When a child is referred to Occupational Therapy, an assessment of their skills will be completed. Engagement with parents and teachers is essential to complete this process. During an Occupational Therapy assessment a child’s skills, abilities, and needs are established through a number of strategies which can include:
1. Observation of the child engaging in meaningful activities, e.g., playing
2. Standardised Assessments, e.g., Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Beery-Butenka Test of Visual-Motor Integration skills
3. Non-standardised Assessments, e.g., Questionnaires
4. Assessing the school/home environment based on the child’s needs.
5. Review of previous reports, documentation, etc.
Depending on the need identified, a very specific assessment of skills may be recommended, for example, an assessment of handwriting involving assessing the handwriting itself as well as all the component skills necessary for efficient, functional handwriting. An assessment of sensory processing may be required or an assessment of motor skills.
In some cases, a comprehensive assessment is necessary, which will involve assessment of many or all of these skills.
