Last week, we discussed the benefits of physical therapy for infants who have suffered a birth injury, focusing specifically on brachial plexus injury. Today, we talk about occupational therapy, which “focuses on helping people with a physical, sensory, or cognitive disability be as independent as possible in all areas of their lives” by helping children “improve their cognitive, physical, sensory, and motor skills and enhance their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment,” according to KidsHealth. Occupational therapy can be tremendously helpful for children with birth injuries. Given our previous discussion about physical therapy, we begin by discussing the differences between physical and occupational therapy, and how occupational therapy in particular can help children with birth injuries.
Difference Between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy
According to Physical Therapy Web, “occupational therapy tends to focus more on evaluating and improving a person’s functional abilities.” Occupational therapists therefore do not necessarily always directly treat the injury, but rather help people adjust to daily life with their injuries in mind. This said, occupational therapists can treat injuries directly as well; however, they typically focus primarily on “improving life skill sand incorporating adaptive tools at times customized by the therapist.”
As Physical Therapy Web states, “[h]elping people improve their ability to carry out their daily tasks is a prime goal of the occupational therapist.” Thus, occupational therapists will carry out duties such as assessing the home and work environments and providing advice on what changes to make to accommodate a person’s injuries.
How Occupational Therapy Can Help Children With Birth Injuries
According to KidsHealth, occupational therapists have a bevy of duties relating to children addressing speech, behavioral, developmental, and physical coordination issues that might come with a birth injury. These include, but are certainly not limited to, helping children develop their fine motor skills, helping those with severe developmental delays learn basic tasks, assessing the child’s need for special equipment, and improving focus and social skills.
Where to Find an Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists are likely locally available through a quick online search or the yellow pages, but a child’s doctor may also have a recommendation for a particular specialist.
If your loved one has suffered complications from birth injury resulting from negligence during the birthing process, call us for help. We will talk to you and review your case for free. The Tyrone Law Firm specializes in representing those who have suffered a devastating injury, such as birth injuries or traumatic brain injury resulting from the negligence of another. Our personal injury firm here in Atlanta has a very successful record of trying such cases.
Nelson Tyrone handles Brain Injury, Spine Injury and RSD/CRPS cases throughout the United States. He involves only the top medical, rehabilitation and life-care plan experts in the field. His results on behalf of clients include several of the largest settlements and verdicts on record, and he was recently able to obtain a $13.9 million verdict, one of the largest in the state of Georgia, for a birth injury client in 2014.
You can reach us at 404-377-0017 or via email at admin@tyronelaw.com. If we can’t help you, we will do our best to put you into the hands of lawyers who can.
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Hayley serves as a Labor and Delivery Nurse Consultant for the Tyrone Law Firm. She attended and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism/Public Relations. After graduation she moved to the gulf coast where she pursued a career in real estate and development.
