What Do You Look At In An Assessment?

In an Occupational Therapy assessment, we will assess the following areas based on what caregivers have identified in the referral and client intake.

• Sensory Processing
• Emotional Regulation (managing emotions, transitions, regulation tools)
• Fine Motor Skills (coordination, strength, handwriting, typing)
• Visual-Motor and Visual Perceptual Skills
• Motor Planning and Gross Motor Skills
• Communication and Social Skills
• Activities of Daily Living (dressing, grooming, bathing, toileting)
• Play Skills
• Cognitive and Executive Functioning Skills 
• Feeding and Oral-Motor Processing (specialized area)

We assess how these areas impact function and participation in the home, school, or community environment. 

We have a two-part assessment which includes the following: 

• 50 minute in-person Clinical Observation session, where the Occupational Therapist completes a variety of activities in the clinic that assess the above-mentioned areas. The parent or caregiver will be present in the room during this session.
• 50-minute caregiver session that takes place on a different date in the clinic or virtually, where assessment results are shared, and the therapist and caregiver collaboratively decide goals and a treatment timeline.

How Often Do I Need To Be Seen?

The frequency of sessions will vary based on goals identified by the Occupational Therapist and caregiver. The frequency of visits will be discussed during the second part of the assessment. We are able to provide weekly or bi-weekly sessions. For families that have limited resources or insurance coverage, we are able to provide caregiver coaching for parents in addition to treatment for the child.

What Do Treatment Sessions Look Like?

What Conditions Do You Treat?

We work with children, teens, and adults with a variety of diagnoses and conditions. Our areas of expertise include:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
• Developmental Delays
• Down Syndrome
• Learning Disabilities
• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Feeding and Oral-Motor Challenges

 We do not require a diagnosis to support your child, as our focus is on the child’s areas of strength and need.

What Does an Occupational Therapist Work on For Your Child?

Autism

• Understanding the child or teens communication and learning approach
• Using visual schedules and visual instructions
• Emotional regulation, managing transitions, and managing meltdowns and behaviours
• Sensory processing in the home and school environment
• Cognitive skills and flexible thinking
• Play and social skills
• Activities of Daily Living to increase independence
• Fine motor and motor coordination 
• Interoception 

ADHD

• Emotional regulation
• Planning and organization skills
• Improving focus and attention
• Task initiation and task switching
• Time management skills
• Technology use

Emotional Regulation Challenges or Anxiety Disorders

• Understanding stress response
• Sensory or movement-based strategies to support regulation
• Growth mindset and flexible thinking skills
• Anger management  
• Environmental changes in the home or school

Sensory Processing Difficulties

• Auditory processing and sensitivity
• Touch processing and sensitivity 
• Vestibular processing and sensitivity 
• Proprioception
• Understand and reduce stress response to sensory input
• Managing sensory needs in different environments

Fine Motor Difficulties

• Fine motor coordination
• Visual-motor skills
• Bilateral coordination
• Hand and upper-extremity strength 
• Handwriting 
• Letter formation, sizing, and legibility 
• Typing 

Social and Play Skills

• Flexible thinking 
• Social problem-solving
• Understanding and following group expectations 
• Perspective-taking 
• Conflict resolution with peers
• Developing and maintaining friendships

Gross Motor Skills

• Motor planning
• Bilateral coordination and integration
• Upper-lower body coordination
• Postural control
• Balance and vestibular processing
• Sensory Processing

Feeding