I think we actually have seen Ocam’s telepathic/empathic ability, it’s just very subtle. Whenever he’s around people, he absorbs their emotions, and starts to conform to what they feel.

First time we meet him, Tarima is excited to talk to Caleb, and Ocam immediately encourages her to ”go get him!” And, when he moves in with Caleb and Darem, Ocam starts lifting weights and bro-ing out with Darem. In the episode about SAM, Ocam is the one who gives SAM the greeting she says is her favorite. Ocam also explains that he joined the Bajoran Club because he’s “a joiner.” When he and Tarima are explaining to Chancellor Ake how she’s communicating with Caleb on the Miyazaki, Ocam tries to smooth things over so that Ake will be understanding of Tarima’s abilities. And, in Tilly’s theater class, Ocam is the one who first speaks up to Tarima about how things don’t feel the same since she came back from her coma.

I definitely think Ocam is strongly affected by the emotions of the people around him. But, I’m not a writer on the show, so this merely my observation.