Why We do Evaluations for Occupational Therapy
At Valued Voices, obtaining a holistic picture of your child’s functioning is central to developing an accurate treatment plan. As therapists, we rely on standardized measures, parent interviews, teacher interviews (if applicable), clinical observations, and more to ensure the impressions we gather of your child are as complete as possible. Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about this process!
Initial Assessments:
1. What are standardized assessments?
Standardized assessments are specific tests that clinicians use to measure strengths and areas of challenge for individuals. They provide results that are compared to normative data for your child’s age group.
2. How do you pick which assessments to use?
We pick which assessments to use based on your child’s age and potential areas of concern, as well as any behavioral needs as well. For more information please check out our FAQs page.
3. What if my child doesn’t perform well on the day of testing?
That’s okay! We want to obtain a holistic picture of your child’s needs. If your child is having an “off day” we will take that into account when writing up the report. Additionally, we don’t base our interpretations on one test or subtest. We use lots of measures to ensure the results are as accurate as possible.
4. Are there different types of initial evaluations?
Yes! At Valued Voices we offer two types of initial evaluations- a Standard Evaluation and a Comprehensive Evaluation. The standard evaluation includes standardized questionnaires, clinical observations, and parent interviews. The comprehensive evaluation is conducted over a longer session and involves specific fine motor testing as well.
5. How does this differ from my child’s IEP?
Your child’s IEP is a legal document in which it is determined if your child qualifies for school based services. Occupational therapy is not something that is always assessed as part of the IEP, and even when it is, we use different assessment tools to determine who qualifies for OT. Check out the differences between school based OT and clinic based OT here.
6. What happens after testing?
After testing, the clinician will draft a treatment plan and goals based on the results from all data. We then go through the treatment plan with you to make sure it makes sense and reflects your concerns and views on your child’s needs.
Re-Assessment:
1. What is a re-assessment?
A re-assessment is when clinicians re-administer the standardized testing to measure progress and determine if services should continue, or be reduced.
2. Why is it important to complete re-assessments?
It is important to complete re-assessments yearly to ensure that the treatment plan is up to date, and that your child is receiving services tailored to their current area of need.
3. What if my child has been assessed by the school district?
It’s really important that your clinician is informed of any testing being done at the school district, or other offices. This informs which tests we should use. We don’t want to ask your child to complete the same test twice as that would invalidate results and probably not be fun for your child.
4. Does re-assessment always mean discharge?
No! While re-assessment helps guide discharge planning, it does not always mean discharge, it just focuses on updating the treatment plan, and narrowing the areas of focus. Kids grow and change all the time, and their treatment plan should reflect that!
Assessment is such an important step in developing your child’s treatment plan, but there is definitely not a “one-size fits all” assessment plan for all kids. At Valued Voices, we want to work with you to develop a plan that not only assesses the areas of need, but also includes your perspective. As a clinician, it’s our job to partner with parents and families, not just tell you what to do. We are a team, and all steps of the intervention process should reflect that. If you have questions about assessment or your child’s development, please reach out to us for a complimentary consultation.
KAELYN GREEN
Kaelyn Green is a licensed occupational therapist at Valued Voices. She is certified by the University of Southern California in Sensory Integration and is an advocate for addressing underlying sensory functioning in order to improve occupational performance. She is passionate about meeting children and families where they are at and seeks to tailor interventions to the unique needs of her clients. When she is not working, you will find Kaelyn taking care of her two goldendoodles, working in her garden, or taking trips to the Central Coast.
