Students study most significant occupational-related disorders commonly seen by occupational therapists. A self-directed method is used to examine the perceptual, cognitive, biopsychosocial basis of these disorders. A basic overview of human body-mind systems is provided with an emphasis on pathology, the recognition of symptoms, their causes and the occupational implications of the disorders. The course is a prerequisites for courses in specific occupational therapy assessment and intervention. Neurology is required prior to taking this course.

Lab.

OT 855 Level II Fieldwork, I, online discussion is a co-requisite course that accompanies OT 854 and OT 856: Level II Fieldwork. Students respond to instructor-led discussion prompts as well as to postings of their classmates. The online discussion provides the opportunity for students to relate fieldwork experiential learning to all areas of UNH coursework including: mind-body systems, health-and-human systems of care; assessment; intervention; documentation; evidence-based practice; client-centered and occupation-centered practice; and application of research to practice. Students engage in on-going discussion about professional identity and the transition from student to professional as they describe and discuss fieldwork challenges and successes across a variety of practice settings.

Students will gain foundation knowledge of OT evaluation intervention process. Students apply the clinical reasoning process for the evaluation and treatment of children with various conditions, and across age groups. Students learn common assessment tools used by occupational therapists, and how to select and critique evaluation methods. Select cases will be used for the application of knowledge, interventions, and frames of reference used with children.