Posts by Carla Grobler

It is important to keep in mind that each child develops at his/her own pace. The moment a child’s performance is impaired/influenced/limited in a life sphere (school, play, social skills, self-care, communication) the child should be referred for an occupational therapy assessment. If a child shows impairment in one of the following areas and/or struggles…

Visio-motor integration is the ability to coordinate the visual system (what we see) with our fine motor skills (to be able to copy this using our hands). Our visual system consists of 3 factors: 1.Visual perceptual skills Discrimination Memory Sequential memory Form constancy Foreground-background Spatial relations Position in spaceVisual acuity 2. Vision Eye-muscle functioning 3.…

The vestibular sense has an influence on: Vision Hearing:  speech and language development Muscle tone Bilateral integration Motor planning Movement Balance Gravitational security Emotional security Physical security Registration The vestibular system is regulated by two systems:  the semi-circular canals and the otolith. The vestibular system is activated by movement of the head (linear, angular or…

Sensory integration  –  Overview of Praxis Ayres describes praxis as “A uniquely human skill requiring conscious thought and enabling the brain to conceptualise, organise and direct purposeful interaction with the physical world.  Thus, the ability by which we figure out how to use our hands and body in skilled tasks like playing with toys, using…

Postural stability Postural control assists us to maintain postures against gravity. Stability is necessary when we are sitting, standing and moving.  It gives us the safety and security to move, if a child does not have this security the child may become emotionally insecure.  Postural stability is influences by 4 systems:  visual, vestibular, proprioception and…

The proprioceptive system has an influence on: Visual discrimination Tactile system Vestibular system Motor control Motor planning Sequencing of movements Grading of movement (force, speed and timing) Postural stability Emotional security Body awareness Alignment of body parts Registration This system, like the vestibular system, is automatic and not part of our conscious awareness.  Bundy says…

THE ANATOMICAL REVIEW – REGISTRATION The touch system has the biggest receptor area of all the senses.  We need constant touch to keep us organized and functioning.  We register touch through receptors in our skin.  We register light touch, deep pressure, skin stretch, vibration, movement, temperature and pain from tactile receptors.    THE TACTILE SYSTEM…

THE ANATOMICAL REVIEW – REGISTRATION Sound waves enter the ear canal through the pinna. The waves now move to the tympanic membrane. After the tympanic membrane is the middle ear where the auditory waves travel over the incus, stapes and malleus. The waves now move into the inner ear into the cochlea. The cochlea has…

THE ANATOMICAL REVIEW – REGISTRATION Lights enters the eye and is refracted by the cornea. The light then passes through the pupil and is further refracted by the lens. An inverted image is then projected onto the retina. The retina consists of rods and cones – called photoreceptor cells. Rods are found in the periphery…