PANAJI
An occupational therapist from Goa, Dr Priyanka Raikar, recently presented a talk on paediatric occupational therapy practices in India to master level students, at Winston-Salem State University of North Carolina, USA. Dr Raikar spoke on cognitive development, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social skills development, sensory development, play development, neonatal development, writing skill development, visual aids in non-verbal kids, development of activities of daily living skills and behavioural treatment.
Comparing the status with regard to awareness about occupational therapy in India and abroad, Dr Raikar states: “Referrals for occupational therapy from doctors, paediatricians are most common throughout the world for both acute and chronic cases with paediatric population. Also, awareness in India about occupational therapy (OT) is much less compared to other countries. In the USA and many others, OT treatment fees are easily covered by insurance companies. In India, only 5-8 % is covered by insurance companies.”
