By Lindsey Murphy, OTR/L As the world is constantly evolving and changing during this turbulent time due to COVID-19, many of us are trying to rapidly alter and develop new routines and practices to keep ourselves and our families as safe as possible. Masks, hand washing or sanitizing stations, and social distancing are now commonplace around…
By Lindsey Murphy, OTR/L Have you ever become so afraid of an unexpected sound that it causes your muscles to tighten and your heart rate to increase? Have you experienced intense levels of pain or sickness while simultaneously encountering teeth chattering or hiccups? Do strobe lights cause you to sneeze or your face to flush? If…
By Lindsey Murphy, OTR/L We all know someone that may startle any time that a balloon pops or a loud firework explodes. We’ve also been riding in the car with a driver that turns to look out the window, and the car veers to whichever direction they are peering into. We have friends that might bump…
By: Peggy Keller, OTR/L The word adaptation has been a part of my life since becoming an OT over 30 years ago. However, it has been in the forefront of every day since my back surgery on the 3rd of August. In my case it’s no lifting, bending, twisting. Sounds straight forward, right? Well it is amazing how…
By: Lindsey Murphy, OTR/L The Fourth of July is a wonderful holiday full of food, fireworks, and fun. However, sometimes the celebrations can become a bit of a sensory overload. In order to make this holiday enjoyable for everyone, here are some sensory-based OT tips for making it a more pleasant experience: Increased frequency/intensity of heavy work…
By: Lindsey Murphy, OTR/L Water is an essential part of our daily lives. We use water on a regular basis to brush our teeth, wash our hands, cook meals, water the lawn, and, of course, stay hydrated. The impact of water on the body is very significant yet often overlooked when attempting to address sensory…
By: Lindsey Murphy, OTR/L It cannot be a coincidence that April is both occupational therapy and Autism awareness month! Occupational therapists play a vital role in helping individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to participate in their daily activities and live their lives to the fullest. When pondering what skills are utilized throughout a person’s…
By: Lindsey Murphy, OTR/L With Daylight Savings Time quickly approaching, many of us are celebrating the extra hours of evening daylight while lamenting our loss of that extra hour of sleep. Falling asleep on Saturday evening may require some adjustments since it could be at a different hour than to which we were previously accustomed.…
By: Lindsey Murphy, OTR/L We’ve all had those mornings when our timing is less than ideal. We might oversleep, move too slowly while getting ready, spill our coffee, burn the breakfast, drive too quickly to work, and realize we’ve forgotten the lunch that we hastily packed at home. Fortunately, we are often able to remedy…
By: Lindsey Murphy, OTR/L As we remember from our own childhoods, a typical school day contains many familiar sights, scents, people, sounds, and textures. Pencil sharpeners whir in the background while a teacher speaks; pencils scrape against the paper until the bell finally rings overhead to signal the end of class. The food from the…