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Our Services
Every child is unique, that’s why we specialize in providing a personalized service that focuses on the individual.
A Sensory Motor Evaluation is a comprehensive assessment of a child’s sensory processing capability and gross, fine, and visual motor skills. The comprehensive assessment is comprised of standardized testing that provides a quantitative measurement of a child’s performance and clinical observations conducted by a pediatric occupational therapist. At D.O.T.S., our evaluations include approximately one to two hours of testing, a written report detailing testing results with treatment recommendations, and a 30-minute parent conference to discuss the report. Once the evaluation is completed, the therapist will work with the parents to develop a treatment plan that will be appropriate for the individual child.
The rate for a Sensory Motor Evaluation is $450.00.
Difficulty with handwriting can have an immediate adverse effect on a child’s academic performance and achievements. Children with handwriting problems are often experiencing challenges with fine motor skills, and require assistance to build the strength and coordination required to properly use writing instruments. Because writing is the foundation for academic development and communication, it is important that children are able to master this skill.
When appropriate for the child, we offer Handwriting/Fine Motor Evaluations. These evaluations are only an assessment of a child’s fine motor skills, and do not include a formal evaluation of gross motor or sensory integration delays. Since handwriting delays can also be a sign of gross motor and sensory integration problems, it may be necessary to conduct a complete sensory motor evaluation instead of a handwriting evaluation. Our therapists will be able to discuss which evaluation is the most appropriate for your child.
The rate for the Handwriting/Fine Motor Evaluation is $275.00
After the completion of a sensory motor evaluation our therapist will provide a recommended treatment plan that will include one-on-one therapy sessions with a licensed occupational therapist. These sessions will take place at our fully equipped Sensory Integration gym located at our Addison Clinic, or for students of the Vanguard Preparatory School we offer school -based service as an alternative.
During these sessions the therapist will use a variety of proven techniques to target problems in fine and gross motor skills, sensory integration, behavior, self-help skills, handwriting, or other areas that require the attention of an occupational therapist to further development.
Individual sessions are scheduled for 1 hour at a rate of $102.00/hr.
While group therapy is not a substitute for an individual therapy session, it does provide an opportunity to learn socialization skills by working together with children who are also experiencing developmental delays. Groups are normally put together at a parent’s request when we can match children who will work well together over a period of time.
Group therapy is defined as 2 or more clients in a single therapy session. While there is no limit to the number of children per group, at D. O. T. S. we try to maintain a 3 – 1 client to therapist or assistant ratio in every group. This ensures adequate supervision and enables the therapists to keep the group focused and involved in the therapy activities. Our goal is to make the groups as inclusive as possible while making it a productive therapy session.
Groups are normally scheduled for 1 full hour of therapy with 2 therapists, or 1 therapist & 1 assistant, and 3 – 5 clients. If you are interested in group therapy, one of our therapists can discuss possible opportunities.
At D.O.T.S. for Kids we utilize the Handwriting Without Tears® (HWT) curriculum to teach handwriting skills from pre-K through cursive. We don’t believe handwriting needs to be boring, and the HWT curriculum is a proven technique that is both fun and effective.
It is important to understand that handwriting therapy is more effective when combined with an overall treatment plan to address developmental delays in gross and fine motor skills and/or sensory integration. When appropriate for the child, handwriting therapy will be conducted as a component of individual or group therapy services. Normally, the therapist will dedicate 10 – 15 minutes on handwriting, and the remainder of the session will be used to complete activities that build a solid foundation necessary for more refined motor skills. For example, activities which aim to improve strength, endurance, posture, and grip.
Sensory Integration refers to the neurological process of receiving, organizing, and responding to input from the sensory systems: Auditory, Visual, Gustatory (Taste), Tactile (Touch), Vestibular (Balance & Movement), Proprioceptive (Muscle & Joint sense).
Our ability to function in our daily environments is dependent on our ability to correctly process sensory information. Sensory Integrative Dysfunction (SID) is when the nervous system is unable to properly regulate sensory information; as a result children often experience problems with motor development, coordination, behavior and socialization. Some common clues that may determine if a child is having sensory integration problems are:
Sensory Integration Therapy provides the child with the proper amount and type of sensory information that his/her nervous system requires to properly function. By providing the appropriate sensory information the child is able to develop adaptive behavior that leads to sensory integration. An occupational therapist will guide the child through a variety of activities to help train the body to properly process sensory information. Some examples are the use of specialized swings to experience specific movement sensations, lying or sitting on therapy balls to improve balance, or moving through an obstacle course to improve motor planning.
Children experiencing delays in fine and gross motor skills will often have problems with self-help skills that others take for granted. Common examples are an inability to tie shoes, button clothes, take clothing on and off, proper use of utensils, brushing teeth, and other skills we use in our daily lives. Pediatric occupational therapists are specifically trained to help children master these skills, and improve their ability to function in their daily environment.
In combination with a sensory motor evaluation and a plan of treatment, it is sometimes beneficial for the occupational therapist to observe the child in the classroom environment. This can be particularly helpful if the child is having problems with behavior, focusing on assignments, or motor coordination. Our occupational therapist will observe the child’s interaction in the classroom environment, consult with their teachers, and provide recommendations and exercises that the teacher can implement in the classroom to help improve performance.
As part of our comprehensive therapy approach we design home and school programs that supplement individual and group occupational therapy. Examples of these programs are handwriting worksheets that are sent home with the parent to work on one-on-one with the child, or play/exercise routines using home gym equipment or the school playground to provide the appropriate sensory input. Our therapists work directly with the parents and teachers to ensure that the work done during occupational therapy sessions is carried over and reinforced outside of the clinic setting. These programs also serve as means to provide parent education and allow parents to gain a better understanding of the methods used to help a child overcome developmental delays.
We understand that the cause of childhood developmental delays can often be complex and difficult for parents to fully understand. Don’t worry, our therapists are here to help and share their knowledge in a manner that is beneficial for the parent and child. We believe parent education is an important component of providing a superior service, and is provided at no additional cost.
Most importantly, our therapists are available to answer your questions. You will be provided with cell phone numbers and email addresses for your primary therapist and our therapist in charge. Our therapists are committed to assisting parents as well as the child, and understand the importance of keeping the parents involved in the therapy process.
A positive learning environment, unprecedented dedication, and enthusiasm make DOTS a place we look forward to going to every week.
D. O. T. S. Parent
After careful research and numerous parent and teacher recommendations, we chose to take our child to DOTS. I couldn’t imagine trusting my child’s care to anyone else…
D. O. T. S. Parent