Ergotherapy – coping with everyday life

What is ergotherapy?

The word "ergotherapy" comes from the Greek word "ergon", which means something like: action, work or activity.

Ergotherapy in paediatrics is intended for children from infancy to adolescence if

• the activity and partipation in society of a child and its family is compromised or likely to be compromised
• their development is delayed or their independence and capacity for action are impaired.

The aim of ergotherapy treatment, sometimes called 'occupational therapy', is to enable the child to cope actively with everyday life. For this, the parents and reference persons are integrated into the therapy from the start.

Treatment is via individual or group therapy, plus individual therapy within a group.

When is ergotherapy prescribed?

Ergotherapy is appropriate

• to support the development of the greatest possible independence, capacity to act and active playing in the family and social environment, nursery school and school
• to improve motor development (gross and fine motor skills), sensory perception/processing and communication
• to promote interest, motivation, perseverance and concentration
• in the event of anomalies in social interaction and emotional behaviour

Special characteristics

• Infants (e.g. regulation, feeding and sleep disorders)
• Infants and children with motor disturbances/multiple disabilities/genetic syndromes
• Children with autistic spectrum disorders
• Children with selective food intake

Main areas of treatment

• Manual and graphomotor skills, hand intensive therapy
• Therapeutic work and design
• Measures to prepare for school
• Sensory Integrative (SI) therapy
• Bobath concept
• Basal stimulation
• Development therapy
• Orofacial regulation therapy (ORT)
• Therapeutic cooking
• Concentration training: Lauth & Schlottke, Marburg Concentration Training (MCT)
• Supported communication (SC)
• Biofeedback (sEMG)
• Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP): client-centred, activity-oriented therapeutic approach
• Neuromotor Task Training (NTT)
• Activity of Daily Living (ADL): Everyday training/advice on and provision of aids