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Occupational therapy for adults helps them become more independent. Therapy might focus on performing daily tasks, such as getting dressed, driving a car, typing on a computer, or cooking simple meals. The Occupational Therapy Process E VALUATION : Once a person has been identified as requiring occupational therapy, she is referred to a qualified, certified occupational therapist. The occupational therapist then per- forms a series of evaluations to determine the extent of the patient’s skills at this point. Not only does this process give

the occupational therapist a baseline for evaluating the patient’s progress, the therapist is also able to see exactly what problems need to be addressed. The evaluation process includes taking a detailed patient history, discussing the patient’s current challenges and needs, and reviewing refer- ral materials from the doctor or other health care provider. The

Educational Video

Scan here to get an up- close look at a day in the life of an occupational therapist:

OT may ask the patient to attempt to perform some of the tasks she is struggling with to see exactly how to accommodate the patient and treat the issue(s). The patient may also be asked to perform seemingly unrelated tasks to pinpoint any underlying problems that prevent her from completing the task in question.

What Do Occupational Therapists Do?

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