*Adapted from OTA Watertown with permission (2005)
Still not sure?
Call our office and one of our patient care coordinators will be able to answer any additional questions you may have about Springboard Pediatric. If you’re not sure if your child needs therapy services, let our therapists take a peak! We offer free 10-15 minute consultation (virtual or in-person) with one of our amazing therapists. At the end of the consultation, you will know whether an evaluation is right for your child.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Not sure if your child would benefit from occupational therapy?
Use this checklist to help.
Assessing Pediatric Therapy Needs For Children 0-3 Years Old
- Muscle tone seems poor/ flaccid
- When child is picked up they don’t brace themselves, feels like dead weight
- Difficulty consoling self, unusually fussy
- Unable to bring hands together and bang toys
- Slow to roll over, creep, sit or stand
- Does not want to explore environment
- Difficulty babbling
- Cries or becomes tense when moved through space (like airplane)
- Frequent fisting of hands after 6 months of age
- Dislikes baths or waterplay
- Does not choose age appropriate toys
- Resists being held, is squirmy when cuddled too long, does not settle with touch
- Sucking difficulties
- Overly active, seeks excessive movement
- Unable to settle down, sleep difficulties
- Anxious or cries if child cannot see parent
Assessing Therapy Needs For Children 3-5 Years Old
- Clumsy, falls frequently, seems to trip over their own feet
- Muscle tone seems poor / flaccid
- When child is picked up they don’t brace themselves, feels like dead weight
- Easily tantrums, does not recover within a few minutes
- Breaks crayons, pencil points, toys easily
- Frequently says “I can’t do it” to age appropriate self-care & play tasks
- Overly active, unable to slow down, moves quickly from one toy to another
- Delayed language development
- Difficulty focusing attention, or over-focused and unable to shift attention to the next task
- Dislikes bathing, haircuts, nail trimming and cuddling
- Needs more practice than other children to learn new skills
- Avoids playground activities
- Unable to settle down, sleep difficulties
- Dislikes coloring in lines, doing puzzles or cutting with scissors
- Does not enjoy jumping, swings or having feet off the ground
Assessing Therapy Needs For Children 6-15 Years Old
- Clumsy, falls frequently, seem to trip over their own feet
- Breaks pencil tips frequently and/or writes with heavy pressure
- Dislikes handwriting, fatigues quickly with written class work
- Poor self-esteem and self-confidence
- Avoids gym class and sports activities
- Hard time paying attention and following directions
- Overly active, unable to slow down
- Frequent letter reversals such as b and d; poor letter/word spacing
- Difficulty focusing attention, or over-focused and unable to shift attention to the next task
- Dislikes swimming, bathing, haircuts, nail trimming, or hugs
- Needs more practice than other children to learn new skills
- Overreacts to touch, smell, taste and sounds
- Unable to settle down, sleep difficulties
- Finds it difficult to make friends with children of the same age, prefers to play with adults or younger children rather than peers
- Does not enjoy jumping, swings or having feet off the ground
Assessing Therapy Needs Of Adults
- Quickly fatigues, especially posture, slumps at desk
- Clumsy with everyday activities and accident prone
- Balance difficulties, becomes disoriented and/or fearful on elevators or escalators
- Poor self-esteem and self-confidence
- Disorganized in home and work activities
- Hard time following several step instruction for motor task
- Overly active, unable to slow down
- Dislikes crowds or accidental jostling in public situations such as standing in line at the movie theater or shopping in store aisles
- Difficulty focusing attention, or over-focused and unable to shift attention to the next task
- Difficulty in maintaining intimate relationships, difficulty with physical closeness, hugs, or cuddling
- Needs more practice than other people to learn new skills
