Aquatic occupational therapy for sensory processing?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know of an occupational therapist that offers water-based therapy for neurodivergent kids with sensory challenges? Looking especially near North Bethesda. We need help with a child who gets completely overwhelmed by water of any sort on their face.

[Anonymous]

Try Kids First Swim School. Pay for a 1-1

[Anonymous]

I feel like most OTs that work with kids on the spectrum can handle this. Unless you specifically want swim lessons, I would not go with a swim school or swim teacher.

My kid had MAJOR water sensitivity (it's like his only area of over sensitivity!) and I worked with an OT to understand how to set up a system to slowly get him acclimated to a shower when he was too old for me to help bathe. I think this was at around 7 years old.

For several years after that, I would still make him put on a swim suit once a week and wash his hair for him in the bath, because he would do a terrible job on his own.

He spent those years just BARELY showering nightly (but enough not to smell or be visibly dirty) then get more scrubbed on Sundays when I helped him in the bath.

Finally I think two Christmases ago, I got him these bath-bomb type things, but that go in the bottom of the shower floor. He liked those and started staying longer in the shower.

At a certain point he flipped to teen boy mode an now takes 30 minute long showers (in fact showering right now!).

Still does not love water on the face, but can handle it.