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Hopscotch/Starjumpz therapy centres - any experiences?

8 replies

WocketInMyPocket · 07/09/2012 20:52

My first post in SN (was rather hoping that I would never need to!), but unfortunately it seems that my DD has sensory processing problems. We haven't yet had an assessment but all the symptoms seem to be there.

We don't really want to wait for an NHS assessment, so was looking for a private OT centre that would do a proper assessment and provide treatment if needed. Have been looking at the Hopscotch centre (but more likely to use the associated Starjumpz in Tunbridge Wells as it is closer) and was wondering if anyone has had any experiences?

My biggest fear is that in our haste to make a difference to my DD's life, we have an inadequate assessment done or worse are sucked in by quackery that turns out not to have any scientific basis. I've looked at the website but its so hard to tell.

Would be v. grateful for any reports on Hopscotch/Starjumpz, or any suggestions for similar in the Kent/Sussex area?

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WocketInMyPocket · 08/09/2012 16:06

bump!

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silverfrog · 08/09/2012 16:12

we took dd1 along to see DM at Hopscotch.

he did wonders with her - lots of improvement, literally overnight - we were Shock (in a good way)

if you search my posts for stuff on Sensory Integration, you'll find posts I have written about what dd1 did/what improvements etc.

she absolutely loved it, had a ball, and came on in leaps and bounds (eyewateringly expensive, though - we did it for Tribunal info. the cost, and the travel (it was taking me the best part of 6 hours to get to/from and attend the hours session (and we only live 30 mins from Central London!) meant we didn't carry it on, although i do still think about starting up some sessions for dd1 again (she gets a lot of it at school now though, so less need overall)

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WocketInMyPocket · 08/09/2012 16:19

Thanks Silverfrog - I'll search your posts.

Can I ask how good you thought the inital assessment was? Although we suspect sensory problems - its only a hunch at the moment, so we do need the assessment to be thorough in case its something else.

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silverfrog · 08/09/2012 16:25

erm, well, it was ok

we knew a lot of the initial stuff by then, though - we went to Hopscotch about 2 years ago, I guess, so dd1 would have been 6 - she was dx'd with severe ASD when she was 2, so we were assessment veterans by then, iyswim?

DM certainly knows his stuff though, imo, and ws very good at getting dd1 to do stuff I had no ide she could do (coordination things)

I would warn you that none of it looks like therapy - dd1 went into a well stocked softplay room, and bounced/swung/jumped around, threw balls at targets, rolled in/on/under things etc. it was expensive, exclusive, softplay (to the untrained eye). of course, it ws all targetted for various things, and tailored to dd1's needs. and given that her anxiety lessened dramatically, and her ability to cope with big, noisy environments like shopping centres increased massively, it would appear to have worked.

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silverfrog · 08/09/2012 16:28

how old is your dd?

when you say that sensory stuff is just a hunch - has your dd had any assesments at all (ed psych, OT, developmental paed, etc?)

have you read The Out of Synch Child? it's a long time since I read it, but it is a good rundown of potential sensory issues and what you might be able ot do about them, and a LOT cheaper than SI OT.

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ThoughtBen10WasBadPokemonOMG · 08/09/2012 17:03

we took DS to see Suzanne who runs Starjumpz when she was at the Christmas Children's Clinic in T. Wells.

Like Silverfrog we noticed huge improvements both in his physical abilities and his behaviour. He didn't like it at first as it was challenging his vestibular and proprioceptive senses both of which were misfiring. He was able to use a swing in the playground at the first time at 6 yo and it was really a massive massive improvement. His carsickness also improved. I would carry on with it if it were not based where it is - I can't drive that far due to health issues. We paid £430 for the assessment and £65 for the sessions of 45 mins. Luckily we got a grant through a charity for my industry to pay for it all. For us it was well worth it as the report was so clear that school starting taking everything seriously and it also helped with his AS dx. It also helped me to know that I wasn't just seeing things that weren't there iyswim.

I agree though. I bought the Out of Sync child first which helped me to know that he definitely did have sensory issues. Her report very clearly laid out what they were, to what degree and what needed to be done about them.

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WocketInMyPocket · 08/09/2012 20:50

Silverfrog - she has just turned 4 (so not yet at school), and we have only had all the simple medical checks done (allergies, hearing etc.).

Her symptoms are severe difficulty getting to sleep (has always taken several hrs), behavioural difficulties such as severe outbursts to minor things (socks itchy, getting wet, warm food etc.), extreme tantrums, talking loudly and unable to determine where sounds are coming from.

When I write it down some of the characteristics sound quite normal, especially as she has always hit her development milestones, but we just know that there is something not right, and she has never been right since a baby. We have been to the GP several times over the years looking at different possible causes and TBH I feel that he thinks we are wasting his time now so I can't face going back Sad hence wanting to go private.

We haven't had any assessments done as I really haven't a clue where to start, without getting a referral from the GP (which I really don't think would be successful). Do you have any suggestions on where I can start - are there private OTs in most areas?

I have ordered the book you both recommended, but in light of your comments am beginning to think that really we need a more general assessment done before we go down the sensory route.

ThoughtBen and Silverfrog - thanks for your comments on the centre, sounds like if we can confirm that it is a sensory problem then this would definitely be the place to go.

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Baldyloxxx · 17/08/2014 12:22

Hello

I realise this is a very d thread but it popped up in my internet search. Did you try Starjumpz out?

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