The Role of Occupational Therapy for Turner Syndrome

Occupational therapy is often a helpful intervention for girls with Turner syndrome (TS) who need assistance learning to complete functional tasks in daily life. In this blog, learn what occupational therapy is, how it may be helpful for a girl with TS, and how it can be accessed.

What is Occupational Therapy?

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapy “uses everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being, and your ability to participate in the important activities in your life.” (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], n.d.).

Essentially, this means that occupational therapy helps people do things they need and want to do. This can include recommendations for adaptive equipment, teaching techniques for activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, etc.), training for family and caregivers, and teaching strategies to help with cognitive tasks (AOTA, n.d.).

Occupational therapists work with people all across the lifespan, and work in a wide variety of locations, including schools, homes, clinics, and healthcare settings (AOTA, n.d.).

The process of occupational therapy begins with an evaluation. The occupational therapist will develop what is called an occupational profile, including a wide variety of information about the client and their current level of functioning. Based on this occupational profile, a personalized treatment plan, including goals, is developed. Progress is measured regularly to see whether goals are being met (AOTA, n.d.).

What Challenges Can Occupational Therapy Help With in Turner Syndrome?

Occupational therapy can help with a variety of the challenges associated with Turner syndrome. Feeding challenges can be common in young children with Turner syndrome, and an occupational therapist with training and experience in feeding therapy can help (AOTA, 2020; Gravholt et al., 2024). Fine motor skills and visual-spatial skills can also be challenging for individuals with Turner syndrome, and occupational therapy can help with this (AOTA, 2020; Gravholt et al., 2024).

In school-aged children and adolescents with Turner syndrome, neuropsychological concerns can become more prevalent, including an increased risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), difficulties with social skills, difficulty with executive functioning, and increased rates of anxiety and depression (Gravholt et al., 2024). Occupational therapists, alongside other providers, can provide interventions to help with these concerns (AOTA, 2020). In summary, occupational therapists can help with a variety of the challenges faced by the Turner syndrome population.

Why I Chose Occupational Therapy

I am in an occupational therapy Doctorate program at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona, which I am scheduled to complete in June 2026, so I wanted to share why I decided to pursue this field.

I first heard about occupational therapy when I was in high school. My original plan was to become a teacher, and I was volunteering in a special education preschool class. The teacher told me about occupational therapy, which I had not heard of, so I researched it later that day. I decided that this was the career for me.

I then researched how to become an occupational therapist and found that I would need a Bachelor’s degree, followed by either a Master’s or Doctorate. I got my Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. I chose to become an occupational therapist because I want to help people live their best lives possible. I want to help people overcome challenges and achieve their goals. As an occupational therapist, I will be able to do this.

Sources

American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA]. (2020). Occupational therapy practice framework: Domain and process. (4th ed.). American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(Suppl. 2).

American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA]. (n.d.). What is occupational therapy?

Center for Parent Information & Resources. (n.d.). Overview of early intervention.

Gravholt, C. H., Andersen, N. H., Christin-Maitre, S., Davis, S. M., Duijnhouwer, A., Gawlik, A., Maciel-Guerra, A. T., Gutmark-Little, I., Fleischer, K., Hong, D., Klein, K. O., Prakash, S. K., Shankar, R. K., Sandberg, D. E., Sas, T. C., Skakkebæk, A., Stochholm, K., van der Velden, J. A., Alvarez-Nava, F., … Backeljauw, P. F. (2024). Clinical practice guidelines for the care of girls and women with Turner Syndrome. European Journal of Endocrinology, 190(6).

Lyon, S. (2025a). Occupational Therapy in Schools (Guide + Directory). OT Potential.

Lyon, S. (2025b). Outpatient OT (Guide & Directory). OT Potential.