The Evaluation of the Need of Occupational Therapy in Preschool Education Institutions

The aim of the Thesis is to evaluate the need of occupational therapy in preschool education institutions. Goals: 1. Evaluating fine motor functions of the preschool children; 2. Evaluating independence skills of the preschool children; 3. Assessing sensorimotor functions of the preschool children; 4. Assessing the fine motor of the preschool children after occupational therapy.50 preschool children aged 3-4 participated in the study. The study involves children without significant development disorders. Sensorimotor functions were assessed based on The Questionnaire of the Sensorimotor Functions filled in by the children’s parents. Fine motor and independence skills were estimated according to Munich functional development diagnostics test.Results. After the evaluation of 50 preschool children’s fine motor and independence skills, it was determined that 54 % (27) of the study participants’ fine motor development is behind the norms of their biological age. The assessment of the preschool children’s reactions towards sensory stimulation revealed that difficulties may be identified in all of the areas. It was determined that 32 % (16) of the participants have tactile perception disorder, 24 % (12) of them react to vestibular stimulation inadequately, and the reaction to vestibular stimulation is too weak among 36 % (18) of the study participants. After the estimation of the preschool children’s level of activeness (self-regulation) the findings revealed that 32 % (16) of the children are too active. 30 % (15) of the preschool children have got emotional and social development disorders. 15 preschool children who have fine motor skills disorder (retardation) were involved in the occupational therapy. The results were compared to the control group (12). After the occupational therapy the average fine motor skills age of the intervention group increased to 3.21 months. Statistically reliable difference between the intervention group and the control group (p < 0.05) was identified after the revaluation. Conclusions. 1. The preschool children have got fine motor disorders: 27 (54 %) children’s fine motor development appears behind their biological age. 2. Independence skills development of 20 (40 %) preschool children, who participated in the study, contravene their biological age. 3. The preschool children have got sensorimotor functional disorders. It was determined that 19 (38 %) out of 50 preschool children participating in the study may have sensorimotor development disorders. The most threatening is the inadequate response to vestibular stimuli. 36 % (18) of the preschool children’s reaction to vestibular stimulation was too weak, and 46 % (23) of the participants reacted too strong. 4. Occupational therapy intervention improved the children’s fine motor skills. 53 % (8) of the preschool children’s, who were involved in the occupational therapy, fine motor skills are greater comparing with their average age. 26 % (4) of the participants of the study fine motor skills achieved their age level. Overall age medium increased from 35.5 to 38.7 months