ADLs

activities of daily living

ADLs

IADLs

Activities of daily living, or "ADLs," are the tasks that fill our everyday lives - ones that give us a sense of independence and fulfillment. ADLs include:

Dressing
Bathing
Grooming and Hygiene
Eating and Feeding
Sleep and Rest
Functional Mobility

Instrumental activities of daily living, or "IADLs," are a higher-level ADL skills that allow not only for one to care for themselves, but to live independently. IADLs include but are not limited to:

Community mobility
Caring for others or pets
Food and meal preparation
Home management skills
Shopping and managing finances

These activities encompass a complex variety of skills. As occupational therapists, we are able to address skill development in these areas by offering a variety of approaches tailored to suit your child's individual needs. Let's take a look at a few ADLs and what skills an occupational therapist may address.

Feeding & Eating

Some skills required include:

Grasping skills (utensil use)
Fine motor skills (package and object manipulation)
Sensory processing skills (accepting a variety of textures, smells, sights and tastes)
Body awareness skills (bringing the food or utensil toward the mouth)
Oral motor skills (being able to break down a variety of foods, having adequate lip closure)

Some skills required include:

Grasping skills (utensil use)
Fine motor skills (package and object manipulation)
Sensory processing skills (accepting a variety of textures, smells, sights and tastes)
Body awareness skills (bringing the food or utensil toward the mouth)
Oral motor skills (being able to break down a variety of foods, having adequate lip closure)

Dressing

Some skills required include:

Sequencing skills (socks on first, then shoes)
Sensory processing skills (tolerating a variety of tactile input)
Body awareness skills (finding the sleeve holes in our shirt)
Fine motor skills (buttons and zippers)

Functional Mobility

While mobility for children may vary, some skills required may include:

Core strength
Upper extremity strength
Gross motor coordination
Balance and vestibular processing
Body and environmental awareness
Visual perceptual and processing skills

Bathing

Some skills required include:

Fine motor skills (opening/closing the shampoo or conditioner)
Sensory processing skills (tolerating the head being tilted back, tolerating the temperature of the water and feel of the towel and soap)
Sequencing skills (first shampooing, then rinsing)

By addressing these skills, we can provide our kids with a stronger sense of independence when completing self-care and life-skills activities.