Almost 5yo dd referred to the occupational therapist what’s should I expect?

[Monka]

Hi,

My daughter has been referred to the occupational therapist as she finds it hard to make choices in class and is very sensory in her learning style.

She’s fine in hitting all the other EYF milestones re: reading etc but after the morning work will find it hard to choose an activity by herself. I have observed this myself when I have been in to help.

She has friends but is very shy and can be quite clingy to me when I drop her to school but she doesn’t cry. And she enjoys school. She is very shy at birthday parties and won’t leave my side but she wants to go and at the end has enjoyed going. She is the youngest in the class as she turns 5 at the end of August and then heads into year one in September.

What I’m looking for is advice on what to expect from the Occupational therapist and what I should be aware of. I was shy when I was at school but nothing was ever mentioned to my mum in a similar context.

hi there the school may think she has sensory processing disorder. I would think the OT may do a questionnaire with you. If OT thinks she has sensory issues may make some recommendations to school so she isn't overwhelmed. In some areas might also offer sensory integration therapy which is very low key sort of play therapy but working on things like different movement to help her brain learn to process input better if that makes any sense.

Lots and lots of questions that seem to be really odd at times! We've just had an OT assessment done for a similar age child with query dyspraxia and some sensory issues.

One staff member basically "played with" (gently assessed) dd2 while the other questioned us about likes/dislikes/things she tries to avoid etc and made some suggestions as we went along. Then they both put their findings together to do the report which we're still waiting on. Even that initial appointment was helpful in terms of how it's picked up a few things toward figuring out the jigsaw puzzle

Thank you starpatch and rainbowfairieshavenoplot!

DD meets the OT after half term so will see what they say but useful to have an understanding of what to expect.