Infants and children who fail to thrive: implications for occupational therapy practice.
Failure to thrive is a complex medical disorder characterized by impaired growth and often accompanied by developmental delay. The etiology of failure to thrive may be an organic problem, psychosocial factors within the environment, or a combination of both. The etiology of organic failure to thrive is a medical or constitutional problem. Nonorganic failure to thrive has been associated with various psychosocial factors, including disturbances in parent-child interaction and difficult infant temperament. As a member of the interdisciplinary medical team, the occupational therapist contributes to both the diagnosis and treatment of organic and nonorganic failure to thrive.
Instructor, Occupational Therapy Division, School of Allied Medical Professions, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
B B
BB
Wavrek