[tri-med] An occupational therapy question

I have always been wrestling with what the benefit of having a certified OT
is to Caroline.  To be honest, it seems that they don't offer me any real
new suggestions or ideas on what to and how to work with her.  We have seen
3 different OTs over Caroline's first 3 years.
When the EI sessions ended when she turned three, we continued PT though the
Shriner's hospital, but never did get OT reinstated.  We are now taking her
somewhere new for all types of therapies (a local therapist is finally now
offering all types of pediatric therapy).  Anyway, the OT just seemed to put
it in my lap as to what I want her to work on with Caroline.  I felt a
little dumb, because I wasn't sure how to answer her.  I was hoping she
would be the one to provide me with suggestions.

With PT it is easy, we want her stronger so she will sit on her own, maybe
crawl or walk someday.  WIth ST it is also easy, we want her to communicate,
whether verbally, with sign or with a computerized assistive device.  With
OT, I am not quite sure what my goal should be.  Obviously, I want her to
grow developmentally.  The OT therapists have all seemed to just work on
getting her to hold toys, bang toys together, putting weight on her hands
for strengthening, and having her feel textures.  My question is that it
seems that everything they do is pretty much things we can and do easily at
home, and there are never any "new" ideas.  I almost feel that like is it,
there really isn't many more things to work on.

I would love to hear what your OTs work on.  Is is the same sort of things?
Coincidentally, since Caroline stopped official OT early this summer, she
has seemed to have had a spurt of development in that area.

Oh, and please remember, my question is not whether she needs OT or not, it
is whether it is really worth my time to drive her to see an official OT
rather than me just continuing to work with her at home.  Oh, and she will
get some school-based OT, ST and PT when she starts preschool in a couple
weeks.

Thanks!

-- 
Irene
Christina (4), Caroline (3 with partial trisomy 17p) and Kallie (1)
Caroline's site:  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carolinesmith


                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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