Evaluating the need for occupational therapy in children begins with determining the child's current performance. Occupational therapy evaluation continues with determining the child's roles at school, at home and in the environment. At the beginning of the evaluation, the Occupational Therapist generally begins by observing the child's Motor Performance, that is, his reactions to external influences while playing. During the game, the Occupational Therapist evaluates Postural Control, Balance Reactions, Fine Motor Skills as Hand Skills, Grasping, Reaching, Bilateral Coordination and motor planning.
In Cognitive Evaluation, the child's problem solving skills, skills of storing and using information, communication skills and Socio-Emotional skills. developmental skills are evaluated.
While the child is evaluated by the Occupational Therapist, the family's concerns, priorities, cultural background and family-child interaction in the home environment are also evaluated.
Another point to be considered in children is Sensory Evaluation. The child's ability to respond appropriately to his or her environment begins with perceiving the sensory stimulus. Increased or incomplete response to sensory stimuli necessitates occupational therapists to make sensory interventions. While performing the Sensory Evaluation of the child, the occupational therapist first performs some tests to understand the Sensory Profile. After making an evaluation, he/she applies Sensory Integration Therapy when necessary.
Sensory Integration Therapy is not limited to the interventions performed in the Occupational Therapy center.
The occupational therapist sometimes gives some suggestions to families that they can apply at home.
Determining and evaluating the need for occupational therapy in children takes at least three sessions to determine the child's performance. At the end of the evaluation, the family is also informed about the process.
Occupational therapists exchange information with other team members when they deem it appropriate and make changes accordingly in the therapy process.
Occupational therapists generally treat Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyslexia. He thinks that there is a need for Occupational Therapy in children with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Problems, Sensory Integration Disorder and Developmental Delays, and that Occupational Therapy intervention should be provided in children with these diagnoses.
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