Morris A G
Am J Occup Ther. 1978 Feb;32(2):75-6.
Children who grow up without adequate stimulation often develop learning problems that require intensive treatment to permit them to perform at their optimum level. Many times they do not have the opportunity to make up for the experiences missed and become school drop-outs. Remedial services are time-consuming for children and wasteful of public funds, whereas preventive services enable children to achieve their intellectual potential. Occupational therapists can make an important contribution to ambulatory pediatrics because of their background in physical and mental development, as well as their expertise in planning and carrying out treatment programs. They could put these skills to good use in the pediatric clinic playroom by screening children who presentdevelopmental lags and who could then be referred for additional testing and evaluation. The playroom could extend its role to provide needed services: a base for a cognitively oriented educational program for parents of infants and toddlers; recreation activities for waiting children and their siblings; and early detection of developmental and/or emotional problems.
在缺乏足够刺激的环境中成长的儿童，往往会出现学习问题，需要强化治疗才能使他们发挥出最佳水平。很多时候，他们没有机会弥补错过的经历，进而成为辍学者。补救性服务对儿童来说耗时且浪费公共资金，而预防性服务能让儿童发挥其智力潜能。职业治疗师因其在身心发展方面的背景，以及在规划和实施治疗方案方面的专业知识，可为门诊儿科做出重要贡献。他们可以通过筛查存在发育迟缓问题的儿童，并将这些儿童转介进行进一步测试和评估，从而在儿科诊所的游戏室充分发挥这些技能。游戏室可以扩大其作用，提供所需服务：为婴幼儿家长提供一个以认知为导向的教育项目基地；为等待就诊的儿童及其兄弟姐妹提供娱乐活动；以及早期发现发育和/或情感问题。
