Why an SLP might recommend ot

and how it might help them talk more

By: Bella Sawalski

First, I have to be honest: I love occupational therapy.

Don't get me wrong - I am so happy I became a speech-language pathologist, and I absolutely love what I do. But there is something truly special about watching an occupational therapist work. The progress they help children make? It's kind of magical.

So what exactly is occupational therapy? Occupational therapy (OT) helps children build the skills they need to take part in everyday life. For kids, that means things like playing, learning, getting dressed, eating, writing, and connecting with others.

Pediatric OTs work with children who may be having a hard time with things like:

• Using their hands (like holding a crayon or putting together a puzzle)

• Processing what they see, hear, or feel around them

• Staying focused or calm

• Moving their body in a coordinated way

• Doing daily tasks on their own, like getting dressed

Through play-based activities, OTs help children build the physical, thinking, and sensory skills they need to do well at home, at school, and out in the world.

So why is a speech therapist recommending OT?

Great question. Here's the thing: development doesn't happen in little separate boxes. Skills like talking, moving, paying attention, staying calm, and playing are all connected to each other.

The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that children's development is dynamic — meaning that growth in one area affects growth in others. That's why children who are having a hard time in one area often benefit from a team of professionals working together. You can read more about that research here: AAP Link

If you're more of a visual person, two fellow speech therapists named Caren and Karen created a really helpful interactive pyramid that shows how different areas of development support a child's ability to communicate. You can explore it here: CK Speech Therapy link

This is why, even though I'm a speech therapist, I'm always looking at the whole child. Sometimes there are other things making communication harder — and when we support those areas, speech and language often grow too.

Let me paint a picture.

Meet Johnny. He's three years old, and his parents came to us because they want him to talk more.

Johnny tends to play by himself. Puzzles and shape sorters are really frustrating for him, and when things get hard, he cries or throws his toys. He mostly communicates with single words, a few gestures, or sounds.

Johnny starts speech therapy and makes some progress — he is communicating a bit more! But some things keep coming up in sessions:

• He has a hard time staying interested in different toys and activities

• He gets frustrated quickly and sometimes throws things

• Moving from one activity to the next is really tough

• Holding and using small toys is difficult for him

There is clearly more going on for Johnny than just speech and language. While we keep working on communication, things like hand skills, staying calm, and staying engaged are areas where occupational therapists have specialized training. So Johnny's speech therapist recommends an OT evaluation.

Once Johnny starts OT, his therapist puts together a plan just for him. Over time, some really great things start happening:

• Puzzles and shape sorters get easier — and actually become fun

• He learns tools to help with transitions, like visual timers and schedules

• He gets sensory input before activities, which helps him feel calmer and more ready to play

• He starts engaging more — with toys and with people

So what happens to Johnny's speech?

Now that Johnny feels calmer, less frustrated, and more successful in play, he starts communicating more. He asks for his favorite puzzles. He comments on activities. He asks for help when something is hard.

When children feel regulated, engaged, and good at what they're doing, they have more reasons — and more motivation — to talk.

Why we recommend OT

When we suggest additional services like OT, it's because we want to set your child up for real success. Sometimes kids need support in areas outside of what speech therapy covers, and that's where working as a team makes all the difference.

Here at Simply Spoken, we partner with Kid Power Occupational Therapy for many of our referrals — and we absolutely love them. They help children meet not only their OT goals, but their communication goals too.

Because we share a space, we can even offer co-treatment sessions — where your child works with both a speech therapist and an OT at the same time. These are some of my favorite sessions. When a child's sensory and movement needs are being supported at the same time we're working on talking, amazing things can happen.

Questions? We're here.

If you'd like to learn more about OT, check out Kid Power Occupational Therapy at kidpowersource.com. Or if you're not sure yet, just talk to your Simply Spoken therapist first — we may even be able to bring an OT into your session for a few minutes to answer your questions.

If you're already an OT family reading this — hi! We're so glad you're here. Feel free to reach out at simplyspokentherapy.com or give us a call at (262) 764-4075. We'd love to connect.