Occupational therapists enable people of all ages to carry out everyday activities which are essential for health and wellbeing by providing treatment, support, care and or environmental adaptations.
Occupational therapists may help autistic people to carry out activities such as feeding or dressing themselves, engaging in social interactions, completing school activities, working or playing.
Occupational therapists may use a wide range of different interventions, techniques and tools. For example they may show individuals how to hold utensils so that they can feed themselves, they may create games which help individuals to socialise with other people or they may teach individuals to respond more appropriately to sensory information.
Occupational therapists usually work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with other health care/education providers (such as speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, teachers and parents) to provide a package of care designed to meet the needs of the individual.
The evidence base for the diverse interventions, techniques and tools used by different occupational therapists varies enormously. For example, there is some high quality evidence to suggest that some multi-component programmes which include elements of occupational therapy may provide some benefits to some autistic people. However there is currently insufficient high quality evidence to determine if specific techniques provide any long-term benefits to autistic people. Because of this, we do not believe it is possible to provide a ranking for occupational therapy as a whole.
However we believe that occupational therapy may help some autistic people, especially when it is provided as one element of a combined, multi-component programme delivered by a multi-disciplinary team, and when that multi-component programme is personalised to the needs of the individual.
Please read our Disclaimer on Autism Interventions
According to NHS Health Education England (201?), occupational therapists work with people who have difficulties carrying out everyday activities because of disability, illness, trauma, ageing, and a range of long term conditions.
Occupational therapists “...assess and treat people of all ages and situations with a range of conditions. For example, helping:
According to NHS Health Education England (201?),
“Occupational therapists help people of all ages to carry out everyday activities which are essential for health and wellbeing.”
In the case of autism, occupational therapy may be used to help the individual overcome a range of problems. For example, according to Anderson, S. (2008)
'Many children with autism receive occupational therapy services to enhance motor skill development as well as to address sensory integration issues. For example, a therapist might assist a child in developing mature grasp patterns so that the child can hold a utensil to feed him- or herself. A therapist might also incorporate sensory integration theory into treatment to assist the child in decreasing sensory-avoiding behaviors (like avoidance of brushing his or her teeth or hair), sensory sensitivities (such as sensitivities to certain fabrics or food textures), and sensory-seeking behaviors (like seeking movement input by constantly spinning, pacing, or rocking). Addressing such issues will help the child self-regulate so that he or she is able to function and learn at school.'
There have been various claims made for occupational therapy as an intervention for autistic people. For example, the College of Occupational Therapists (2014) reports the following benefits:
Occupational therapists help people of all ages to carry out everyday activities which are essential for health and wellbeing.
Occupational therapists may use a wide range of different interventions, techniques and tools. For example they may show individuals how to hold utensils so that they can feed themselves, they may create games which help individuals to socialise with other people or they may teach individuals to respond more appropriately to sensory information.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (2009), occupational therapists may:
Occupational therapists usually work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with other health care/education providers (such as speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, teachers and parents) to provide a package of care designed to meet the needs of the individual.
Treatment may take place in
In the UK and some other countries, occupational therapy is sometimes provided free of charge via the National Health Service at the point of delivery to affected individuals and their families.
In the USA and other countries the costs may sometimes by covered by schemes such as Medicare, Medicaid, worker's compensation, vocational programs, behavioral health programs, early intervention, and school programs.
Services also may be covered through Social Security, state mental health or mental retardation agencies, health and human services agencies, private foundations, and grants.
The length of treatment varies from individual to individual because some clients may improve much faster than others. Those with more serious or ongoing problems may take longer to help, that is, many years.
Sessions vary in length and intensity depending on whether specific treatment approaches are being integrated into occupational therapy. Most sessions will last about 45 to 60 minutes and most will be held on a regular basis, often weekly.
There are no significant adverse affects of occupational therapy, although there may be some minor risks associated with movement therapies.
There are no known contraindications for occupational therapy, although it may not be beneficial for an individual to be receiving too many therapies, or those which use contrasting approaches, simultaneously. Advice should be sought from the respective therapists/medical professionals.
Occupational therapy is widely available in Europe, the USA and some other countries.
In the UK, you can either contact the occupational therapist direct yourself or your GP can refer you. Alternatively you contact The College of Occupational Therapists.
In the USA, parents can ask pediatricians to identify early intervention programmes available through a state's Department of Social Services or Department of Health. These programs can refer young children and their families to occupational therapy and other needed services.
According to Scott (2011),
“Preschool and school-age children and youth (to age 21) may be eligible for occupational therapy services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Services may also be available through local health centers, hospitals, private clinics, and home health agencies. Adults with an ASD who need occupational therapy services may find referrals through developmental disability programs, social services agencies, or state occupational therapy associations.”
In the UK and most other countries, registered/licenced practitioners are usually called occupational therapists.
In the UK, all occupational therapists have to have achieved a recognised qualification (Diploma, BSc or pre-registration MSc) and be registered with the College of Occupational Therapists and the Health and Care Professions Council.
In the US, all occupational therapists have to have a degree in occupational therapy and have to be registered with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. In addition, most U.S. states regulate occupational therapists, which means OTs must possess a licence within their state.
Occupational therapy arose in several different countries at the end of the First World War in order to help injured military personnel.
This section provides personal accounts of occupational therapy for autistic people.
Personal accounts can be useful sources of information about the intervention but are not as scientifically valid or reliable as research trials. This may be especially true where the accounts are published by an organisation which might gain a financial advantage from the take-up of the intervention.
Please note that the views expressed in these personal accounts do not necessarily represent our views.
According to Anderson (2008), a parental survey conducted by the Interactive Autism Network reported that following occupational therapy:
Of those who said their child improved: