occupational therapy is awesome

Heartbreaking. So many things going wrong here. The most pressing thing though is that there should have been clear communication between the parent, school, OT and doctor. (Yes, definitely without the sensationalized, highly illogical meddling by Mr. Tulfo) The parent was clearly ill-informed of OT, ADHD and that rolling in the foam mat. It was understandable why Mr. Yulo felt that way. This could have been avoided if it werent for Mr. Tulfo and a clear, respectful line of communication between the involved parties instead.

OTs, let’s be professional. Denounce this on your communities. Clarify all the issues clearly misunderstood by Mr. Tulfo and the parent. Avoid this from happening by communicating well with your clients and ensuring that they understand what we are doing.  Most of all, please don’t imitate a Tulfo in replying with anger and misinformation. We’re better than that. 

Occupational Therapy (OT)

Occupational Therapy (OT) = a medical profession aimed at helping people do what they need to do. 

In the case of this student, I’m guessing the OT is helping the boy do what he needs to do as a student and as a friend. The OT may teach him techniques so he can focus during class and avoid getting distracted. He/She may also teach him how to control his anger and impulses so he can have good relationships with his friends, teachers, parents and other authority figures, etc. etc.

An OT does this through behavior management techniques or those activities that involve training a child to do what is appropriate in a situation. In addition, sensory integration techniques involve providing sensations that help calm down (or “wake up”) a child. 

Rolling in a foam mat / “parang Suman”

I know, it sounds terrible. Especially the way Mr. Tulfo sensationalizes it. Although I cannot personally comment on HOW the OT did it, I can try to explain the why.

Sensory Integration Theory, backed by research, suggests that certain sensations can affect the way we think and perceive the world. Some help us “wake up,” like when you are on a fast swing that goes in several directions. While others, help us “calm down.”  Those calming down sensations include sitting on a slow rocking chair, getting hugged and playing wheelbarrow. Proprioceptive sensation, like that feeling of pressure on your joints when you get hugged real tight, is said to be particularly calming.

Some children, particularly those with autism and ADHD, may need a lot of those waking up and/or calming down sensations so they can do what they need to do, like focus during class or decrease their hyperactivity.

What the OT in question may be doing was providing a lot of calming proprioceptive sensation to the child by wrapping him in a foam mat. Think of it as a tight full body hug. He/She may be doing this because he /she thought that it would help decrease the hyperactivity in the child.

While for asking another child to lay down on the mat and for the other claims on veins turning red and being suffocated, that still remains to be investigated.  

ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder

Not Kulang Sa Pansin, as Mr. Tulfo would point out. People with ADHD and ADD may have difficulty maintaining attention, keeping still or controlling what they want to do. These affect their ability to participate in school and maintain good relationships with their friends, authority figures and families.

People with ADHD are not necessarily below IQ or under-performing as the Mr. Yulo would think. In fact, people like Richard Branson (Virgin Company, CEO), Magic Johnson (multi awarded basketball player), Jim Carrey (famous comedian), Jamie Oliver (famous chef), etc. have learned to manage their ADHD behaviors and become successful in their careers.

They, and many other individuals, have learned to cope with their inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Ultimately, this is the OT’s goal in training kids with ADHD. 

And one more thing, which I cannot help but comment on

• That woman. I cant help but admire her professional and objective behavior despite her co-worker’s constant interruptions and obvious lack of intelligence and respect. How she’s able to stand him and work in such close situations, I’ll never understand.
• My post is way too long to be read. I know, violating the basic rules of keeping it short in blogging. But please do read. It would greatly help in  raising awareness not only about OT, but also on the plight of parents, of people with ADHD and of people in general who need or are availing of our services.

(For our non-Filipino readers, the video is a clip from a sensational news program about a disgruntled father complaining how his son was made to roll in a foam mat and sat on by another student. The news anchor attempted to sensationalize the issue by making several ill-conceived and ill-educated comments on the incident, on OT as a profession, and ADHD. The father also made several comments vehemently denying his son has ADHD.)