How do I find a knowledgeable professional to help with her?
If you suspect your child has a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), or if he or she has already been diagnosed, you will need a multi-disciplinary evaluation including a physician, psychologist (often) and occupational therapist. These professionals can evaluate your child as well as provide treatment. In some cases, you may also work with a pediatric speech-language pathologist or a physical therapist.
There are several ways to find an occupational therapist:
· Search the SPD Resource Directory for occupational therapists in your area (on our website).
· Call your local hospital and ask to speak with someone in the occupational therapy department or the rehabilitation unit. Ask if they have a pediatric OT trained in SPD assessment.
· Call or email an occupational therapy program at a university near you. Ask to talk with a faculty member who teaches pediatrics or SPD treatment or assessment. Ask that person for a referral to a community OT who has expertise in SPD. To find an OT program check the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA) web site for a list of accredited university programs (on the AOTA home page, click on “ACOTE Accreditation,” then on “Educational Programs”).
· The AOTA also has local contacts who may be able help you. Check the AOTA web site for the AOTA Specialist Directory and the list of State Occupational Therapy Associations (at the AOTA home page, click on “Consumers” and then on “Find an Occupational Therapist”).
· If your child qualifies for special education, you may be able to arrange for him to receive an occupational therapy evaluation in school. However, note that schools are not required to provide OT unless it is felt by the team that OT is critical to the child’s school functioning and the OT is “educationally relevant.”
Not all occupational therapists are trained to work with children who have Sensory Processing Disorder. When you find a therapist you might want to work with, asking the following questions may help you to decide if he or she is right for you and your child:
· Are you a certified as an occupational therapist by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy?]
· Are you a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association?
· Do you have any specific training in assessing and treating children with Sensory Processing Disorder? What form did that training take (such as graduate school training or professional seminars)?
· How much experience do you have in working with children with developmental problems or with Sensory Processing Disorder?
· Are you trained or certified in the use of any standardized tools that are used to assess children who might have Sensory Processing Disorder?
· What related continuing education courses have you attended and when?
Probably the most important question is: Who mentored you to become an expert in SPD assessment and treatment? Most well-qualified therapists have been trained by either Dr. A. Jean Ayres directly (if they have been practicing for several decades) or by another faculty member trained by Dr. Ayres originally.
Currently, the primary standardized assessment tool used for SPD is the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT). It was developed by A. Jean Ayres, Ph.D., OTR, an occupational therapist and psychologist. The SIPT is suitable for children ages 4 ½ to 8 who have learning, behavioral, or developmental delays. They must be able to attend for two to three hours to complete the test. The SIPT is given by therapists who are SIPT-certified (they have completing an intensive course sponsored by Western Psychological Services, or SII, or they received the training in college).
Currently, the primary standardized assessment tool used for SPD is the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test (SIPT). It was developed by A. Jean Ayres, Ph.D., OTR, an occupational therapist and psychologist. The SIPT is suitable for children ages 4 ½ to 8 who have learning, behavioral, or developmental delays. They must be able to attend for two to three hours to complete the test. The SIPT is given by therapists who are SIPT-certified (they have completing an intensive course sponsored by Western Psychological Services, or SII, or they received the training in college).
Other assessment tools may be used for children who are outside this age range or who have motor or language delays that make it difficult to interpret their responses to standardized testing. For example, parent-report screenings such as The Sensory Profile, Short Sensory Profile, and The Sensory Processing Measure may be used to screen children. Clinical observations by an occupational therapist during administration of other standardized tests and interviews with parents and teachers are also used.
Best practice generally suggests that a combination of a standardized norm-referenced performance assessment (a test administered to the child that results in scores), parent-report scales (also resulting in scores), comprehensive clinical observations in a sensory rich (e.g. OT gym) environment, and a detailed parent interview provide the most comprehensive evaluation of SPD. This evaluation usually takes 2 – 4 hours to administer and may take a week or several weeks to score, interpret and write up. Always ask to receive a copy of the written report and ask how long after testing you can expect to receive the written report.
As with any profession, there is a variety of skill levels represented in the field. Good investigation prior to selecting an OT is the responsibility of a child’s caregivers. Other parents are always an excellent source of information.