Occupational Therapy Evaluation: What to Expect
by Mackenzie Farmer OTR/L
Whether your child has been referred to occupational therapy (OT) by another professional, or you’re wondering if treatment would be beneficial for your child, the first step is to receive an OT evaluation.
But what does an evaluation look like?
During an OT evaluation, the Occupational Therapist will conduct an interview to get to know your child’s background and history and to discuss any concerns you have. Additionally, the Occupational Therapist will observe and lead your child through several activities and assessments in order to determine your child’s abilities in various areas.
Some areas that the Occupational Therapist might be looking at include:
fine motor skills of the hands
gross motor skills including coordination, endurance, and strength of the upper body
the skill of planning and carrying out movements
self-help skills including dressing, grooming, and feeding
executive functioning skills including attention, organization, mental flexibility, and self-regulation
social participation skills
sensory processing skills
The interview, together with observations, assist the occupational therapist in forming a proper picture of your child and your family’s needs! From the evaluation, we will create a report of our findings and recommend an individualized care plan.
Interested in an evaluation for your child?
About the Author
Mackenzie Farmer, OTR/L
Mackenzie graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2021. In therapy, she uses evidence-based approaches and play-based treatment interventions to involve children and their families.
She has experience working with children with Autism, developmental delays, sensory processing challenges with a special interest in sensory processing disorder, emotional regulation, and intrauterine exposure.
She offers services through First Steps and clinical private practice at KTL Therapy.