*What is Occupational Therapy?

Center of Development Evaluation Information

We treat all labels that children have been given, such as Learning Disorders, Dyslexia, Autism, Developmentally Delayed, ADHD/ADD, reading delays, Sensory Processing Disorders, and all the other labels out there that essentially say that a child is not functioning on a developmentally appropriate level and it is interfering with their academic, social, emotional, and health. We use assessments and treatment approaches that focus on what the root problem (usually a developmental problem) is how that is affecting all aspects of their life. By treating the lower levels of the brain processing first (ex. sensory functions, developmental milestones, motor coordination, sensory processing, sequencing), then working up to higher cortical tasks (ex. reading, writing, math, complex problem solving, self esteem, sensory integration) we can give the child the building blocks and developmental skills needed to developing more normally and reach optimum higher cortical functioning for the rest of their life!

Some of the areas that we look at (this of course is a shortened list):

1. Developmental Milestones: which ones were missed, which ones done incorrectly, crossing of midline, coordination of opposite sides of the body such as creeping and crawling patterns, crossing midline, sequencing body movements, reflexive patterns and integration of reflexes, timing and sequencing, long and short term memory, hand, eye, leg, and ear dominance, motor coordination. If any developmental milestone such as creeping less than 4 months is missed or impaired, then there is usually a consequence in development later in life, usually seen by 6-7 years when it is time to learn to read or sit longer in class. By doing therapy to "fix" these developmental delays, we can greatly change how the child learns, attends, and focuses.

2. Sensory Processing: Vestibular (3 semicircular canals isolated and tested), Ocular movements separate from Vestibular and vica versa, Proprioceptive (joint and muscle reception, muscle tone, coordiantion), Tactile (acceptance of light and deep touch), Auditory filtering of input, Visual Processing, Reflexes and Integration of those reflexes, and Attention in many differing environments. Attention and focus in sitting is greatly dependent upon adequate sensory processing. If there is a disturbance in sensory processing skills, then this shows up as in attention, fidgeting, inability to sit still, and poor focus.

3. Perceptual skills: Visual perceptual skills with standardized testing pre and post therapy to show results, Long and Short term memory, Hemisphere Dominance, Handwriting and Reading.

4. Medical History: possible food allergies or sensitivities discussed and tested if needed, nutritional needs, developmental lags such as poor creeping and crawling patterns, illnesses, history of ear infections or fluid on the ears (only detected by tympanogram), sensory processing issues, metal toxicity, reactions to vaccines, and other important factors in developmental history that can cause missed or delayed neurodevelopment. We have many resources for these issues as well to help the family begin to understand the cause of their child's delay and treat the cause rather then the symptoms. We feel that medications should only be used when all attempts to find the cause and treat it have been exhausted. We would rather treat the cause of the child's inattention, behaviors, developmental delays, etc. then to give medications that only cover up the problem and often cause many severe side effects. Medication should always be a short term choice in any situation.