The Evaluation Process & Your Child: Top OT Evaluation Questions Answered (Part 2)
Welcome back to the Koi Wellness blog! I’m Aya Porté, your occupational therapist (OT). In this second installment of our series, I’ll be addressing more of the top questions I receive from parents and guardians regarding their child's OT evaluation journey. As an OT, I believe in empowering parents and children alike by providing clear, thorough, and supportive information.
Let's explore some of the most frequently asked questions and insights to help you feel more confident and prepared.
Q: How can I support my child during the evaluation process?
A: Supporting your child during the OT evaluation process begins with preparation. Explain to your child in age-appropriate language what the evaluation entails and reassure them that it's designed to help them. I always offer a free introductory phone call to discuss the evaluation with parents and provide language they can use when talking to their children about the process.
Providing relevant information about your child's medical history, developmental milestones, and specific concerns beforehand is crucial for a comprehensive evaluation. During the evaluation, parents are invited to stay in the same room unless the child prefers otherwise. Your presence can provide reassurance and comfort, helping your child feel more at ease.
Encouragement and praise throughout the evaluation can boost your child’s confidence. While I have specific objectives to accomplish during the evaluation, it's vital to proceed at your child’s pace and comfort level. Some children are eager and find the assessment activities fun, while others may need more emotional and physical support. I always communicate this approach to parents and adjust the evaluation accordingly, starting with low-stakes, preferred activities to ease any discomfort.
Q: What do you assess in an evaluation?
A: Great question! The evaluation process has two main components: clinical observations and standardized/non-standardized assessments. Clinical observations allow me to directly observe how a child performs and identify what may be impacting their performance in everyday tasks.
Clinical Observations: Ocular Motor Skills
Ocular motor skills refer to the ability to control eye movements effectively. This isn't about visual acuity (how well a child can see) but rather how their eyes move and work together. Proper eye movement is foundational for play, sports, and academic skills like reading. These skills typically fully develop by the age of five or six. Issues with ocular motor skills can significantly impact a child's ability to perform various tasks.
Primitive Reflexes
Primitive reflexes, or primary movement patterns, are automatic movements originating from the brainstem that support growth, development, and safety. These reflexes develop in utero and typically integrate by the age of five. When these reflexes fail to integrate, they can disrupt learning, emotional regulation, concentration, and attention.
Postural Control and Core Strength
Postural control refers to maintaining balance and stability while standing, sitting, or moving. Core strength involves the muscles in the abdomen, lower back, and pelvis that support the spine and body stability. Both are crucial for foundational skills like sitting upright, maintaining balance, and achieving motor milestones. Issues with postural control and core strength can directly impact a child's learning and physical development.
Standardized and Non-Standardized Assessments
Standardized assessments provide objective, measurable data points that support the evaluation process. Here are some assessments I commonly use:
Sensory Profile 2 (SP2)
The Sensory Profile 2 assesses how individuals process sensory information, helping to understand their sensory preferences, sensitivities, and how these affect daily activities. It can be administered from birth to 14 years 11 months, with an adolescent and adult form for those aged 15 and up.
Sensory Processing Measure 2 (SPM2)
The Sensory Processing Measure 2 evaluates how children process sensory information and how it impacts their daily behaviors and functional abilities. It can be administered from 4 months to 87 years old.
Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, edition 3 (The BOT-3)
The BOT-3 measures motor skills in individuals aged 4 to 21 years, evaluating both fine and gross motor abilities.
Beery Visual Motor Integration Test (Beery VMI)
The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration assesses how well individuals integrate visual and motor skills, such as drawing and copying shapes, to gauge developmental progress. It has a short form for children ages 2 to 7 and a full form for ages 2 to 100.
The Screener of Handwriting Proficiency
This tool quickly assesses a person's handwriting skills, identifying strengths and areas needing improvement in memory, orientation, placement, and sentence writing.
The Print Tool Measure
The Print Tool Measure evaluates the quality and efficiency of a person's printing skills, commonly used in educational settings to monitor handwriting development. It measures six basic handwriting skill areas: memory, orientation, placement, size, start, and sequence.
Conclusion
Knowledge is power, and asking questions is a key way to learn, grow, and empower ourselves and our families. My goal is to clarify and demystify the evaluation process, occupational therapy, and strategic ways to support your child. It's equally important for parents and families to feel confident working with me, knowing they are supported and actively involved in their child's therapy journey.
I will be teaching two courses in Japanese this fall. If you are interested, I invite you to join me and further empower your practice and approach. The courses will be an Introduction to DIR and Promoting Basic Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities.
Thanks for reading all the way through! Be sure to visit our website for more resources, articles, and updates, and don't forget to connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook for even more insights and inspiration.
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Warmly,
Aya Porté
Founder, Koi Wellness