Whether your child has been referred to Occupational Therapy (OT) by their pediatrician or your wondering if treatment would be beneficial, we welcome you and want you to know a few things about our OT evaluation process.
What is within the scope of Occupational Therapy?
As pediatric occupational therapists, we are concerned about your child’s ability to participate in daily activities. These include things like self care skills, classroom work, social interaction with peers, and play. It is our goal to increase their ability to accomplish these daily activities.
What happens in an Occupational Therapy Evaluation?
To complete an evaluation we conduct an interview, complete standardized and nonstandardized tests, and make clinical observations. Prior to scheduling, we require our Intake Form be completed. This form includes infromation about the child’s medical history, birth and development, and areas of concern. Families will also complete the Sensory Profile to give us a better understanding of your child’s reactions to all types of sensory experiences they may encounter daily.
During the evaluation we will look at your child’s abilities in the following areas:
- Fine motor (small movements of hands)
- Handwriting skills
- Gross motor (large movements of the body including balance and coordination)
- Motor planning (the ability to conceive, plan, and carry out movements)
- Self care (bathing, dressing, feeding, grooming, toilet use)
- Executive functioning (attention, organization, mental flexibility, self regulation)
- Sensory processing (how the brain interprets, organizes, and uses sensory information)
What comes next?
Following the evaluation, we create a full report including our findings, along with a plan of care for future visits if additional treatment is recommended. We will present and discuss the results of the evaluation with you during your first treatment visit and answer any questions you may have.
We look forward to meeting with you and your child soon to help your family grow and flourish!