The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to AI in Pediatric Occupational Therapy in 2025

Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) plays a vital role in helping children build the skills they need to thrive in daily life—whether that’s handwriting, self-care routines, or developing fine motor and sensory skills. Traditionally, this work has required therapists to juggle not only direct care but also a heavy load of documentation, assessments, and communication with parents and schools.

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to reshape this field. For beginners curious about how AI fits into pediatric OT, here’s an accessible guide to what’s happening, what’s possible, and what to keep in mind.

What is AI in Pediatric Occupational Therapy?

At its core, AI in occupational therapy refers to using machine learning, natural language processing, and automation tools to support the work of therapists. It doesn’t replace the therapist’s expertise or human connection. Instead, it functions more like an assistant, handling repetitive tasks, analyzing data, and making processes more efficient so therapists can spend more time with children.

Examples include:

• AI-powered documentation tools that transcribe therapy sessions and auto-generate SOAP or progress notes.
• Assessment software that quickly analyzes test results or behavioral data to highlight developmental concerns.
• Personalized therapy plans created by algorithms that adapt activities to a child’s specific progress and needs.

How AI Supports Pediatric Occupational Therapists and Children

1. Reducing Administrative Burden
   One of the biggest challenges pediatric OTs face is paperwork. Research shows therapists often spend nearly as much time documenting as they do in direct therapy. AI tools can cut that time significantly by automating note-taking, scheduling, and report generation.
2. Enhancing Assessments
   AI can sift through large sets of developmental data—speech samples, handwriting analysis, motor tracking—and provide insights much faster than manual scoring. This helps therapists spot subtle patterns earlier, allowing for quicker intervention.
3. Personalizing Care
   No two children progress at the same pace. AI can track how a child responds to different activities over time and suggest tailored adjustments, such as increasing sensory-based play or focusing more on self-care routines.
4. Strengthening Communication
   AI platforms often come with dashboards or parent portals that translate clinical notes into family-friendly updates. Parents can see progress in real time, making it easier to support practice at home.

Practical Examples

• Speech-to-Text Tools: Therapists can dictate notes during or after a session, and AI organizes them into structured clinical formats.
• Gamified Therapy Apps: Some AI-driven programs turn therapy tasks into interactive games, keeping children motivated while also collecting useful performance data.
• Early Screening Tools: AI questionnaires and image-recognition apps can help flag developmental red flags before a child formally enters Pediatric Occupational Therapy.

Things to Keep in Mind

While AI offers exciting opportunities, it’s important to approach it thoughtfully:

• Privacy and Security: Children’s health data must be stored securely and comply with healthcare regulations.
• Accuracy: AI tools are only as good as the data they are trained on. Therapists should always verify AI-generated recommendations.
• Human Connection Matters: No algorithm can replace the empathy, creativity, and clinical judgment that pediatric OTs bring to each child’s journey. AI should be seen as a helper, not a replacement.

Looking Ahead

AI is still in the early stages of adoption in pediatric occupational therapy, but the trajectory is clear. By reducing paperwork, enhancing assessments, and supporting individualized care, AI has the potential to free therapists from administrative burdens and give them more time to do what they do best to help children grow, adapt, and succeed.

For clinics and families just beginning to explore these tools, the key is to start small, stay informed, and remember that AI works best when paired with the irreplaceable human touch of a skilled occupational therapist.