Our Services
Specialist Neuro and Paediatric Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy forms part of the multi-disciplinary team offering rehabilitation for individuals following a traumatic brain injury, whether it being a birth or acquired brain injury.
Every movement and function performed activates a unique set of neural pathways in the brain. Consistent and repetitive activity practice and participation stimulates the brain and promotes neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to make adaptive changes based on behaviour.
Occupational therapists are experts at restorative (relearning activities) and compensatory (alternative ways or adaptation) strategies as part of the rehabilitation process, to optimise function and independence and maximise quality of life.
Traumatic brain injury affects people of all ages. Causes are varied from birth injuries such as hypoxia, ischaemic brain injuries, cerebral oedema, hydrocephalus, intracranial hematomas due to ruptured blood vessels, skull fractures, contusion that causes bruising of the brain tissue or diffuse axonal injury (DAI) due to twisting and tearing of the connections between the brain cells.
Occupational Therapists can tailor a program on a case by case basis from basic sensory and motor retraining therapy when clients are still at non-participation level, as in the case of unresponsiveness. The environment can be adapted and equipment can be prescribed to facilitate interaction and manual handling practice. Training can be provided to care givers on management strategies, stimulating and therapeutic principles.
Occupational therapy is the most successful where clients are directly engaged in the planning of their own programmes and activities, focussing on purposeful and meaningful activities that add quality to their lives.
Initial Assessments
Gathering information and research into the full background and history
Visit the client at home, school, hospital for observations and standardised and non-standardised assessments
Interview client, family, care givers or other members of the multi-disciplinary team to gather information
Identify immediate goals and needs
Recommendations and formulation of therapy programme
Comprehensive report
Cognitive and visual-perceptual assessments
Functional and self-help assessments
Assessments
Risk assessments and production of best practice and rehabilitation guidelines for care givers
Postural and seating assessments
Wheelchair assessments and prescriptions
Ongoing evaluation and assessments as part of outcome measures and progress tracking
Standardised cognitive, visual perceptual and functional assessments
Rehabilitation
Physical development, sensory processing skills, social-emotional development, self-help skills and independence
Upper limb rehabilitation programmes, including functional electro stimulation, pressure garments, adaptive movement constraint therapy and orthotics
Vocational rehabilitation
Cognitive rehabilitation
And more…
Recommendations and prescription of aids, equipment and adaptations to optimise independence, the rehabilitation process, client safety and quality of life
Direct one-to-one therapy intervention using restorative or compensatory strategies.
Ongoing evaluation and assessments as part of outcome measures and progress tracking
Training and skills development to optimise knowledge, insight and competency levels
Production of reports and guidance on Education, Health and Care Plan applications and reviews
Fatigue and relaxation therapy programmes
Play therapy
Integration and transition from hospital to home to education or vocational settings
Network clients with resources facilities such as specialist services, charities and relevant activity and equipment providers
Housing needs and adaptations
Expert witness reports