Based on research by the American Academy of Pediatrics, Early intervention (necessary therapy early in life to promote a child’s growth and development) is considered the key to minimizing the long-term effects of developmental delay.
Documented Research states that the greatest benefits from therapy are achieved at a younger age. As a result, it is recommended that a child receive an evaluation to uncover if there are any developmental delays that a therapist can help the child with as soon as the concerns arise.
Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, and Speech Therapists undergo very specialized Master’s or Doctorate level training to become eligible to take the National Board examination. National and State level credentialing and licensing is required to be a certified and licensed practitioner, known as the ‘Therapist’. Therapists promote functional outcomes – the ability ‘to do in individuals by understanding and remediating skills to do tasks.
Therapists are trained to understand the foundational skills that may interfere with function. We work on the foundational skills so that a child can independently begin to master his / her environment.
While therapy programs are created to help your child succeed, what happens at home is a significant contributor. Ask your child’s chinician what routines you and your family can set up to supplement their learning in therapy
While various providers can play a significant role in the child’s developmental experiences, therapists specialize in remediating, promoting, or helping regain underlying skills and function – ‘the ability to do’ in individuals.
Therapist plans and customizes each treatment session for an individual child’s needs, goals, and that particular child’s inner drive.
Since therapy is play, it looks just like play. The child is not aware that at every step of the way a therapist has a therapeutic goal in mind and is moving towards those goals all the time in each and every session.
Clinic-based therapy may be recommended from 3 months to 2 years depending on the severity of the child’s needs, parent’s goals, and observable progress. Insurance or funding sources can influence the length of therapy. Progress with therapy is usually slow but steady.
Most insurance companies pay for “medically necessary” therapy. Our office helps in every way we can by accepting your insurance or providing invoices that are “insurance ready” with codes necessary for your child. It is the parent’s responsibility to pay directly for what may not be covered by insurance.
Therapy offered in a school district focuses on “measurable” academic delays. When delays are not significantly below average child may not receive therapy services. Usually, school-based therapy is only to support educational needs.
Private therapy may be necessary for ‘life skills’ and remediating skills necessary to function in daily environments. School district services are of no cost to the parent and private services must be paid for out of pocket and by insurance.
Sensory Integration dysfunction or sensory processing difficulties are not caused by anything the parent did or did not do. Sensory processing difficulties are simply a weakness in a particular area of functioning for the child. We all have strengths and weaknesses and children do as well. If a child’s weakness in sensory processing is significant enough to interfere with his ability to engage well in his environments and succeed, then Occupational Therapy services may be required.
The Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT) helps us understand why some children have difficulty learning or behaving as we expected.