What Is Occupational Therapy?

Fields Of Use

Occupational therapy is used at all stages of life and across a wide range of medical specialties. Occupational therapists can choose to become certified in fields such as gerontology, pediatrics, mental health, physical rehabilitation, and driving and community mobility. Therapists who specialize in gerontology help patients recovering from strokes, and they also assist those who have recently had a hip replacement. Pediatric occupational therapists help children with autism in learning functional skills, and they assist kids with crawling, walking, and feeding. Specializations are also available in care for those with low vision and in environmental modification. Professionals who work in environmental modification provide recommendations on furniture placement, adaptive devices, and assistive technology that make the patient's home environment safer and more accessible. Those who specialize in caring for patients with low vision help enhance the patient's vision with optical devices and technology. Some occupational therapists may also choose to work in the school system; these therapists assist patients who are eligible for special education services in learning the skills they need to function in the school environment and in making modifications where necessary.

Read about occupational therapy's connection to other therapies next.