I offer a range of occupational therapy assessments:
- Full co-ordination assessment: a comprehensive examination of muscle strength and joint range, gross and fine motor skills, visual perception, visual motor integration, sensory processing and pencil skills together with assessment of functional (self care) abilities. The results of this assessment can be used to support a diagnosis, given by a paediatrician, of Developmental Coordination Disorder / Dyspraxia (all ages, usually over 4 yrs).
- Formal Handwriting Assessment: a detailed assessment of all aspects of handwriting, including a standardised test of speed, which can be used to support an application for additional time in exams or assistive technology in schools, with the support of the teaching staff (all ages, usually over 9yrs).
- Full developmental testing: a comprehensive developmental assessment, including motor, cognitive, sensory, and receptive and expressive language skills (1 – 42 months old).
- Hand Assessment for Infants: a hand function assessment developed for children at risk of developing cerebral palsy, to detect asymmetry, in the age range 3 – 12 months old.
- Assisting Hand Assessment: an assessment for children 18 months to secondary school age, with a diagnosis of unilateral impairment (hemiplegic cerebral palsy or brachial plexus palsy) to measure function and help set achievable goals.
Because every child is different, I can also create tailor-made assessment packages to suit the exact needs of your child.
The assessment process
Assessments take place in your own home, where your child will feel most comfortable and relaxed, and normally last between 1 and 2 hours. Fun is an important part of every assessment – my aim is for you and your child to find it an enjoyable experience.
I use both standardised and non-standardised assessments. Standardised assessments are delivered in exactly the same way for each child and are designed to measure a child’s abilities compared to other children of the same age. Non-standardised assessments are still structured but offer more flexibility, so that I can adjust tasks and find out information that may not have been revealed through a standardised assessment.
After the assessment, I will score and interpret the results and produce a comprehensive report on the findings. The report will include:
- insights into the child’s strengths and weaknesses
- analysis of difficulties
- explanations of terminology used
- scores and interpretation of scores for all assessments carried out
- details of recommendations for equipment, resources, strategies and curriculum modifications, that you can put in place at nursery, school and at home where appropriate
- recommendations for the local authority if relevant.
Fees
Please contact me so I can provide you with a cost for the assessment package that is most suitable for your child.
My fees are inclusive of pre-assessment emails and phone calls, travel time and expenses within a 15 mile radius of Sevenoaks and all post-assessment phone calls and / or emails. I can offer assessments outside of this area but may charge a small additional fee to cover travel time and expenses.