Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) has now started treating various physical and mental disorders in children like development delay, down Syndrome, Autism, Attention Deficit Hyper Disorder, Intellectual Disability is being treated through occupational therapy. For this purpose, a separate OPD of the Occupational Therapy Department has been started.
This OPD will operate on Tuesday from 9 am to 4 pm and on Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm every week. In OPD, Poonam bichpuriya gaur, Occupational Therapy, BMHRC, will treat the disorders through behavior Therapy, Sensory Integration Therapy, Neurodevelopmental Therapy, Oral Motor Exercise, visual perceptual exercises and various therapeutic activities.
Dr Manisha Shrivastava, Director in-charge, BMHRC said that in the last few years, the number of patients suffering from neuro-developmental disorders like autism and related disorders in children has increased significantly. Occupation therapy is very effective in treating these disorders.
The Occupational Therapy department has been expanded in BMHRC to provide the best medical facilities to the dependents of gas victims and other patients suffering from these disorders. The department has been renovated according to the children. Besides, many other equipment required for occupational therapy like multi activity workstation, sensory equipment’s are also being purchased. On the days fixed for OPD, patient can have registered to occupation therapist OPD directly or referred by any specialist getting a prescription made.
Poonam Bichpuriya gaur, Occupational Therapist of BMHRC, said that Occupational Therapy is helpful in management of physical and mental disabilities if assessed early. In early intervention, occupational therapy promotes facilitation of gross motor (i.e. rolling, sitting, crawling, standing and walking) and fine motor skills (like grip, prewriting skills etc) in children with disabilities and thus helps in integration of kids in normal schooling. Areas of focus during occupational therapy -Inability to perform daily living tasks.-Difficulty in attaining standing or walking.Being lost in oneself, unable to socialize with peer groups.-playing inappropriately with toys-Excess of laughing or crying-Having strange attachment to things-Being hypersensitive or hyposensitive to soundInability to sense danger, careless behaviour towards it.
Treatment of adults and elderly population through occupational therapy -Dr Manisha Shrivastava said, adults and elderly people will also be treated through occupational therapy in OPD and rehabilitation of various neurological diseases (like stroke), psychiatric diseases (like dementia and cognitive deficits) can be possible by occupational therapy as it helps in improving behaviour, identification of objects, cognitive perceptual skills and facilitates better understanding and learning ability of person.
