AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS AND
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS PREMIUM REVIEW
MATERIAL
●● What is motor skills development?
Answer: -Therapy addresses both fine motor skills (e.g., handwriting or
using cutlery) and gross motor coordination (e.g., balance and
navigating obstacle courses)
●● How does OT help with cognitive and executive functioning?
Answer: -To help with transitions and planning, OTs use visual
schedules and structured routines to support attention and problem-
solving.
●● How does OT help with social awkwardness/difficulty?
Answer: -Therapy encourages engagement in social interactions and
play, helping children navigate various social contexts.
●● What is the supporting evidence for use of OT in treating those with
ASD?
, Answer: -AO1: Occupational therapy is a holistic healthcare profession
that supports children with ASD by helping them develop skills needed
for daily life. Rather than trying to change who the individual is, OT
focuses on enhancing independence, functional skills, and overall
quality of life.
-Jaiks (2024) - studied 40 children aged three to nine years, diagnosed
with ASD were assessed across a range of skill areas before they
completed 10 sessions of occupational therapy. It was found to improve
a range of skills including sensory skills, language skills, and social and
self-care skills.
●● What is the conflicting evidence for use of OT in treating those with
ASD?
Answer: -Jaiks' study - may be difficult to objectively understand how
the children improved over time (10 sessions). Raises questions about
how long lasting the effects are and if it teaches the children sufficient
strategies. → and only ages 3-9 years, so not showing evidence in the
long term.
-Each OT programme might vary between children as it is based upon
specific strengths and challenges so harder to reliably compare studies
using different techniques (lack of standardisation)
●● How does OT improve on outdated therapies for ASD such as
Applied Behavioural Analysis based on the principles of operant
conditioning?
Answer: -AO1:Applied Behavioural Analysis provides an alternative
treatment for ASD by using the principles of operant conditioning to
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS PREMIUM REVIEW
MATERIAL
●● What is motor skills development?
Answer: -Therapy addresses both fine motor skills (e.g., handwriting or
using cutlery) and gross motor coordination (e.g., balance and
navigating obstacle courses)
●● How does OT help with cognitive and executive functioning?
Answer: -To help with transitions and planning, OTs use visual
schedules and structured routines to support attention and problem-
solving.
●● How does OT help with social awkwardness/difficulty?
Answer: -Therapy encourages engagement in social interactions and
play, helping children navigate various social contexts.
●● What is the supporting evidence for use of OT in treating those with
ASD?
, Answer: -AO1: Occupational therapy is a holistic healthcare profession
that supports children with ASD by helping them develop skills needed
for daily life. Rather than trying to change who the individual is, OT
focuses on enhancing independence, functional skills, and overall
quality of life.
-Jaiks (2024) - studied 40 children aged three to nine years, diagnosed
with ASD were assessed across a range of skill areas before they
completed 10 sessions of occupational therapy. It was found to improve
a range of skills including sensory skills, language skills, and social and
self-care skills.
●● What is the conflicting evidence for use of OT in treating those with
ASD?
Answer: -Jaiks' study - may be difficult to objectively understand how
the children improved over time (10 sessions). Raises questions about
how long lasting the effects are and if it teaches the children sufficient
strategies. → and only ages 3-9 years, so not showing evidence in the
long term.
-Each OT programme might vary between children as it is based upon
specific strengths and challenges so harder to reliably compare studies
using different techniques (lack of standardisation)
●● How does OT improve on outdated therapies for ASD such as
Applied Behavioural Analysis based on the principles of operant
conditioning?
Answer: -AO1:Applied Behavioural Analysis provides an alternative
treatment for ASD by using the principles of operant conditioning to
