Assessments- what to expect

Your child’s first occupational therapy appointment will be an evaluation.

The evaluation will usually include a standardized test, observation through play, medical history information, and/or a parent report. Before your child’s evaluation, you will be given a series of documents to complete. We also recommend bringing a list of questions/concerns with you. At least one caregiver needs to be in the room with your child and the therapist during the evaluation. It is preferred that siblings aren’t present during the evaluation. The occupational therapy evaluation can take up to an hour.

What to expect during the occupational therapy evaluation:

The therapist will first ask you to discuss your child’s history and your concerns. The therapist will also ask you to provide information about the following regarding your child:

- gross and fine motor skills (writing/pre-writing, coloring, walking, balance)

- sensory processing skills (how they react to movement, touch, sound, different tastes/textures, etc.)

- performance of daily activities (grooming, toothbrushing, feeding with fork/spoon, bathing, dressing)

- emotional regulation

- social skills

- play skills

The therapist may also ask you to fill out a questionnaire to gather information about your child’s sensory processing - how your child reacts to sights, sound, smell, touch, taste, movement, and changes in body position.

Then, the therapist will administer standardized assessments designed to evaluate your child’s fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, strength, and visual perceptual skills. The evaluation will help us to determine your child’s strengths and weaknesses.

The therapist will discuss goals to incorporate into your child’s treatment plan. These goals may target a variety of skills/areas, including but not limited to: self-care skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, sensory processing skills, and social skills.

You will be able to view the written evaluation and plan of care once the therapist has written and signed it (typically within a week). You will be called to schedule your child’s treatment sessions once we have received insurance authorization (if applicable).