Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that helps individuals of all ages develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. The focus of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities (or “occupations”) that they want and need to do in their everyday lives. Occupational therapists (OTs) work with individuals who have physical, developmental, emotional, or mental health challenges that interfere with their ability to perform everyday tasks.

Here are some key areas occupational therapy addresses:

1. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs): Basic self-care tasks like dressing, bathing, eating, and grooming. OTs help people regain or improve their ability to perform these essential activities independently.
2. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs): More complex tasks like managing finances, preparing meals, housekeeping, and using transportation. OTs may work on enhancing skills or finding adaptive strategies and tools to help people manage these tasks.
3. Fine and Gross Motor Skills: Fine motor skills involve small movements, such as using hands and fingers to grasp, write, or manipulate objects. Gross motor skills involve larger body movements, like walking or balancing. OTs help improve strength, coordination, and control of these movements.
4. Cognitive and Sensory Processing: For individuals with cognitive challenges (such as memory or attention deficits), OTs help improve thinking skills necessary for daily activities. OTs also address sensory processing disorders, where individuals may overreact or underreact to sensory input (e.g., sound, touch, or movement).
5. Developmental Delays: In children, OTs help address developmental delays in motor skills, coordination, and play skills. They may work with children who have conditions such as autism, ADHD, or learning disabilities to improve their ability to participate in school and play activities.
6. Work and School Skills: OTs assist individuals who have experienced injury or illness return to their jobs or school by helping them modify tasks or environments to accommodate limitations. They also offer ergonomic advice and workplace adjustments.
7. Adaptive Equipment and Environmental Modifications: OTs may recommend and teach the use of adaptive equipment, such as grab bars, special utensils, or wheelchairs, to make daily activities easier. They may also suggest modifications to home or work environments to improve accessibility and independence.
8. Mental Health and Emotional Well-being: OT also focuses on helping individuals with mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), by helping them develop coping strategies and engage in meaningful activities.

Occupational therapy aims to empower individuals to lead more independent and fulfilling lives, improving their quality of life and helping them meet personal goals despite physical or mental health challenges.