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Occupational Therapy for Kids and Teens with CHDs

Ages 5 - 17 Years

If you have a child with a heart defect, you have probably heard of Occupational Therapy (OT). By understanding the role and purpose of OT, you can help ensure that your child is getting the best intervention possible.

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In this section

Why Occupational Therapy?Where to Find Occupational Therapy The Goal of OT

Why Occupational Therapy?

Many kids and teens with heart defects learn skills a little later than is typical, and some have lasting difficulty with certain skills. For example, kids with heart defects might have trouble with handwriting, controlling their behavior, or learning independent living skills.

Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on helping people to participate as fully as possible in their daily life, and to promote overall health and wellness.

OT can help kids and teens with heart defects to build skills, and reach personal and developmental goals.

Occupational Therapists (OTs) work with kids and families on skills such as: 

building strength, coordination, and endurance in their hands
handwriting, drawing, gluing, taping, and cutting
zipping, buttoning, snapping, and tying
activities of daily living (examples: getting dressed, bathing, navigating the neighborhood, following routines)
self-regulation
body and emotion awareness
strategies to access activities and environments
accommodations and tools to increase participation and reduce discomfort
recovery from illness or injury
tolerating and integrating sensations
feeding
toileting
sleeping
school skills and work skills
any other skills that help a person to participate in daily activities more fully

Where to Find Occupational Therapy

OTs work in many settings, and have many different specialties.  Families should look for an OT who works with kids and teens with developmental differences.

  OTs work at: 

hospitals 
public and private schools
outpatient clinics
rehabilitation facilities

Many kids and teens with heart defects receive OT through their school district as part of their Special Education plan. Usually, school-based OT focuses on skills that affect a student's ability to access the curriculum and make appropriate progress.

In addition to school-based OT, some kids and teens with heart defects receive regular outpatient OT services from a clinic. Depending on the facility, outpatient OT may or may not accept medical insurance.

Whenever a child or teen with a CHD undergoes a medical procedure, has a prolonged illness, or has a hospitalization, they may qualify for OT to aid in their recovery and rehabilitation.

If parents are concerned about how well their child can participate in age-appropriate activities, they should ask their doctor for the best way to get OT.

The Goal of OT

The overarching goal of OT is to help people to fully participate in daily activities, and to feel healthy and well.

OT can help kids and teens with heart defects to learn new skills, to recover from illness and surgery, and to discover meaningful new ways to engage with their community.

This content was reviewed by an occupational therapist at Boston Children's Hospital.

Families local to Boston can seek help from the Pediatric Occupational Therapy department.

References

Clark, G. F., & Kingsley, K. L. (2020). Occupational therapy practice guidelines for early childhood: Birth–5 years. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(3), 7403397010p1-7403397010p42.https://research.aota.org/ajot/article-abstract/74/3/7403397010p1/9868/Occupational-Therapy-Practice-Guidelines-for-Early

Gronski, M., & Doherty, M. (2020). Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve activities of daily living, rest, and sleep for children ages 0–5 years and their families: A systematic review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(2), 7402180010p1-7402180010p33.https://research.aota.org/ajot/article-abstract/74/2/7402180010p1/6665/Interventions-Within-the-Scope-of-Occupational

Martino, E. M., & Lape, J. E. (2021). Occupational therapy in the preschool classroom-Promoting fine motor and visual motor skills for kindergarten readiness. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 14(2), 134-152.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19411243.2020.1822261

Phillips, J. M., & Longoria, J. N. (2020). Addressing the neurodevelopmental needs of children and adolescents with congenital heart disease: A review of the existing intervention literature. Child Neuropsychology, 26(4), 433-459.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09297049.2019.1682131

Reitz, S. M., Scaffa, M. E., & Dorsey, J. (2020). Occupational Therapy in the Promotion of Health and Well-Being. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(3).https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A7%3A14058279/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A143041171&crl=c

Tanner, K., Schmidt, E., Martin, K., & Bassi, M. (2020). Interventions within the scope of occupational therapy practice to improve motor performance for children ages 0–5 years: A systematic review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(2), 7402180060p1-7402180060p40.https://research.aota.org/ajot/article-abstract/74/2/7402180060p1/6681/Interventions-Within-the-Scope-of-Occupational

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