Ask the doctor: Is therapy essential for my special needs child?

During occupational therapy, doctors check if their cognitive aspects have been affected or if they have low intelligence (Photo: Shutterstock)

At what point does a child with special needs need to see an occupational therapist?

As early as possible. Early intervention brings quick results because when children grow older without therapy, they end up with deformities and severe pathological patterns which could have been reversed. It is always safe to get a referral from the primary doctor who diagnosed the condition. Sometimes I have patients who walk in for consultations. We will then do an assessment to determine if the condition requires a multi-disciplinary approach.