Case Study: Improving Coordination, Confidence, and Body Awareness in a 7-Year-Old

Background: Early Occupational Therapy and Ongoing Concerns

A. had been in occupational therapy during her early childhood years to address motor coordination, sensory processing, and regulation problems. As she entered Kindergarten she was dismissed as many of the issues had been resolved. However, her mother still felt there were motor planning issues which impacted her safety as she engaged in the community and increased her anxiety.

Child Insight: Recognizing the Need for Support

As A. described it to another MNRI specialist later that year “I knew I needed help when I was riding my bike and turned my head to look at something and drove into a tree”.

Goals Identified by Child and Parent

The goals identified by A. and her mother were to move through space with less falls, improved coordination and awareness of where she is in space; increase her willingness to explore and engage in physical activities with peers; and to play basketball with her friends without falling or getting hit in the face with the ball.

Intervention Focus: Building Coordination and Regulation

We worked together for 10 months, working on reflexes, visual motor skills related to reflex engagement, balance, handwriting and zones of regulation.

Outcomes: Increased Confidence and Participation

She made great improvements in all areas, her confidence grew and she started to enjoy physical activities that she avoided before.

Lasting Impact: Independence and Self-Confidence

Her improvements were so substantial that she frequently had to remind her father of her new capabilities as he was always reminding her to be careful “Dad, I got this now”.