What is an occupational therapy screening?
An occupational therapist looks at fine motor skills, upper body strength, muscle tone, and eye hand coordination. These foundational skills lay the groundwork for many school related activities such as: handwriting, reading, sports, and self help tasks. Occupational therapists also look at the sensory system and how it affects attention, self regulation, behavior, and motor skills.
The purpose of the screening is to identify areas of concern that may require further evaluation. A screening is basically a “snapshot” of a child’s abilities and takes about 10-15 minutes. The therapist will broadly and informally look for age appropriate skills based on a checklist completed by the caregiver and observation. If an evaluation is not found to be necessary, the therapist will provide you with a copy of the form along with suggestions to address the areas of concern. On occasion, a therapist may recommend the screening be repeated in the future.
Why should my child receive a screening?
A screening promotes early identification of areas of concern. Research shows that early identification is a key factor in facilitating the strong acquisition of developmental skills. High quality early intervention services can change a child’s developmental trajectory.
Positive early experiences provide the foundation for later success in school, the workplace, and communities. Studies have shown that young children with developmental delays or at risk that receive services have positive impacts on outcomes across multiple developmental domains.1
How can my child receive a free occupational therapy screening?
If you have received a screening form from your child’s school simply fill it out and return to school. If you would like a screening form, please contact us and we will be happy to provide you one.
My child received a screening and the therapist recommended an evaluation. What should I do next?
If an evaluation is recommended, this means that further testing is needed to identify areas of need and whether services are needed. An evaluation is a more focused look at your child’s abilities and developmental history. It usually lasts about an hour. Contact our office if you are interested in pursuing a full occupational therapy evaluation. We will schedule a time at your convenience to come to your home or child’s school to complete the evaluation. The therapist will consider scores from standardized testing, observation, medication history, and parent/teacher concerns to determine areas of need and interventions. The report will be returned to you within 10 days. Contact us if you have any further questions at (239) 216-6080.
*please note that a screening is never a replacement for a full evaluation. A full evaluation is required in order to initiate services.
References
1.The Importance of Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and their Families. https://ectacenter.org/~pdfs/pubs/importanceofearlyintervention.pdf
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