Hey Reader!
Welcome back to the Koi Wellness newsletter! In this second installment of our series, I’ll be addressing more of the top questions I receive from parents and guardians about their child's OT evaluation journey. My goal is to empower parents and children by providing clear, thorough, and supportive information.
How Can I Support My Child During the Evaluation Process?
Preparing your child is key. Explain the evaluation in age-appropriate language and reassure them it's designed to help. I offer a free introductory phone call for parents to discuss the process and provide guidance on how to talk to their child.
To read the full article with more insights:
What Do You Assess in an Evaluation?
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
These skills involve controlling eye movements, essential for play, sports, and reading development by age five or six. Issues here can impact a child's task performance.
Primitive Reflexes
Automatic movements supporting growth and safety, typically integrated by age five. Unintegrated reflexes may disrupt learning and concentration.
Postural Control and Core Strength
Crucial for maintaining balance and achieving motor milestones, impacting 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): Assesses sensory processing from birth to 14 years 11 months.
Sensory Processing Measure 2 (SPM2): Evaluates sensory processing from 4 months to 87 years old.
Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, edition 3 (The BOT-3): Measures motor skills in individuals aged 4 to 21 years.
Beery Visual Motor Integration Test (Beery VMI): Assesses visual-motor integration from ages 2 to 100.
The Screener of Handwriting Proficiency: Quickly assesses handwriting skills.
The Print Tool Measure: Evaluates the quality and efficiency of printing skills.
Special Broadcast 🗣️: I'll be away from August 23rd to September 5th, but our newsletters will still reach you!
Let's Stay in Touch!
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! 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.
If you found this information helpful, please share the newsletter with others who might benefit from our resources and tips. Share this llink here to help us grow our community and support other parents and caregivers!
Warmly,
Aya Porté
Occupational Therapist & Founder, Koi Wellness
