OT ACROSS LIFESPAN - INTRO

Developmental Stages of a Typical Lifespan

1) Infancy

2) Childhood

3) Adolescence

4) Young Adulthood

5) Middle Adulthood

6) Late Adulthood

Infancy

Birth through 1 year; focus on growth and early development; primitive reflexes are present at birth or soon after (neurological development)

Primitive Reflexes

Reflexes present at birth or shortly after that indicate neurological development in infants

Exploration Phase (Infancy)

Developmental task of infancy in which the child explores self and the environment through sensory solitary play

Developmental Tasks of Infancy

Regulation of sleep/wake cycle, rapid physical growth (gross motor, oral motor, language, fine motor, social, cognitive)

Possible Diagnoses Seen in Infancy

1) Birth trauma

2) Diseases

3) Genetic conditions affecting development

4) Cerebral Palsy

5) Developmental Delays

6) Failure to Thrive

7) Head Injury

8) HIV

9) Cognitive Abnormalities (cleft lip)

Failure to Thrive

A diagnosis seen in infancy where a child does not meet expected growth and development milestones

Settings - Infant

1) NICU

2) Hospitals

3) Early intervention programs

4) Home health agencies

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

A hospital setting where OT practitioners may work with infants requiring specialized medical care

Early Intervention Programs

Community-based programs that provide OT and other services to infants and young children with developmental delays or disabilities

Developmental Frame of Reference

A frame of reference that postulates that practice in a skill set will enhance brain development and help a child progress through developmental stages

Family-Centered Care

An OT intervention approach that recognizes parents/caregivers as the experts on the child; focuses on educating and supporting the family unit

Therapeutic Use of Self

An awareness of oneself, including how one communicates, presents oneself, responds during interactions, and relates to others

Occupation of Infancy

Eating, sleep, and rest

Early Childhood

Ages 1-6; play is the primary occupation

Later Childhood (School-Aged)

Ages 6-12; play and school/education are the primary occupations

Solitary Play

Play stage from 0-2 years; child plays alone and learns through sensory exploration

Parallel Play

Play stage from 2-4 years; children play near each other but may not play together

Cooperative Play

Play stage from 4-6 years; children actively work toward a shared goal together

Competitive Play

Play stage from 6-12 years; fosters essential social, emotional, and cognitive skills by encouraging children to navigate emotions, turn-taking, and resilience

Occupation of Childhood

Play (primary), and school/education in later childhood

Developmental Coordination Disorder

A childhood diagnosis involving significant difficulty with motor coordination that affects daily activities and academic performance

Possible Diagnoses for Childhood

1) Cerebral Palsy

2) Autism

3) Down Syndrome

4) Intellectual Disability

5) Developmental Coordination Disorder

6) Developmental Delay

7) Childhood illnesses (Cancer, Asthma, Sickle cell anemia)

8) Rare Syndromes/Medical Conditions

9) Physical Disabilites

10) Behavioral & Psychological Disorders

School System (OT Setting)

A childhood OT setting focused on helping children thrive in the classroom; tends to be more reactive than proactive

Settings - Childhood

1) School System

2) Outpatient clinics

3) Hospitals

Intervention - Childhood

1) Use of play to reach a goal

2) Play as an end goal

3) School behaviors

Adolescence

Ages 12-20; a time of potential turmoil as teens develop a sense of self apart from their parents; primary role is identity formation

Primary Role of Adolescence

Searching for one's identity and developing a sense of self and independence

Key Occupation of Adolescence

Social participation

Common Diagnosis for Adolescence

1) Mental Health Issues

2) Psychological Disorders

3) Physical Disabilities

Settings - Adolescence

1) Hospitals

2) Day Treatment centers

3) School Systems

4) Rehabilitation Centers

Day Treatment Centers

A setting for adolescents with mental health needs that provides structured therapeutic programming during the day

