Occupational Therapists or Speech Pathologists: What is Best Suited for my Child’s Needs?

Helping children with disabilities to interact, move and communicate is essential to giving them a joyful, mobile and connected life. Occupational therapists and speech pathologists each play a role in supporting a child’s development, both focusing on distinct aspects. Both aim to develop certain behaviours and actions to enable a child to better participate, engage and function in everyday life.

Let’s explore the key differences and similarities to help you make an informed decision for your child’s well-being.

What is an Occupational Therapist?

Occupational therapists (OTs) are professionals dedicated to helping individuals achieve independence in their daily lives. In child development, OTs focus on honing fine and gross motor skills, enhancing sensory processing and fostering independence in activities of daily living (ADLs).

Key Areas of Expertise of Occupational Therapists

• Gross Motor Skills: Through engaging activities, OTs facilitate the development of large muscle movements, improving coordination and balance.
• Fine Motor Skills: OT therapy for kids will help to develop your child’s small muscle movements, aiding in activities like writing, grasping objects, and buttoning clothing.
• Sensory Processing: OTs address sensory challenges, creating tailored activities to help children better process and respond to sensory stimuli.

What is a Speech Pathologist?

Speech pathologists specialise in assessing and treating communication and language disorders. Their role is pivotal in enhancing speech, language, and overall communication skills, ensuring individuals can express themselves effectively and participate fully in social interactions. Early intervention with NDIS is a great way to minimise and get a step ahead of the functional impacts of an impairment.

Key Areas of Expertise: A Closer Look at Early Intervention with NDIS Support

Enlisting the experience and support of an approved NDIS speech pathologist will provide you with comprehensive support in the following areas:

• Speech Development: Speech pathologists focus on enhancing speech, articulation, and fluency, ensuring effective communication.
• Language Skills: By nurturing language abilities, speech pathologists help children express themselves more effectively, both verbally and non-verbally.
• Social Communication: Beyond words, speech pathologists work on social communication skills, fostering meaningful interactions with peers and adults.
• Alternative Communication Methods: Speech pathologists are responsible for finding children alternative methods of communication to allow them to be heard.
• Assessment and Diagnosis: Speech pathologists conduct thorough assessments to accurately diagnose speech and language disorders. They identify underlying issues contributing to communication challenges and tailor interventions accordingly.

Assessing Your Child’s Needs

Understanding the unique needs of your child is the first step in understanding which type of care is right for them. Different needs will pose individual challenges that can be better treated via occupational therapy or speech pathology.

Occupational Therapist (OT)

• An OT may be more suitable if your child struggles with fine motor skills, gross motor skills or sensory processing.
• If your child faces challenges in activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, eating, or writing, an OT can provide targeted support.
• Occupational Therapist’s work on enhancing physical and cognitive abilities to promote independence and a better quality of life.

Speech Pathologist

• A speech pathologist may be more suitable if your child has difficulties with speech development, language skills or social communication. They specialise in treating various speech disorders, such as apraxia, dysarthria and voice disorders. A speech pathologist will then develop personalised therapeutic plans based on the specific needs and goals of the individual.
• If your child experiences challenges in expressing themselves verbally, articulating clearly or engaging in effective communication, a Speech Pathologist can help.

Choosing the Right Path for Your Child

At Evolve Therapy, we offer comprehensive, fully tailored OT therapy for kids. Our Occupational Therapists assist in the everyday needs of your child, such as eating, dressing and self-care activities.

We pride ourselves on our clinical expertise and specially designed sessions ‘disguised as play’ that are underpinned by evidence-based clinical knowledge. If you’re looking for occupational therapists in Perth that you can trust, we would love to be your support throughout the process.