Specialist Assessment
The occupational therapy assessment of children, young people or adults with neurodevelopmental difficulties is the primary service provided by LNOTA
A full assessment process takes account of a person’s
- Specific roles, routines and responsibilities
- Developmental history
- Social setting and circumstances
- Emotional, psychological and mental health needs
- Motor skills and coordination abilities
- Sensory systems and sensory processing
- Behaviour and conduct
- Social participation and interaction with others
- Presentation at home and other community settings
- Motivation and participation in activities of daily living
- Environment and setting
Assessments undertaken include use of standardised assessment questionnaires, checklists, formal and informal observations, and formal standardised assessment tools as well as time taken to explore sensory equipment and experiences.
Assessments are intended first and foremost to provide information to enable people to participate more effectively in their setting by coming to a better understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and by having a more informed understanding of their needs identify strategies and solutions to help address those needs.
Assessment reports are often used to support Educational Health and Care plan (EHCP) processes and Tribunal Expert witness reports can be provided too.
Less detailed assessment reports can be provided, and the nature and type of assessment can be tailored to the needs identified.
In some circumstances a simple screening assessment can be undertaken, this is an indirect process that allows a more objective over view of a child’s needs based on a number of short assessment questionnaires. It is not intended to replace a details assessment process but can help support the identification of the need for a more specialist assessment.