801.528.3028
Fax: 801.773.4355

Monday7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Tuesday7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Thursday7:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Friday9:30 AM - 6:30 PM

Farmington

1050 W Shepard Lane, Suite #3
Farmington, UT 84025
Phone: 801.290.8443
Fax: 801.451.9617

Monday7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
FridayClosed

Roy

3443 W 5600 S, Suite #130
Roy, UT 84067
Phone: 801.829.9249
Fax: 801.773.8088

Monday7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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