Assessment
We assess a child to determine the child’s strengths and weaknesses, from a developmental perspective. Ongoing observations of behaviour are made throughout the assessment.
We use a wide range of standardized tests, functional assessments and clinical examination’s. When determining which are most suitable to use with a child, we are guided by the specific concerns raised by the parents and teacher, the age of the child and previous tests already performed by other professionals.
When a child is seen for the first time, a comprehensive motor assessment is recommended to start with. The comprehensive motor assessment will screen the child’s fine and gross motor skills, sensory motor skills, sensory processing, printing/handwriting, visual motor integration and visual perception (non-motor). Clinical observations of the child’s pencil grasp, posture and behaviour are done throughout the assessment. The results will be discussed with the parents immediately following the assessment. A comprehensive written report is given to the parents, which includes a complete review of all other testing, a developmental history, test results and recommendations.
A comprehensive motor assessment takes 2 to 2 ½ hours to administer. It is done during one appointment unless the child is very young or unable to stay focused that long.
If a child has already been assessed by another occupational therapist, we will determine if any further testing is required by reading the report and discussing it with the parents. If a child has been assessed by a professional other than an occupational therapist, a comprehensive assessment will most likely be needed, to determine areas of concern and set treatment goals.
Assessments are always booked early in the morning to ensure that the child is not fatigued.
Fees are based on guidelines provided by the B. C. Society of Occupational Therapists and are the responsibility of the individual family, since occupational therapy is not covered by M.S.P. It is covered by some extended health plans and does qualify as a tax-deductible medical expense. The complete Schedule of Services and Fees is available to families or agencies, by request. Children who are involved with the Ministry for Children and Families may be eligible for partial or full coverage. Please inquire for further information.
Referrals can be recommended by physicians, health professionals and educators. Specific services are requested by the family or agency.
For further information please leave a message on our answering machine and your call will be returned as soon as possible.
Tests
Benbow Observations of Hand skills
(Age 5 and up – Administration time – approximately 20 minutes)
This is a non-standardized functional assessment of upper arm and hand skills and they pertain to pencil grasp and writing. Results determine a developmental hand program.
Clinical Observations (Jean Ayres)
(Age 4 to 8 years – Administration time – approximately 20 – 30 minutes)
A comprehensive sensory motor examination that results in observations that can be used in conjunction with a parent interview, a sensory motor history and other standardized tests to obtain a clear picture of the child’s strengths and weaknesses. It includes tasks to observe muscle tone, lateral preference (hand-eye), eye movements, equilibrium reactions, protective responses, bilateral integration, midline crossing, tonic neck reflexes and gravitational security.
Movement Assessment Battery for Children — Second Edition (M-ABC-2)
(Age 4 to 16 years – Administration time approximately 30 minutes)
The Movement ABC–2, is a unique assessment specifically designed to identify and evaluate gross and fine motor skills and movement problems that can determine a child’s participation and social interaction at school.
The assessment component of the Movement ABC consist of two parts: a performance Test which is designed to be administered individually and requires the child to perform a series of motor tasks in a standard way, and a Checklist which is designed to be completed by an adult familiar with the child’s day-to-day motor functioning.
It is also allows for the detection and quantification of motor dysfunction. It includes a Parent Questionnaire and therapist administered test. Scores indicate whether a child has average or below average motor skills.
Sensory Profile
(Age 3 to 10 years)
Sensory Profile is used to determine how well children ages 3 to 10 process sensory information in everyday situations and to profile the sensory system’s effect on functional performance.
Caregivers complete the 125-question profile, reporting the frequency with which their child responds to various sensory experiences. The Short Sensory Profile is a 38-item caregiver questionnaire and score sheet designed for use in screening and research protocols. The items on the Sensory Profile are grouped into three major sections: sensory processing, modulation, and behavioural and emotional responses.
The profile’s nine factor groupings can be used to characterize children by their responsiveness to sensory input, sensory seeking, emotional reactive, low endurance/tone, oral sensory sensitivity, inattention/distractibility, poor registration, sensory sensitivity, sedentary, and fine motor/perceptual.
Sensory Profile Infant/Toddler
(Age 0 to 3 years)
Provides a standard method for measuring an infant’s sensory processing abilities and the effect of sensory processing on functional performance in the daily life of the infant.
Caregivers complete a judgment-based questionnaire, reporting the frequency with which infants respond to various sensory experiences (Almost Always, Frequently, Occasionally, Seldom, or Almost Never.)
Sensory Profile Adolescent/Adult
(Ages 10 years and up)
Enables clients to evaluate themselves through the use of a Self-Questionnaire and evaluate the possible contributions of sensory processing to their daily performance patterns.
It generates an individualized profile of sensory processing across four quadrants: low registration, sensation seeking, sensory sensitivity, and sensation avoiding, in the following areas:
- taste/smell processing
- movement processing
- visual processing
- touch processing
- activity level
- auditory processing
Sensory Profile School Companion
Evaluates a child’s sensory processing skills and how these skills affect the child’s classroom behaviour and performance. This standardized and theoretically-based assessment involves the teachers’ perspective of the child’s interaction in an academic setting.
Using the Sensory Profile School Companion in conjunction with the Sensory Profile offers a comprehensive evaluation as it addresses the child’s behavior in various contexts- home, community, and classroom.
Beery Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (VMI)
(Age 3 to 18 years – Administration time approximately 20 minutes)
This test assesses the visual motor control involved in copying a developmental sequence of geometric forms. It contains two supplemental tests to assess visual perception and motor coordination.
Developmental Test of Visual Perception (DTVP-2)
(Age 4 to 10 years – Administration time approximately 45 minutes)
The DTVP-2 is a battery of 8 sub-tests that measure different but interrelated visual perceptual and visual motor abilities. The DTVP-2 has four principal uses: a) to document the presence and degree of visual perceptual or visual-motor difficulties, b) to identify children for referral, c) to verify the effectiveness of intervention programs and d) to serve as a research tool.
Developmental Test of Visual Perception – Adolescent and Adult (DTVP-A)
(Ages 11 years and up – Administration time approximately 25 minutes)
This is a battery of six subtests that measure different but interrelated visual-perceptual and visual motor abilities.
Test of Visual Motor Skills 3 (TVMS-3)
(Age 3 to 18 years – Administration time approximately 30 minutes)
This test assesses the visual motor control involved in copying geometric designs. It measures strengths and weaknesses in specific areas such as closure, angles, intersecting and overlapping lines, size, rotation or reversal, line length, over-penetration and under-penetration, and modification of design.
Test of Handwriting Skills (Revised) (THS-R)
(Age 6 to 18 years – Administration time approximately 40 minutes)
The THS-R is an untimed, clinical assessment of neurosensory integration skills evident in handwriting (both manuscript and cursive) that are often disrupted in students with learning difficulties. The THS-R provides standardized assessment of children’s handwriting ability for both manuscript and cursive styles (upper and lower case forms) and the speed with which a child writes. It contains 10 separate sub-tests. These can be administered independently. It includes writing the alphabet spontaneously from memory, writing the alphabet from dictation and out of order, writing numbers from dictation and out of order, copying selected letters from the alphabet, selected words, sentences and writing selected words from dictation.