Matrix Occupational Therapy Service

24/12/2025

Merry Christmas to all the families and professional colleagues I have worked with during 2025.
Best wishes for 2026!

19/12/2025

Loving this idea!

03/12/2025

Getting the train in to Liverpool Kidz up North event.
Reminds me of my old OT college journey to Huyton back in 1981-84!

27/10/2025

Happy World Occupational Therapy Day!

21/10/2025

14/10/2025

Interesting outcome…

As pediatric therapists, we often recommend how many sessions of therapy to provide. Do you ever stop to consider what is the most effective frequency for motor skill groups?

Here is a small but relevant study regarding the effectiveness of two group programs on visual-motor integration, motor proficiency, gross-motor skills, and parental perception of motor difficulties in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD).

13/10/2025

NEUROLOGICAL THRESHOLDS!

“the nervous system’s responsiveness to stimuli”

How does a child respond to the world around them? Sights? Sounds? Touch? Smells? Movement? Body position? Taste?

A low threshold means that a low amount or intensity of stimuli is needed as the nervous system is easily activated for awareness and response. A child is described as hyperresponsive.

A high threshold means more intense stimuli is needed before the nervous system responds. A child is described as hyporesponsive.

Sensitization is the process that enhances the awareness of important stimuli, screening anticipated harm or danger in the environment while engaged in play or learning. We need to be able to respond quickly to risky situations that could hurt us.

Habituation is the process of recognising familiar stimuli that does not require further attention, allowing focused attention of the task at hand without becoming distracted, agitated or inattentive. There is comfort and security found in familiar sights, sounds, people, routines, textures, schedules and expectations that reassure us.

Modulation is the balance of activation needed so that a child can be alert to selected information while screening out other stimuli in order for functional participation in everyday life. The child selects the appropriate responses to environmental cues.

The children we see for occupational therapy may have difficulty processing sensory information … eg. alert to sensory information that interferes with tasks, unaware of sensory information, perceives something as dangerous when it isn’t, can’t get enough sensory information.

I’m sharing more about sensory processing and sensory based activities this month on so make sure you take a look. In the meantime, don’t forget to grab your FREE ticket to the Sensory Summit Online Conference (Oct 27-29). Let me know if you want a link! 🔗

13/10/2025

https://www.kidzexhibitions.co.uk/kidz-north/

Weds 3rd December 2025

Exhibition Centre Liverpool,
Kings Dock,
L3 4FP.

19/09/2025

19/09/2025

New research re VMI.

Read more about what the research says about visual motor integration and academics. It plays an important role in math and reading!

19/09/2025

https://neurosciencenews.com/autism-microbiome-behavior-29699/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR7usFo_sKpt2-ir9ffX_C4Pdx3J0leKqklx7KZeo28XQDEGJZkZ5u9qsb7Ymg_aem_jhhTiSJ-hV5Xqlns1aTWRA

A long-term study tracking 475 children found that autistic children are far more likely to experience persistent gastrointestinal issues than their peers.

13/09/2025

Occupational therapists are doing their best to fill in the gaps felt by the collapse of NRS Healthcare, but the real-world consequences are affecting people's lives and wellbeing, says UK Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Joe Brunwin.

Read his blog about the lessons he's been learning from members 👉🏼 https://loom.ly/FAZwhdQ