OT Intervention Approach for Adolescence

1) Set limits while being fun and engaging

2) Develop trust

3) Allow self-expression

4) Involve teens in healthy group activities with support and mentoring

Intervention - Adolescence

1) Educational approach

2) Task adaptation

3) Work skills training

4) Healthy leisure exploration

5) Intervention to develop self-concept/identity/social skills

Work Skills Training

An OT intervention used in adolescence to prepare teens for vocational roles and responsibilities

Young Adulthood

Ages 20-40; characterized as a time of learning skills and achievement

Middle Adulthood

Ages 40-65; characterized as a time of teaching skills, guiding the next generation, creativity, and productivity

Sandwich Generation

Adults who are caring for their own children and their aging parents at the same time

Empty Nest Syndrome

The emotional and psychological changes that parents may experience when their children leave home for the first time

Ergonomic Programming

An OT service provided in work settings for young and middle adults focused on injury prevention and wellness

Common Diagnosis for Young & Middle Adult

1) Physical illness

2) Orthopedic disabilities

3) Psychological disturbances/Psychiatric disorders

4) Unhealthy life choices

5) Physical/Psychological trauma

Settings - Young & Middle Adult

1) Hospitals

2) Rehab Centers

3) Outpatient Clinics

4) Home Health

5) Work Setting

6) Psychiatric Hospitals

7) Day Treatment Centers

OT Intervention for Young and Middle Adulthood

1) Re-engagement in meaningful occupations

2) Body mechanics

3) Adaptive equipment

4) Rehabilitation of lost skills

5) New/adaptive skill development

6) Compensation techniques

7) Exploration of new life roles

Later Adulthood

Over 65 years of age; focus on reflection on one's life, dealing with losses, retirement, decreased workload, and emphasis on community

Learned Helplessness

A phenomenon in which older adults begin to feel and act helpless, relinquishing control over things that previously held value for them

Common Diagnosis for Late Adulthood

1) Sensory/Physical declines

2) Loss of social support

3) Difficulty transitioning to new roles/lost roles

4) Grief

5) Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia

6) Parkinson's Disease

7) Stoke

8) Cardiac Conditions

9) Rheumatoid arthritis

10) Diabetes

11) Cancer

Settings - Late Adulthood

1) Home

2) Community

3) Hospitals

4) Assisted living centers

5) Day programs

6) Skilled nursing facilities/Long term car facilities

7) Hospice

Intervention - Late Adulthood

1) Safety

2) Wellness programs

3) Maintaining activity level/engagement in occupations

4) Increase comfort while being cared for

5) Education and support to caregivers

6) Adaptive equipment

7) Fall prevention

8) Driving assessment/training

Home Safety Evaluation

An OT intervention for older adults that assesses the home environment and makes recommendations to prevent falls and improve safety

Fall Prevention

A key OT intervention goal for older adults to reduce risk of injury

Driving Assessment and Training

An OT service for older adults to evaluate and support safe continued driving or plan for driving cessation

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) / Long Term Care

An OT setting for older adults requiring around-the-clock nursing and rehabilitative care

Hospice

A care setting for individuals nearing the end of life; OTs may help increase comfort and support caregivers

Assistive/Adaptive Equipment (Late Adulthood)

Specialized lifts, adaptive aids for self-care, mattresses, cushions, wheelchairs; used by OTs to help older adults maintain independence

Low Vision Recommendations

OT intervention strategies such as large print materials and environmental modifications to support older adults with vision loss

Occupational Profile

Described as the "story of a person's life"; used by OT practitioners and clients to review a whole life and inform intervention planning

Occupational Performance

A person's ability to carry out meaningful activities and roles across the lifespan; influenced by developmental stage, life events, and individual factors

Dynamic Nature of Development

The concept that development is not static; it continuously changes across the lifespan and influences OT practice and intervention strategies

Life Roles

The various roles a person holds throughout the lifespan (e.g., student, worker, caregiver, retiree) that shape occupational performance and OT intervention priorities

Individualized Intervention

OT principle that even with knowledge of developmental norms, services must be tailored to the specific needs and life experiences of each client