2301 Ohio Dr. Ste. 130, Plano, TX 75093
Phone: 972-964-0200 Fax: 972-519-0042
Occupational Therapy Services
Occupational Therapy/Sensory Motor Evaluation
An evaluation is approximately 1 to 1- 1/2 hours in length, depending on the child’s age and capabilities. It is a comprehensive assessment of how well your child performs specific age-appropriate gross, fine, and visual motor tasks. The assessment is conducted by a licensed occupational therapist and is comprised of clinical observation and standardized testing which measures the child’s skill level. In addition, the therapist will observe your child’s attention to task, sensory processing, auditory processing (following multiple step directions), behavior, energy level, endurance, and muscle tone. They will also note any challenges and patterns of inefficiencies and determine the best intervention that is specific and tailored to the child’s needs. After completion of the evaluation the therapist will schedule a separate time to meet with the parents to discuss their child’s performance results and the best treatment approach.
Individual Occupational Therapy Services
An Occupational Therapist will work with your child in a one-on-one therapy session. During the session the therapist will utilize a variety of techniques targeted to address the child’s specific needs. The therapist works with your child to improve function in areas such as:
- Self-help
- Fine motor/handwriting
- Gross motor coordination, motor planning, strength/endurance and balance
- Visual motor integration
- Sensory processing
- Play/socialization/behavior
- Oral motor/feeding
- Following direction/attention
Group Occupational Therapy Services
Group occupational therapy provides an opportunity for a child with difficulties to learn appropriate peer interaction. It is not intended and/or recommended to substitute individual therapy with group therapy. In group occupational therapy, children engage in therapeutic sensory motor activities which provide the “just right” challenge and learn many skills including teamwork, leadership, sportsmanship, communication, and confidence. Group sessions are formed based on requests/needs of our families.
Sensory Integration Therapy
Sensory integration is the neurological process of organizing information we get from our body and from our environment. This process occurs in our central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). We take information in from our environment via our sensory systems (auditory, visual, smell, taste, touch, vestibular-balance/movement, proprioceptive-body awareness through muscles/joints), process that information, and make an appropriate behavioral or motor response, thus interacting purposefully with the environment. In sensory processing disorder (also known as sensory integration dysfunction), the sensory input is not integrated or organized appropriately in the nervous system and may produce varying degrees of problems for children in motor/muscle, academic, and/or social development. Sometimes one or more senses in children with sensory integration problems are either over- or under-reactive to stimulation. As a result some of these children often experience challenges in many areas of development including unusual behaviors. Some signs of sensory integration problems include:
- Strong adverse reaction to sound and/or expresses moderate to severe discomfort in being in a multi-sensory environment i.e. birthday parties, large crowds, sporting events, movie theaters, concerts, parades, etc.
- Intolerance to certain touch/textures/clothing
- Unusually high or low activity levels and/or difficulty paying attention, easily distracted/impulsive
- Poor body awareness; clumsy/accident prone
- Problems with muscle tone, motor planning, coordination, and balance
- Decreased endurance/strength relative to peers/siblings
- Resistance to change in routine
- Dislikes school and/or uncomfortable or awkward in social situations
- Difficulty with keeping up with peers and/or mastering age-appropriate play skills
In sensory integration therapy the therapist designs a treatment strategy based on the child’s specific needs. Pediatric occupational therapy is designed to seem like play as children often learn best through play. The therapist guides the child through therapeutic play activities that challenge their ability to respond successfully to sensory stimuli in an organized way and promote higher functioning.
