Occupational Therapy Essay

When working in occupational therapy we will have opportunity to work with patients of all ages from a variety of backgrounds. To provide the best care possible for our patients, we need to be aware of how to properly communicate with and educate any patient. In a pediatric facility or hospital we may have infants as patients; the age of an infant is from birth to one year old. Infants have many needs such as love, comfort, warmth, feeding and drinking, and a strong sense of security (Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, 2003). If any of these needs are neglected or inadequate the emotional and/or physiological well-being and development of the infant will be at risk. As with all of our patients we need to look at an infant

patient holistically and take into account all of their needs.
Working with an infant presents a variety of obstacles we must navigate to care for them properly. The first hurdle we may come across is that an infant is unable to speak, because of lack of language, the parent or care giver will likely represent the patient. An infant may only be wake for 6 hours a day and will most likely need to eat every 3-4 hours (“Sleep and Newborns”). When making appointments we will need to take into consideration an infant’s sleep, eat, wake schedule as this may disrupt the patient’s vulnerable sense of security. As we evaluate or plan purposeful activities for the client we need to keep in mind that an infant first develops from the head down and that fine motor skills will not be fully developed (Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, 2003). An infant will learn quickly, we need be educated about the developmental stages of a growing infant and have access to appropriate evaluation tools. Being aware of an infant’s unique qualities will help develop a quality therapy experience for the patient and caregiver.

Because a baby is unable to communicate using language, we must rely on the infant’s body language. As an OTA we need to successfully observe an infant’s body language to have an idea how the patient is feeling emotionally and physically, and modify therapy based on their responses. While communicating with an infant we will notice that they have an extremely short attention span lasting anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes and this usually progresses with age(“Cognitive Development: 8 to 12 Months”). As with adults, infants will have different preferences in color, sounds, and toys. We can use this knowledge of an infant’s preferences to engage them in therapy sessions and assessments.
In order to provide the best therapy experience possible, we must not only be able to communicate with an infant, but also the parent.

When interacting with parents and their child, we should speak in a warm, caring, patient, and professional tone. Parents that we will interact with will not only be experiencing the same vulnerability and exhaustion that all new parents experience, but may also be nervous or fearful for their child. As OT professionals we should provide as much relevant medical information as possible in a professional and empathetic manner. At times we may have to reassure the parent that we and any associated healthcare team will do all we can to help. A health literacy assessment can be given to the parent so we can provide instructions in ways they will understand and be able to implement proper care for their child. Repeating important information at the beginning and end of therapy sessions will help to ensure that the caregiver understands. When providing parents with essential information we should practice the “teach back technique”, as we learned in class, to confirm their understanding. We should do our best to be available to answer any questions that the parent or care giver may have. Because infants learn through play, pamphlets that provide information about a diagnosis, or play activities designed to help encourage an infant’s growth may be very helpful. Parents of infants with specific diagnoses may benefit from individual or group therapy. Providing positive emotional resources to the parent of an infant will help them to fulfill their child’s

needs.
Caring for the needs of an infant as an OTA can be a challenge. From the specialized care needed for the patient themselves, to the extra care and communication needed when adding a parent as an intermediary; a gentle and professional demeanor as well as an increased level of patience is necessary for a successful experience.

References:
Infant[def. 1]. In Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition, retrieved September 9, 2015, from
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/infant
Mccorry, L. K. & Mason, J. (2011). Communication skills for the healthcare professional. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
n.p.Cognitive development:8 to 12 months.Healthy Kids.web.9 September 2015. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/Cognitive-Development-8-to-12-Months.aspx.
n.p.Sleep and newborns.KidsHealth,2014.web.9 September 2015. Retrieved from
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/sleep/sleepnewborn.html#.