aMAYZingkids Pediatric Therapy in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

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You are here: Home / Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy

The occupational therapists at aMAYZing Kids are trained specialists who use specific hands-on techniques to help children to carry out the “jobs,” or occupations, of a child’s daily life.

Our  Therapy Team  

Their help is especially valuable when a child is having difficulty learning these skills on their own and falling behind their peers. Examples of these tasks are:

  • Feeding themselves
  • Getting dressed
  • Tolerating changes in their environment
  • Holding a crayon to draw
  • Getting on and off playground equipment

All of these are areas where our occupational therapy team can help.

Occupational therapists work to evaluate the existence of an impairment that may cause difficulties. Once identified, the occupational therapists develop a treatment plan to help address the impairment.

Here are a few of the challenges our occupational therapy team helps children address:

  • Sensory impairment
  • Motor skill impairment
  • Perceptual deficits
  • Vision impairment
  • Handwriting difficulty
  • Sensory processing disorder
  • Perceptual deficits
  • Delays or difficulty with fine motor or self-care skills
  • Oral motor concerns
  • Feeding difficulties and swallowing disorders (also see Speech-Language Pathology)

aMAYZing Kids Occupational Therapy Team Treatment Techniques and Specialty Certifications:

  • SIPT (Sensory Integration and Praxis Test™)
  • Advanced certifications in swallowing
  • Advanced certifications in physical agent modalities
  • VitalStim® Therapy System
  • Handwriting Without Tears®
  • Zones of Regulation®
  • Astronaut Training
  • Interactive Metronome®
  • Wilbarger “Therapressure” protocol
  • SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding
  • Therapeutic Listening®
  • Tube Feeding With Love
  • Neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT)
  • Beckman Oral Motor Protocol

Occupational Therapy FAQs

What are examples of why my child would see an occupational therapist at aMAYZing Kids?

Our occupational therapists specialize in helping children who are falling behind or having difficulties with independence at home, school, or within their community.
  • Drinking from a bottle or cup
  • Tolerating the fabric in clothing
  • Sitting up to play
  • Buttoning clothes
  • Participating in a game with other children
  • Tolerating the noise of a birthday party
  • Holding a pencil
  • Writing legibly
  • Playing on the playground
  • Clumsiness
  • Difficulty playing or socializing effectively
  • Difficulty with motor skills

How does the therapist know what the problem is?

Occupational therapists are educated in anatomy, physiology, neurology, and sensory and motor development. Through observation during play, along with standardized testing tools, the therapist will identify any areas of weakness that could be contributing to delays and difficulties.For example, if a child is struggling with handwriting, there are many components of the task that will need to be assessed, such as sitting posture, trunk strength, shoulder stability, hand strength, visual skills, and perceptual scanning. An occupational therapist will assess each aspect of that task. Or, if a child is struggling with feeding or swallowing disorders, the therapist will focus not just on eating, but on the underlying components of eating tasks.


Someone says my child has “sensory issues,” but she can hear and see just fine. What does that term mean?

Sensory issues tend to fall into two categories:Over-sensitive (“hyper-responsive”): a child becomes overwhelmed by the sensations of clothing, bright lights, or loud noises, or doesn’t want to touch things or get messy.

Under-sensitive (“hypo-responsive”): a child may show no reaction to extreme pain, movement, or temperature, or seek out extreme sensations because they have an under-sensitive, or hyposensitive, sensory system.

Children who are over- or under-sensitive to sensory input may be diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. This disorder can interfere with skills related to self-care, language, motor development, academics, and social/emotional development.


Can’t my child just practice the tasks he’s struggling with? Won’t that be enough?

When a child is having difficulty mastering certain motor skills, repetition alone without addressing the underlying cause of what is impeding learning will not be very effective. Good sensory processing is crucial for gaining new skills.

Is my child meeting the age appropriate milestones?

  • Learn how to recognize the signs of a developmental delay
  • Which type of therapy will benefit your child
  • Find out Next Step Solutions if an evaluation is recommended 

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Learn More About Hailey

Learn more about Hailey Mayz and how she has inspired the legacy of aMAYZing Kids through her mother's perspective 

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29811 Santa Margarita Pkwy #600 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

The Hailey Mayz Foundation

Honoring the memory of Hailey Mayz Vassilaros July 20, 2006 - August 11, 2009  Her Life She was a little girl—a bright, shine-like-the-sun little girl, born to a regular mom and dad. Her name was Hailey Mayz Vassilaros, and she was born with a challenge. In simple terms, she was born too small … Learn More...

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These aMAYZing people are the engine of aMAYZing Kids. They are the visionaries who manifest the legacy of Hailey Mayz in their work with children each day. Leadership Stephanie Coe, OTR/L, SWC, PAM, … More

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Mailing Address: 22431 Antonio Parkway Suite B160-493, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

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