Weighted Vests and Compression Garments: These help with sensory integration and calming, offering deep pressure stimulation that can reduce anxiety and promote emotional regulation.
Sensory-Friendly Footwear: Orthotic shoes or inserts designed to provide comfort, stability, and accommodate sensory sensitivities, making walking or standing more manageable.
Postural and Structural Support
Posture-Correcting Orthotics: Devices designed to assist in maintaining proper posture, which can be beneficial for children with low muscle tone or issues with body awareness.
Seating and Positioning Aids: Orthotics such as customized seating cushions or back supports help children with ASD maintain good posture during therapy or educational activities.
Motor Planning and Coordination
Orthotics for Hand and Wrist: Devices that improve fine motor skills and support hand function, which is crucial for activities like writing, eating, or self-care tasks.
Ankle-Foot Orthotics (AFOs): Support for children with gait issues, improving their walking pattern and overall movement, which is especially important for motor planning difficulties.
Behavioral and Emotional Supports
Vestibular Stimulation Devices: Prosthetics or orthotic devices that provide gentle movement to stimulate vestibular input, assisting with emotional regulation and improving attention during tasks.
Proprioceptive Feedback Devices: Certain orthotics provide constant proprioceptive feedback, helping the child become more aware of their body in space, which can improve motor coordination and comfort.
Enhancing Functional Independence
Adaptive Equipment for Daily Activities: This includes orthotic tools for dressing, feeding, or bathroom routines, helping children achieve more independence in activities of daily living (ADLs).
Collaboration with Other Therapies
Integration with Occupational Therapy (OT): Orthotics are often integrated into OT sessions to address both physical and sensory issues, supporting comprehensive therapeutic approaches.
Speech Therapy Support: Certain mouth or facial prosthetics can assist in speech therapy by providing support for muscle control, improving articulation and oral motor skills.
