Is there an app for that? These days, applications for mobile devices do many tasks to help us simplify our lives—and our jobs. Sorting through the vast number of useful apps for occupational therapists is a big job. We’ve chosen just a few to get you started. Apps are available for a wide range of prices, or in some cases for free. But all are helpful in different aspects of patient development, including fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, sensory or self-help.
The top five apps that make life easier for occupational therapists—and their patients
Looking to improve your patient interactions? Consider the following:
- Available for Apple® and Android devices, Dexteria helps children and adults develop fine motor skills through hand exercises. Another version of the app, Dexteria Jr., helps toddlers and preschoolers get ready for handwriting through hand and finger exercises with animation, music and sound effects. Dexteria is available through the App Store (3.99) or Google Play (4.98). Dexteria Jr. is available exclusively for Apple® products (2.99).
- TapSpeak Choice. This valuable app helps occupational therapists communicate with patients who have difficulty communicating, such as those with autism or cerebral palsy. If patients speak a language other than English, the app can also translate to Italian, Danish and Russian. Through a series of object icons, users can tap items on a tablet screen to communicate. TabSpeak Choice is available through the App Store (169.99). An upgrade to the app, TapSpeak Sequence (29.99), helps users to join object icons together to form message sequences.
- Like the classic wooden game, this app lets users move a ball through a maze by tilting and shifting a tablet or smartphone. Labyrinth helps children and adults develop fine motor skills while having fun. It’s available for both Apple and Android mobile devices for 2.99. The game features 1,000 levels, so users may never run out of gaming options.
- Pocket Pond. To help patients develop their sensory skills and learn about cause and effect, there’s the Pocket Pond app. Users can “interact” with pond fish while taking in the soothing sights and sounds of the outdoors. Available as a free download, Pocket Pond is compatible with both Apple and Android
- Put It Away. To help patients build self-help skills necessary for independence, the Put It Away app teaches children how to clean up a living space. Put It Away lets the user build associations between objects in a room and the places where they should be stored. This free app is available through the App Store and is compatible with iPad.
Looking for a new app?
In addition to the above, you can find dozens of available apps that can be helpful to improve patient treatment. To find what you’re looking for, simply Google occupational therapy apps.
If you’re looking for your next occupational therapy position, contact PT Solutions.
We place travel therapists with positions across the country. To find an exciting new occupational therapy position, contact a PT Solutions recruiter today.
