Date of Award
Spring 5-5-2025
Document Type
Oral Presentation/Poster
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Health Science
Faculty Mentor
Moses Ikiugu
Keywords
occupational therapy, pediatrics, deaf, hard of hearing, program development, clinical experience
Subject Categories
Occupational Therapy
Abstract
This capstone project aimed to develop clinical skills and implement an occupation-based program for Deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) children at Metro Deaf School in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Guided by the Dynamic Family Systems Model, Lifespan Development, and Sensory Integration Theory, the project emphasized holistic, family-centered care, skill development, environmental modifications, and promotion of regulation and participation. Clinical skill development was assessed using the Theory Application Assessment Instrument (TAAI) and a site mentor survey. An 8-point improvement from pretest to posttest on the TAAI indicated enhanced theory use skills, and the mentor survey reflected high satisfaction. The program included a five-week parent and six-week child group focused on sensory, play, and environmental modifications. Effectiveness of modifications was assessed using the Test of Environmental Supportiveness (TOES), which showed notable improvements for space configuration, accessibility, and safety. A play tracking document showed a slight but not statistically significant increase in play engagement, likely due to the small sample size. The parent group demonstrated significant improvements in caregiver knowledge, with statistically significant results in weeks four and five (p< .05). Overall program satisfaction was rated highly from both parents and the site mentor. Limitations of this project included a small sample size and potential bias in self-assessment tools. Recommendations include continuing programming, maintaining environmental modifications, and emphasizing theory integration in clinical practice. This project contributes to the evidence supporting the role of occupational therapy for the D/HH population.
Keywords: occupational therapy, Deaf, hard-of-hearing, program development, clinical practice, pediatric, sensory integration, environmental modification, school-based
Recommended Citation
Patrow, Sydney and Ikiugu, Moses, "Silent Sparks: Gaining Clinical Experience to Implement an Occupation-Based Program in a Birth-3 Group with Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Children" (2025). Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations. 160.
https://red.library.usd.edu/ot-capstone/160